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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
__________
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): August 17, 1998
__________
BELL SPORTS CORP.
-----------------
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 0-19873 36-3671789
-------- ------- ----------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation) I.D. Number)
__________
6350 San Ignacio Avenue, San Jose, California 95119
--------------------------------------------- -----
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(408) 574-3400
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Registrant's Telephone Number including area code
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ITEM 1. CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.
In February 1998, Bell Sports Corp., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and HB Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("HB
Acquisition"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Recapitalization and Merger
(as amended, the "Merger Agreement"), which, subject to the conditions set forth
therein, including without limitation, obtaining the requisite approval of the
Company's stockholders, provided for the merger (the "Merger") of HB Acquisition
with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving
corporation. On August 11, 1998, a majority of the stockholders of the Company
approved and adopted the Merger Agreement at a special meeting of stockholders.
On August 17, 1998, pursuant to a Certificate of Merger filed with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware, HB Acquisition was merged with and into the
Company. In the Merger, each share of common stock of the Company, $0.01 par
value per share (the "Common Stock") (other than shares of Common Stock (i) held
directly or indirectly by the Company or HB Acquisition or (ii) by shareholders
perfecting appraisal rights), was converted into and represents the right to
receive $10.25 in cash, without interest (the "Merger Consideration"). As a
result of the Merger, the Board of Directors of the Company consists of William
Barnum, Kim Davis, Mary George, John Hetterick, Terry Lee, Edward McCall, Tim
Palmer and John Sullivan.
Prior to the Merger, Brentwood Associates Buyout Fund II, L.P.
("Brentwood") and an affiliate of Charlesbank Equity Fund IV, Limited
Partnership ("Charlesbank") invested an aggregate of $45.0 million in the equity
of HB Acquisition. In addition, immediately prior to the Merger, CB Capital
Investors, L.P. ("CBCI), an existing shareholder of the Company, exchanged
shares of Common Stock, valued at the per share Merger Consideration, with HB
Acquisition and received, in consideration therefor, equity of HB Acquisition.
Each of Brentwood, Charlesbank and CBCI received securities consisting of a
combination of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock and Class A Common Stock
as a result of the Merger. Immediately following the Merger, Brentwood,
Charlesbank and CBCI together owned approximately 97% of the equity of Holdings.
The Merger effectively converted the Company from a publicly traded
corporation to a privately held entity. Following the Merger, the Company will
file Form 15 with the Securities and Exchange Commission deregistering the
Company's Common Stock and request that the Common Stock be delisted from The
Nasdaq National Market.
In connection with the Merger, in order to finance a portion of the costs
and expenses related to the Merger and to support operating capital
requirements, Bell Sports, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
("BSI"), entered into a senior secured credit agreement (the "Credit
Agreement"). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, up to $60.0 million of bank
financing will be available on a revolving basis to BSI, subject to borrowing
base requirements.
In addition, on August 17, 1998, BSI closed an offering of $110.0 million
principal aggregate amount of its 11% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the
"Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes will mature in August 2008. The Senior Notes
were issued and sold in a
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Rule 144A private offering to institutional investors and have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the securities
laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States or in any
such state absent an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities
Act and any such law.
In addition, on August 17, 1998, the Company consummated the issuance and
sale of its 14% Senior Discount Debentures due 2009 (the "Discount Debentures")
in a private placement to Charlesbank and Brentwood and received net cash
proceeds of $14,999,951.
On June 30, 1998, the Company commenced a tender offer (as amended and
supplemented on July 24, 1998, the "Tender Offer") for up to $62.5 million
aggregate principal amount (the "Maximum Tender Amount") of its 4 1/4%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2003 (the "Convertible Debentures"). The
Tender Offer expired at 7:00 a.m. New York City time on August 14, 1998. Upon
expiration of the Tender Offer, the Company accepted for payment the Maximum
Tender Amount. Approximately $77,397,000 aggregate principal amount had been
tendered in the Tender Offer. Accordingly, the Company will purchase
approximately eighty percent (80%) of the Convertible Debentures tendered from
all tendering holders of the Convertible Debentures on a pro rata basis.
The proceeds from the investments made by the Investors, the issuance and
sale of the Senior Notes, the issuance and sale of the Discount Debentures and
available cash were used: (i) to fund the cash payments required to effect the
Merger; (ii) to purchase $62.5 million aggregate principal amount of the
Convertible Debentures in the Tender Offer; and (iii) to pay related fees and
expenses.
(c) Exhibits. The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this
--------
Current Report:
Exhibit 3.1 Agreement and Plan of Recapitalization and Merger dated
February 17, 1998 between Bell Sports Corp. and HB
Acquisition Corporation (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2 to Form 8-K filed on February 23, 1998).
Exhibit 3.2 First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of
Recapitalization, dated April 8, 1998, between HB
Acquisition Corporation and Bell Sports Corp.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to Form 8-K filed
April 9, 1998).
Exhibit 4.1 Indenture dated August 17, 1998 among Bell Sports Corp.,
Bell Sports, Inc. and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as
Trustee.
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Exhibit 4.2 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bell
Sports Corp.
Exhibit 4.3 Bylaws of Bell Sports Corp.
Exhibit 20 Letter of transmittal dated August 17, 1998 from the
Company to its stockholders.
Exhibit 99.1 Press release issued by Bell Sports Corp. on July 24,
1998.
Exhibit 99.2 Press release issued by Bell Sports Corp. on August 17,
1998.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
BELL SPORTS CORP.
By: /s/ Linda K. Bounds
--------------------------
Linda K. Bounds
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary and Treasurer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 3.1 Agreement and Plan of Recapitalization and Merger dated
February 17, 1998 between Bell Sports Corp. and HB
Acquisition Corporation (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2 to Form 8-K filed on February 23, 1998).
Exhibit 3.2 First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of
Recapitalization, dated April 8, 1998, between HB
Acquisition Corporation and Bell Sports Corp.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to Form 8-K filed
April 9, 1998).
Exhibit 4.1 Indenture dated August 17, 1998 among Bell Sports Corp.,
Bell Sports, Inc. and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as
Trustee.
Exhibit 4.2 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Bell
Sports Corp.
Exhibit 4.3 Bylaws of Bell Sports Corp.
Exhibit 20 Letter of transmittal dated August 17, 1998 from the
Company to its stockholders.
Exhibit 99.1 Press release issued by Bell Sports Corp. on July 24,
1998.
Exhibit 99.2 Press release issued by Bell Sports Corp. on August 17,
1998.
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EXHIBIT 4.1
Bell Sports, Inc.
as Issuer
Bell Sports Corp.
as Guarantor
$150,000,000
11% Senior Subordinated Notes
due August 15, 2008
_____________
INDENTURE
Dated as of August 17, 1998
_____________
Harris Trust and Savings Bank
as Trustee
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS......................................................... 2
SECTION 1.2 OTHER DEFINITIONS................................................... 26
SECTION 1.3 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT................... 27
SECTION 1.4 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION............................................... 28
ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES
SECTION 2.1 FORM AND DATING..................................................... 28
SECTION 2.2 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION........................................ 29
SECTION 2.3 REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT.......................................... 30
SECTION 2.4 PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST................................. 30
SECTION 2.5 HOLDER LISTS........................................................ 31
SECTION 2.6 TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE............................................... 31
SECTION 2.7 REPLACEMENT NOTES................................................... 49
SECTION 2.8 OUTSTANDING NOTES................................................... 49
SECTION 2.9 TREASURY NOTES...................................................... 50
SECTION 2.10 TEMPORARY NOTES..................................................... 50
SECTION 2.11 CANCELLATION........................................................ 50
SECTION 2.12 DEFAULTED INTEREST.................................................. 50
SECTION 2.13 CUSIP NUMBERS....................................................... 52
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
SECTION 3.1 NOTICES TO TRUSTEE.................................................. 52
SECTION 3.2 SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED................................... 52
SECTION 3.3 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION................................................ 53
SECTION 3.4 EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION...................................... 54
SECTION 3.5 DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE......................................... 54
SECTION 3.6 NOTES REDEEMED IN PART.............................................. 55
SECTION 3.7 OPTIONAL REDEMPTION................................................. 55
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SECTION 3.8 NO MANDATORY REDEMPTION............................................. 56
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS
SECTION 4.1 PAYMENT OF NOTES.................................................... 56
SECTION 4.2 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY..................................... 56
SECTION 4.3 REPORTS............................................................. 57
SECTION 4.4 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE.............................................. 57
SECTION 4.5 TAXES............................................................... 58
SECTION 4.6 STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS...................................... 59
SECTION 4.7 CHANGE OF CONTROL................................................... 59
SECTION 4.8 ASSET SALES......................................................... 61
SECTION 4.9 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS................................................. 65
SECTION 4.10 INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.......... 69
SECTION 4.11 LIENS............................................................... 72
SECTION 4.12 DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING SUBSIDIARIES...... 72
SECTION 4.13 LIMITATION ON LAYERING DEBT......................................... 73
SECTION 4.14 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES........................................ 73
SECTION 4.15 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES AND INSURANCE............................. 74
SECTION 4.16 LINE OF BUSINESS.................................................... 75
SECTION 4.17 CORPORATE EXISTENCE................................................. 75
SECTION 4.18 STATUS AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY..................................... 75
ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.1 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS............................ 76
SECTION 5.2 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED................................... 76
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT................................................... 77
SECTION 6.2 ACCELERATION........................................................ 79
SECTION 6.3 OTHER REMEDIES...................................................... 80
SECTION 6.4 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS............................................. 80
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SECTION 6.5 CONTROL BY MAJORITY.................................................. 80
SECTION 6.6 LIMITATION ON SUITS.................................................. 81
SECTION 6.7 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT........................ 82
SECTION 6.8 COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE........................................... 82
SECTION 6.9 TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM..................................... 82
SECTION 6.10 PRIORITIES........................................................... 83
SECTION 6.11 UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS................................................ 83
ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.1 DUTIES OF TRUSTEE.................................................... 84
SECTION 7.2 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.................................................... 85
SECTION 7.3 INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE......................................... 86
SECTION 7.4 TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER................................................. 87
SECTION 7.5 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS................................................... 87
SECTION 7.6 REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES........................... 87
SECTION 7.7 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY........................................... 88
SECTION 7.8 REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE............................................... 89
SECTION 7.9 SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC..................................... 90
SECTION 7.10 ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION........................................ 90
SECTION 7.11 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.................... 91
ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.1 OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE............. 91
SECTION 8.2 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE....................................... 91
SECTION 8.3 COVENANT DEFEASANCE.................................................. 92
SECTION 8.4 CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE........................... 92
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SECTION 8.5 DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST;
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS...................................... 94
SECTION 8.6 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY................................................. 95
SECTION 8.7 REINSTATEMENT........................................................ 95
ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.1 WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES.................................. 96
SECTION 9.2 WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES..................................... 97
SECTION 9.3 COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.................................. 99
SECTION 9.4 REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS.................................... 99
SECTION 9.5 NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES..................................... 99
SECTION 9.6 TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC...................................... 100
ARTICLE 10 SUBORDINATION
SECTION 10.1 AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE............................................. 100
SECTION 10.2 LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY................................. 100
SECTION 10.3 DEFAULT ON DESIGNATED SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS............................ 101
SECTION 10.4 ACCELERATION OF NOTES................................................ 102
SECTION 10.5 WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER.................................. 102
SECTION 10.6 NOTICE BY COMPANY.................................................... 103
SECTION 10.7 SUBROGATION.......................................................... 103
SECTION 10.8 RELATIVE RIGHTS...................................................... 104
SECTION 10.9 SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY COMPANY......................... 104
SECTION 10.10 DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE............................. 105
SECTION 10.11 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT................................... 105
SECTION 10.12 AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION................................ 106
SECTION 10.13 AMENDMENTS........................................................... 106
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ARTICLE 11 GUARANTY
SECTION 11.1 GUARANTY........................................................... 106
SECTION 11.2 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF GUARANTY................................. 108
SECTION 11.3 GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS................. 109
SECTION 11.4 RELEASE OF GUARANTORS.............................................. 110
SECTION 11.5 LIMITATION OF GUARANTOR'S LIABILITY; CERTAIN BANKRUPTCY EVENTS..... 111
SECTION 11.6 APPLICATION OF CERTAIN TERMS AND PROVISIONS TO THE GUARANTOR....... 112
SECTION 11.7 SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTY.......................................... 112
ARTICLE 12 MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.1 TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS....................................... 113
SECTION 12.2 NOTICES............................................................ 113
SECTION 12.3 COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES...... 114
SECTION 12.4 CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT................. 114
SECTION 12.5 STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION...................... 115
SECTION 12.6 RULES BY TRUSTEE AND AGENTS........................................ 115
SECTION 12.7 NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES
AND STOCKHOLDERS.................................................. 116
SECTION 12.8 GOVERNING LAW...................................................... 116
SECTION 12.9 NO ADVERSE INTERPRETATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS...................... 116
SECTION 12.10 SUCCESSORS......................................................... 116
SECTION 12.11 SEVERABILITY....................................................... 116
SECTION 12.12 COUNTERPART ORIGINALS.............................................. 116
SECTION 12.13 TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC................................... 117
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A FORM OF NOTE................................................... A-1
Exhibit B FORM OF GUARANTY............................................... B-1
Exhibit C CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFEROR...................................... C-1
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INDENTURE dated as of August 17, 1998, among Bell Sports, Inc., a
California corporation (the "Company"), Bell Sports Corp., a Delaware
corporation as a guarantor, and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as trustee (the
"Trustee").
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of each other and for the
equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the 11% Series A Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2008 (the "Series A Notes") and the 11% Series B Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2008 (the "Series B Notes" and, together with the Series A Notes, the
"Notes"):
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS
"Acquired Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person, (i)
Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is
merged with or into or became a 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
Subsidiary of such specified Person, and (ii) Indebtedness secured by a Lien
encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
"Additional Notes" means any additional Notes that may be issued pursuant
to this Indenture after the Issue Date, other than pursuant to an Exchange Offer
or otherwise in exchange for or in replacement of outstanding Notes.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(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
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall
be deemed to be control.
"Agent" means any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar.
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"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 Cedel that apply to such transfer or exchange.
"Asset Sale" means (i) the sale, lease (other than operating leases),
conveyance or other disposition that does not constitute a Restricted Payment or
an Investment by such Person of any of its non-cash assets (including, without
limitation, by way of a sale and leaseback and including the issuance, sale or
other transfer of any of the capital stock of any Subsidiary of such Person but
excluding Cash Equivalents liquidated in the ordinary course of business) other
than to the Company or to any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (including the
receipt of proceeds of insurance paid on account of the loss of or damage to any
asset and awards of compensation for any asset taken by condemnation, eminent
domain or similar proceeding, and including the receipt of proceeds of business
interruption insurance); and (ii) the issuance of Equity Interests in any
Subsidiaries or the sale of any Equity Interests in any Subsidiaries, in each
case, in one or a series of related transactions, provided that notwithstanding
the foregoing, the term "Asset Sale" shall not include: (a) the sale, lease,
conveyance, disposition or other transfer of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company, as permitted pursuant to Article 5 hereof, (b) the sale
or lease of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other assets in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (c) the sale or
disposal of damaged, worn out or other obsolete personal property in the
ordinary course of business so long as such property is no longer necessary for
the proper conduct of the business of the Company or such Subsidiary, as
applicable; (d) a transfer of assets by the Company to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
or by a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to the Company or to another Wholly Owned
Subsidiary, (e) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to
the Company or to another Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (f) the surrender or waiver
of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or
other claims of any kind, in each case undertaken in good faith, (g) the grant
in the ordinary course of business of any non-exclusive license of patents,
trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property, (h)
the sale of the assets described in the letter agreement dated July 7, 1998
between the Company and Pactuco, Inc. (relating to the sale of certain Rantoul,
Illinois manufacturing assets), (i) Permitted Investments or Permitted Liens, or
(j) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any Restricted
Investment or the assets of, equity interest in, or claims against, any
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, or any
authorized committee of the Board of Directors.
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"Broker-Dealer" means any broker-dealer that receives Series B Notes for
its own account in the Exchange Offer in exchange for Series A Notes that were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading
activities.
"Business Day" means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination thereof is
to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a Capital Lease that would
at such time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with
GAAP.
"Capital Contribution" means any contribution to the equity of the Company
for which no consideration is given, or if consideration is given by the
Company, the only consideration given is common stock with no redemption rights
and no special privileges, preferences, or special voting rights.
"Capital Stock" means (i) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock,
(ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares,
interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of
corporate stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests
(whether general or limited) and (iv) 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.
"CBCI" means CB Capital Investors, L.P.
"Cash Equivalents" means (a) securities issued or directly and fully
guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United
States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities not more than twelve
months from the date of acquisition, (b) U.S. dollar denominated (or foreign
currency fully hedged) time deposits, certificates of deposit, Eurodollar time
deposits or Eurodollar certificates of deposit of (i) any domestic commercial
bank of recognized standing having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000
or (ii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating from S&P is at least
A-l or the equivalent thereof or from Moody's is at least P-l or the equivalent
thereof (any such bank being an "Approved Lender"), in each case with maturities
of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition, (c) commercial
paper and variable or fixed rate notes issued by any Approved Lender (or by the
parent company thereof) or any variable rate notes issued by, or guaranteed by,
any domestic corporation rated A-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or better by S&P
or P-2 (or the equivalent thereof) or
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better by Moody's and maturing within twelve months of the date of acquisition,
(d) repurchase agreements with a bank or trust company or recognized securities
dealer having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000 for direct
obligations issued by or fully guaranteed by the United States of America in
which the Company shall have a perfected first priority security interest
(subject to no other Liens) and having, on the date of purchase thereof, a fair
market value of at least 100% of the amount of repurchase obligations, and (e)
interests in regulated money market mutual funds which invest solely in assets
or securities of the type described in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d)
hereof.
"Cedel" means Cedel Bank, S.A., or its successors.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of one or more of the following
events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a
series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company to any Person or group of related Persons for purposes of Section 13(d)
of the Exchange Act (a "Group"), together with any Affiliates thereof (whether
or not otherwise in compliance with the provisions of this Indenture); (ii) (A)
prior to the initial public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a
registration statement on Form S-8) of the Common Stock of the Company or of
Holdings (for so long as the Company is a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings)
both (x) Brentwood Associates Buyout Fund II, L.P. and Charlesbank Equity Fund
IV, Limited Partnership and their Related Persons (collectively, the "Permitted
Holders") shall own directly or indirectly less than 50% of the aggregate
ordinary voting power for the election of directors ("Voting Power") represented
by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Company and (y) any Person or
Group (other than the Permitted Holders) shall become the owner, directly or
indirectly, beneficially or of record, of shares representing Voting Power
greater than that owned by the Permitted Holders or (B) subsequent to the
initial public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration
statement on Form S-8) of the Common Stock of the Company or of Holdings (for so
long as the Company is a wholly owned Subsidiary of Holdings), both (x) the
Permitted Holders shall directly or indirectly own less than 30% of the
aggregate Voting Power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital Stock
of the Company and (y) any other Person or Group (other than the Permitted
Holders) shall become the owner, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of
record, of shares representing greater than 35% of the aggregate Voting Power of
the Company; (iii) during any two-year period the directors who constituted the
Board of Directors of the Company at the beginning of such period, (together
with any new directors whose election by such Board of Directors or whose
nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company was approved by a
vote of at least a majority of the directors of the Company then still in office
who were either directors at the beginning
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of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved or is any designee of the Permitted Holders or was nominated by such
Permitted Holders or any of their designees) cease for any reason to constitute
a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company then in office; or (iv) at
any time after the Issue Date, the Company no longer continues, for Federal
income tax purposes, to be a member of the affiliated group of Holdings under
circumstances that would accelerate, for Federal income tax purposes, the
recognition of any material unrealized gain in respect of Holdings' investment
account in the Company.
"Common Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests or other
participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting
or non-voting) of such Person's common stock, whether outstanding on the Issue
Date or issued after the Issue Date, and includes, without limitation, all
series and classes of such common stock.
"Company" means the party named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of
this Indenture until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture and, thereafter, shall mean such successor. The
foregoing shall likewise apply to any subsequent successor or successors.
"Consolidated EBITDA" means, with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (i) the
Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (ii) the Fixed Charges for such
period, plus (iii) provision for taxes based on income or profits for such
period (to the extent such income or profits were considered in computing
Consolidated Net Income for such period), plus (iv) consolidated depreciation,
amortization and other non-cash charges of the Company and its Subsidiaries
required to be reflected as expenses on the books and records of the Company,
minus (v) cash payments with respect to any non-recurring, non-cash charges
previously added back pursuant to clause (iv), and (vi) excluding the impact of
foreign currency translations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for
taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization
and other non-cash charges of, a Subsidiary of a Person shall be added to
Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated EBITDA only to the extent (and
in the same proportion) that the Net Income of such 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 paid
as a dividend to the Company by such Subsidiary without prior approval (that has
not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements,
instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental
regulations applicable to that Subsidiary or its stockholders.
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"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such
period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided
that (i) the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a 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 Wholly Owned Subsidiary thereof, (ii) the Net Income of any
Subsidiary shall be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of
dividends or similar distributions by that Subsidiary of that Net Income is not
at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval
(which 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 Subsidiary or its
stockholders, (iii) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of
interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall
be excluded, (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles
shall be excluded, (v) the Net Income of, or any dividends or other
distributions from, any Unrestricted Subsidiary, to the extent otherwise
included, shall be excluded, whether or not distributed to the Company or one of
its Subsidiaries, and (vi) all other extraordinary nonrecurring gains and
extraordinary nonrecurring losses shall be excluded.
"Convertible Subordinated Debentures" means 4 1/4% Convertible Subordinated
Debentures due 2000 of Holdings.
"Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee" shall be at the address of the
Trustee specified in Section 12.2 hereof or such other address as to which the
Trustee may give notice to the Company.
"Credit Agreement" means that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August
17, 1998, by and among the Company and Societe Generale, as administrative
agent, and the lenders parties thereto, including any related notes, guarantees,
collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection
therewith, and in each case as amended, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced,
extended, restated or refinanced from time to time, including any agreement
restructuring or adding Subsidiaries of the Company as additional borrowers or
guarantors thereunder and whether by the same or any other agent, lender or
group of lenders; provided that the total amount of Indebtedness is not thereby
increased beyond the amount that may then be incurred at such time pursuant to
the covenant described in Section 4.10 hereof.
"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.
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"Defaulted Interest" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.12
hereof.
"Definitive Notes" means Notes that are in the form of the Notes attached
hereto as Exhibit A, that do not include the information called for by footnotes
1 and 2 thereof.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole
or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.3 hereof as the
Depositary with respect to the Notes, until a successor shall have been
appointed and become such Depositary pursuant to the applicable provision of
this Indenture, and, thereafter, "Depositary" shall mean or include such
successor.
"Designated Senior Indebtedness" means (i) so long as the Senior Bank Debt
is outstanding, the Senior Bank Debt and (ii) thereafter, any other Senior
Indebtedness permitted under this Indenture the principal amount of which is
$25,000,000 or more and that has been designated by the Company as "Designated
Senior Indebtedness."
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at
the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date
on which the Notes mature.
"Distribution Compliance Period" means the period as defined in Regulation
S.
"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 an underwritten public offering of Equity Interests
of the Company, or of Holdings (for so long as the Company is a wholly owned
Subsidiary of Holdings), other than Disqualified Stock, pursuant to a
registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act.
"Euroclear" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels
office, or its successor, as operator of the Euroclear system.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Exchange Offer" means the offer that may be made by the Company pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement to exchange Series B Notes for Series A
Notes.
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"Exchange Offer Registration Statement" has the meaning given to such term
in the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Existing Indebtedness" means the Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) in existence
on the date of this Indenture, until such amounts are repaid.
"Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum,
without duplication, of (i) the consolidated interest expense of such Person and
its Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without
limitation, amortization of original issue discount, amortization of deferred
financing fees, 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), (ii) the
consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries that was
capitalized during such period, (iii) any interest expense on Indebtedness of
another Person, that is Guaranteed by such Person or one of its Subsidiaries or
secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Subsidiaries (whether
or not such Guarantee or Lien is called upon) and (iv) the product of (a) all
cash dividend payments (and non-cash dividend payments in the case of a Person
that is a Subsidiary of the Company) on any series of preferred stock of such
Person payable to a party other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary,
times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which
is one minus the then current combined federal state and local statutory tax
rate of such Person, expressed as a decimal, on a consolidated basis and in
accordance with GAAP.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means, with respect to any Person for any
period, the ratio of the Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Subsidiaries
for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person and its Subsidiaries for
such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries incurs,
assumes, retires, Guarantees or redeems any Indebtedness (other than revolving
credit borrowings) or issues preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of
the four-quarter reference 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, retirement, Guarantee or redemption of
Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of preferred stock, as if the same
had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.
For purposes of making the computation referred to above, (i) acquisitions that
have been made by the
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Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations
and including any related financing and refinancing 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, (ii) the Consolidated EBITDA attributable
to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and
operations or businesses disposed of on or prior to the Calculation Date, shall
be excluded, and (iii) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses
disposed of on or prior to the Calculation Date, shall be excluded, but only to
the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be
obligations of the referent Person or any of its Subsidiaries following the
Calculation Date.
"Foreign Subsidiary" means any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company
organized and incorporated in a jurisdiction outside of the United States that
primarily conducts its business outside the United States.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.
"George Employment Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Employ ment
Agreement dated as of February 17, 1998 among Holdings, the Company and Mary J.
George.
"Global Note" means a Note that contains the paragraph referred to in
footnote 1 and the additional schedule referred to in footnote 2 to the form of
the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"Global Note Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(ii),
which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
"Government Securities" means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee
or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.
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"Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person
directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any Person and any
obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Indebtedness of such Person (whether arising by virtue of agreements to keep
well, to purchase assets, goods, letters of credit, reimbursement agreements,
securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any
other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to
protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);
provided, however, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee"
used as a verb has corresponding meaning.
"Guarantor" means (i) Holdings and (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company that
becomes a guarantor of the Notes pursuant to the terms hereof.
"Guarantor Senior Indebtedness" means (i) all Obligations in respect of the
Senior Bank Debt and any Guarantee by a Guarantor of the Senior Bank Debt and
(ii) any other Indebtedness incurred, created or assumed by a Guarantor
(including Post-Petition Interest, Expense and Indemnity Claims, whether or not
allowable or enforceable as a claim in a case commenced under Bankruptcy Law or
any other receivership, reorganization, insolvency or liquidation proceeding),
unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly
provides that it is on a parity with or subornated in right of payment to
the Guarantee by a Guarantor of the Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in the foregoing, Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall not include (w)
any liability for federal, state, local, or other taxes owed or owing by a
Guarantor, (x) any Indebtedness of a Guarantor (other than a Guarantee of Senior
Bank Debt under the Credit Agreement) to any of its Subsidiaries or other
Affiliates or (y) any trade payables.
"Guaranty" shall have the meaning provided in Section 11.1.
"Hedging Obligations" means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of
such Person under (i) currency exchange or interest rate swap agreements,
interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates or currency exchange rates.
"Holder" means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the
Registrar's books.
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"Holdings" means Bell Sports Corp., a Delaware corporation, and its
successors and assigns.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person on the date of
determination, any (i) principal of, interest premium, if any, and fees in
respect of indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of
borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments
or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or
banker's acceptances or representing Capital Lease Obligations or the balance
deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or representing any
Hedging Obligations, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense
or trade payable or warranty or service obligations in the ordinary course of
business incurred in the ordinary course of business, but only (other than with
respect to letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) if and to the extent any
of the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability upon a consolidated
balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP, (ii) all
obligations of such Person with respect to any conditional sale or title
retention agreement, (iii) the amount of all Obligations of such Person with
respect to redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock
or, with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person, any preferred stock, (iv) all
indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person (whether or
not such indebtedness is assumed by such Person), and (v) to the extent not
otherwise included, the Guarantee by such Person of any Indebtedness of any
other Person.
"Indenture" means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to
time.
"Institutional Accredited Investor" means an institution that is an
"accredited investor" as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act, who is not also a QIB.
"Intercompany Note" means that certain promissory note dated August 17,
1998, made by Holdings in favor of the Company with respect to the unpaid
principal amount of all loans and advances made by the Company to Holdings in
connection with the Transactions.
"Interest Payment Date" means the stated due date of an installment of
interest on the Notes.
"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
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guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations, but excluding guarantees of
Indebted ness of the Company or any Subsidiary to the extent such guarantee is
permitted by the covenant described in Section 4.10 hereof), advances or capital
contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar advances to officers and
employees made in good faith in the ordinary course of business), transfers of
assets outside the ordinary course of business other than Asset Sales, purchases
or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or
other securities and all other items that are or would be classified, as
investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided that
an acquisition of assets, Equity Interests or other securities by the Company
for consideration consisting of common equity securities of the Company shall
not be deemed to be an Investment.
"Investors" means Charlesbank Equity Fund IV, Limited Partnership and
Brentwood Associates Buyout Fund II, L.P., together with their respective
affiliates.
"Investors and CBCI Investments" means, collectively, (i) the investment by
the Investors of an aggregate of (a) $45,000,000 in the equity of HB Acquisition
Corpora tion and (b) $15,000,000 in Bell Sports Corp.'s Senior Discount
Debentures due 2009, and (ii) the exchange by CBCI of shares of Common Stock of
Bell Sports Corp. with an aggregate value of $5,000,000 for equity of HB
Acquisition Corporation.
"Issue Date" means the date of first issuance of the Notes under this
Indenture.
"Junior Securities" means securities (i) that are subordinated, at least to
the same extent as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness, to Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, and all
securities issued in exchange for, or on account of, Senior Indebtedness or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable ("Reorganization Senior Debt"),
(ii) that have a final maturity date and Weighted Average Life to Maturity that
is the same or greater than the Notes or the Guaranty and (iii) that are not
secured by any collateral; provided, that, in the case of subordination in
respect of Senior Bank Debt under the Credit Agreement and any Reorganization
Senior Debt issued in exchange therefor or on account thereof, "Junior
Securities" means securities (i) that are subordinated, at least to the same
extent as the Notes are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness, to all Obligations
in respect of Senior Bank Debt and any Guarantee thereof and all Reorganization
Senior Debt issued in exchange for, or on account of, Obligations in respect of
Senior Bank Debt or any such Guarantee, as applicable, (ii) that (A) have a
final maturity date occurring after the last scheduled final maturity date of
all Senior Bank Debt under the Credit Agreement or Reorganization Senior Debt
issued in respect thereof that is outstanding on the date of issuance of such
securities and (B) are not subject to any required principal payment, sinking
fund
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payment or redemption prior to such last scheduled final maturity date and
(iii) that are not secured by any collateral.
"Lee Employment Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Employment
Agreement dated as of February 17, 1998 among Holdings, the Company and Terry G.
Lee.
"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
for the intervening period.
"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 and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under
the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar statutes) of any jurisdiction).
"Liquidated Damages" means, the amounts payable by the Company, if any,
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.
"Merger" means the merger of HB Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, with and into Holdings pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of
Recapitalization and Merger, as amended, dated as of February 17, 1998.
"Net Cash Proceeds" means the aggregate amount of cash or Cash Equivalents
received by the Company in the case of a sale or equity contribution in respect
of Qualified Capital Stock plus, in the case of an issuance of Qualified Capital
Stock upon any exercise, exchange or conversion of securities (including
options, warrants, rights and convertible or exchangeable debt) of the Company
that were issued for cash after the Issue Date, the amount of cash originally
received by the Company upon the issuance of such securities (including options,
warrants, rights and convertible or exchangeable debt) less the sum of all
payments, fees, commissions, and customary and reasonable expenses
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(including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of legal counsel and
investment banking fees and expenses) incurred in connection with such sale or
equity contribution in respect of Qualified Capital Stock.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of
such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in
respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however, (i) 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 sale and leaseback transactions) or (b) the
disposition of any securities by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or the
extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries and
(ii) any extraordinary 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 and Cash Equivalents received by
the Company or any of its 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) and, with respect to Section
4.9 hereof by the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of the sale of an
Unrestricted Subsidiary and the sale, liquidation or repayment for cash of a
Restricted Investment, in each case, net of the direct costs relating thereto
(including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees,
and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof,
taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any
available tax credits or deductions and any tax-sharing arrangements), and any
reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such asset or assets
established in accordance with GAAP.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness of a Person to the extent that under
the terms thereof and pursuant to applicable law, no personal recourse could be
had against such Person for the payment of the principal of or interest or
premium or any other amounts with respect to such Indebtedness or for any claim
based on such Indebtedness and that enforcement of obligations on such
Indebtedness is limited solely to recourse against interests in specified
assets.
"Note Custodian" means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Global
Notes, or any successor entity thereto.
"Notes" means the Series A Notes, the Series B Notes and the Additional
Notes.
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"Obligations" means any principal, interest, fees, expense reimbursements,
indemnities and other liabilities payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption
by declaration or otherwise pursuant to the terms contained in the documentation
governing any Indebtedness.
"Offering" means the Offering of the Notes by the Company.
"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 12.5
hereof.
"Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 12.5 hereof.
The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, any Subsidiary of
the Company or the Trustee.
"Participant" means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel, a
Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Cedel, respectively
(and, with respect to The Depository Trust Company, shall include Euroclear and
Cedel).
"Permitted Investments" means (a) any Investments in (i) the Company, (ii)
a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company that is a Guarantor or (iii) a Foreign
Subsidiary, that, in the case of each of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, is engaged
in one or more Related Businesses; (b) Investments in Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
of the Company that are not Foreign Subsidiaries and that are engaged in one or
more Related Businesses in an amount not to exceed (at the time of Investment)
35% of the total assets of the Company, as determined pursuant to its most
recently available balance sheet; (c) any Investments in Cash Equivalents; (d)
Investments by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a
result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
the Company that is engaged in one or more Related Businesses or (ii) such
Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or
conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company
or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company and that is engaged in one or more
Related Businesses; (e) Investments made as a result of the receipt of non-cash
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consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance
with Section 4.8 hereof; (f) Investments outstanding as of the date of this
Indenture, including but not limited to the Intercompany Note; (g) Investments
in the form of promissory notes of members of the Company's management in
consideration of the purchase by such members of Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Stock) in the Company or the Guarantor (not to exceed in the
aggregate $1,000,000 at any time); (h) Investments which constitute Existing
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (i) accounts receivable,
endorsements for collection or deposits arising in the ordinary course of
business; and (j) other Investments in any Person or Persons that do not in the
aggregate exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided, however, that to
the extent there would be, and to avoid, any duplication in determining the
amounts of investments outstanding under this clause (j) any amounts which were
credited under clause (c) of Section 4.9 hereof shall reduce the amounts
outstanding under this clause (j).
"Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens securing Senior Indebtedness; (ii) Liens
in favor of the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; (iii) Liens on property of
a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, including any Liens securing
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto; provided that such
Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with the Company; (iv) Liens on property existing at
the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;
provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such
acquisition; (v) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations,
surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business; (vi) Liens existing on the date of
this Indenture; (vii) 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, provided that any reserve or other appropriate
provision as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made
therefor; (viii) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business of the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company with respect to obligations that do not
exceed in the aggregate $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding and that (a) are
not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of
advances or credit (other than trade credit in the ordinary course of business)
and (b) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of the
property or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of business by
the Company or such Subsidiary; (ix) Liens incurred or deposits made in the
ordinary course of business in connection with workers' compensation,
unemployment insurance and other types of social security; (x) easements,
rights-of-way, restrictions, defects or irregularities in title and other
similar charges or
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encumbrances not interfering in any material respect with the business of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (xi) Purchase Money Liens (including
extensions and renewals thereof); (xii) Liens securing reimbursement obligations
with respect to letters of credit which encumber only documents and other
property relating to such letters of credit and the products and proceeds
thereof, (xiii) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of
Default; (xiv) Liens encumbering deposits made to secure obligations arising
from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements; (xv) Liens
arising out of consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods; (xvi)
any interest or title of a lessor in property subject to any capital lease
obligation or operating lease; (xvii) Liens on assets of Subsidiaries with
respect to Acquired Indebtedness (including Liens securing Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness with respect thereto;) provided such Liens are only on assets or
property acquired with such Acquired Indebtedness and that such Liens were not
created in contemplation of or in connection with such Acquisition; (xviii)
statutory Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics,
suppliers, materialmen, repairmen and other Liens imposed by law incurred in the
ordinary course of business for sums not yet delinquent or being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceeding, if such reserve or other appropriate
provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made in respect
thereof; (xix) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and
proceeds of any Person securing such Person's obligations in respect of bankers'
acceptances issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the
purchase, shipment, or storage of such inventory or other goods; (xx) Liens
securing Hedge Obligations that are otherwise permitted under this Indenture;
(xxi) Liens securing Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries of the Company; (xxii)
leases or subleases granted to others that do not materially interfere with the
ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries; (xxiii) Liens
arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements regarding
leases; and (xxiv) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as
a matter of law to secure payment of custom duties in connection with the
importation of goods.
"Permitted Payments to Holdings" means without duplication, (a) payments to
Holdings in an amount sufficient to permit Holdings to pay reasonable and
necessary operating expenses and other general corporate expenses to the extent
such expenses relate or are fairly allocable to the Company and its Subsidiaries
including any reasonable professional fees and expenses not in excess of
$500,000 in the aggregate during any consecutive 12-month period, (b) payment to
Holdings to enable Holdings to pay foreign, federal, state or local tax
liabilities ("Tax Payment"), not to exceed the amount of any tax liabilities
that would be otherwise payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries to the
appropriate taxing authorities if they filed separate tax returns, to the extent
that Holdings has an obligation to pay such tax liabilities relating to the
operations, assets or capital of the Company or its Subsidiaries; provided,
however that (i), notwithstanding
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<PAGE>
the foregoing, in the case of determining the amount of a Tax Payment that is
permitted to be paid by Company and any of its U.S. Subsidiaries in respect of
their Federal income tax liability, such payment shall be determined assuming
that Company is the parent company of an affiliated group (the "Company
Affiliated Group") filing a consolidated Federal income tax return and that
Holdings and each such U.S. Subsidiary is a member of the Company Affiliated
Group and (ii) any Tax Payments shall either be used by Holdings to pay such tax
liabilities within 90 days of Holdings' receipt of such payment or refunded to
the party from whom Holdings received such payments.
"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which
are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that: (a) the
principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed
(after deduction of reasonable and customary fees and expenses incurred in
connection with such refinancing and the amount of any premium or prepayment
penalty paid in connection with such Refinancing Transaction to the extent in
accordance with the terms of the document governing such Indebtedness (except
for any modification to any such document made in connection with or in
contemplation of such refinancing) the lesser of (i) the principal amount of the
Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
and (ii) if such Indebtedness being Refinanced was issued with an original issue
discount, the accreted value thereof (as determined in accordance with GAAP) at
the time of such Refinancing, plus, in each case accrued interest on such
Indebtedness being Refinanced; (b) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness 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; (c) if the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of
payment to the Notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final
maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in
right of payment to, the Notes on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of
Notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and (d) such
Indebtedness is incurred either by the Company or by the Subsidiary who is the
obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or agency or political subdivision thereof (including any subdivision
or ongoing business of any such entity or substantially all of the assets of any
such entity, subdivision or business).
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<PAGE>
"Post-Petition Interest, Expense and Indemnity Claims" means (i) in the
case of any Senior Bank Debt interest at the rate (including the applicable
post-default rate) set forth in the Credit Agreement and expense reimbursement
and indemnity claims accruing (or that, if allowable, would have accrued) after
commencement of any case under Bankruptcy Law or any other receivership,
reorganization, insolvency or liquidation proceeding, whether or not such
interest, expense reimbursement or indemnity is an allowable claim in such
proceeding), and (ii) in the case of any other Senior Indebtedness, interest
accruing after the date of the commencement of any bankruptcy proceeding at the
rate specified in the applicable governing documentation, whether or not
allowable as a claim in such proceeding.
"Private Placement Legend" means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(i)
to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise
permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
"Purchase Money Lien" means a Lien granted on an asset or property to
secure a Purchase Money Obligation permitted to be incurred under this Indenture
and incurred solely to finance the acquisition, including, in the case of a
Capital Lease, the lease, of such asset or property; provided, however, that
such Lien encumbers only such asset or property and is granted within 180 days
of such acquisition.
"Purchase Money Obligations" of any Person means any obligations of such
Person to any seller or another Person incurred or assumed to finance solely the
acquisition, including, in the case of a Capital Lease, the lease, of real or
personal property to be used in the business of such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries in an amount that is not more than 100% of the cost of such
property, and incurred within 180 days after the date of such acquisition
(excluding accounts payable to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course
of business).
"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.
"Qualified Capital Stock" means any Capital Stock of the Company, or, if
expressly applicable, Holdings (for so long as the Company is a wholly owned
Subsidiary of Holdings), that is not Disqualified Stock.
"Record Date" means a Record Date specified in the Notes, whether or not
such date is a Business Day.
"Reg S Global Note" means a Reg S Temporary Global Note or Reg S Permanent
Global Note.
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<PAGE>
"Reg S Permanent Global Note" means a permanent Global Note in the form of
Exhibit A hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend
and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary
or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal
amount of the Reg S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Distribution
Compliance Period.
"Reg S Temporary Global Note" means a temporary Global Note in the form of
Exhibit A hereto bearing the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on
behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in
a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially
sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
"Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of the date of this Indenture, by and among the Company and the other
parties named on the signature pages thereof, as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Regulation S" means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
"Related Business" means the business conducted (or proposed to be
conducted) by the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date and any and
all businesses that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the
Company are materially related businesses.
"Related Person" with respect to any Permitted Holder means (A) any
controlling stockholder, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or spouse, or immediate
family member (in the case of any individual) of such Permitted Holder, (B) any
trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries,
stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more
controlling interest of which, consist of such Permitted Holder and/or such
other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause (A), or (C), in
the case of Harvard Private Capital Holdings, Inc., Charlesbank Fund IV, Limited
Partnership.
"Representative" means an indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or
representative for any holders of Senior Indebtedness.
"Responsible Officer," when used with respect to the Trustee, means any
officer within the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee (or any successor
group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to
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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 Note" means a Note, unless or until it has been (i) effectively
registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the
registration statement covering it or (ii) distributed to the public pursuant to
Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act.
"Rule 144A" means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act, as it may
be amended from time to time, and any successor provision thereto.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Senior Bank Debt" means all Obligations in respect of the Indebtedness
outstanding under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, Post-
Petition Interest, Expense and Indemnity Claims, whether or not allowable or
enforceable as a claim in a case commenced under Bankruptcy Law or any other
receivership, reorganization, insolvency or liquidation proceeding.
"Senior Discount Notes" means the 14% Senior Discount Notes due 2009 of
Holdings and any notes issued in substitution therefor having the same interest
rate, interest payment date and maturity date terms as they exist on the Issue
Date.
"Senior Indebtedness" means (i) the Senior Bank Debt and (ii) any other
Indebtedness permitted to be incurred, created or assumed by the Company
(including Post-Petition Interest, Expense and Indemnity Claims, whether or not
allowable or enforceable as a claim in a case commenced under Bankruptcy Law or
any other receivership, reorganization, insolvency or liquidation proceeding)
under the terms of this Indenture, unless the instrument under which such
Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes.
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<PAGE>
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness
shall not include (w) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes
owed or owing by the Company, (x) any Indebtedness (other than Senior Bank Debt
under the Credit Agreement) of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries or other
Affiliates, (y) any trade payables, or (z) any Indebtedness that is incurred in
violation of this Indenture.
"Series A Notes" means the 11% Series A Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008.
"Series B Notes" means the 11% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008.
"Shelf Registration Statement" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that would be a "significant
subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated
pursuant to the Exchange Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date
hereof.
"Special Record Date" means, for payment of any Defaulted Interest, a date
fixed by the Paying Agent pursuant to Section 2.12.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation,
association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination
thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing
general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b)
the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof). Unrestricted
Subsidiaries shall not be included in the definition of Subsidiary for any
purposes of this Indenture (except, as the context may otherwise require, for
purposes of the definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary").
"Tender Offer" means the tender offer by Holdings for up to $62,500,000
aggregate principal amount of its Convertible Subordinated Debentures pursuant
to an Offer to Purchase dated as of June 30, 1998, as amended on July 24, 1998.
"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb)
as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA.
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<PAGE>
"Transactions" means, collectively, the Offering, the initial borrowings
under the Credit Agreement, the Investors and CBCI Investments, the Merger, the
Tender Offer and the transactions contemplated thereby.
"Transfer Restricted Notes" means Notes that bear or are required to bear
the legend set forth in Section 2.6 hereof.
"Trustee" means the party named as such above 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 one or more Definitive Notes that do
not bear and are not required to bear the Private Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Global Note" means a permanent Global Note in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the
"Schedule of Exchanges of Definitive Notes" attached thereto, and that is
deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary,
representing a series of Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (i) any Subsidiary that is designated by
the Board of Directors as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board
Resolution; but only to the extent that such Subsidiary: (a) has no Indebtedness
other than Non-Recourse Debt; (b) is not party to any agreement, contract,
arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding
are no less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary than those that might be
obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; (c) is
a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has any direct or indirect obligation to subscribe for additional Equity
Interests or maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause
such Person to achieve any specified level of operating results; and (d) has not
guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any
Indebted ness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) any
Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Any such designation by the Board of
Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the Trustee a
certified copy of the Board Resolutions giving effect to such designation and an
Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the
foregoing conditions and was permitted by Section 4.9 hereof. If, at any time,
any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the foregoing requirements as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, it shall thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted
Subsidiary for purposes of this Indenture and any Indebtedness of such
Subsidiary shall
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<PAGE>
be deemed to be incurred by a Subsidiary of the Company as of such date (and, if
such Indebtedness is not permitted nor incurred as of such date under Section
4.10 hereof, the Company shall be in default of such covenant). The Board of
Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary
to be a Subsidiary; provided that such designation shall be deemed to be an
incurrence of Indebtedness by a Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding
Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation shall only be
permitted if (i) such Indebtedness is permitted under Section 4.10 hereof, and
(ii) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
"U.S. Global Note" means a Global Note in the form of Exhibit A hereto
bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited
with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its
nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal
amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness
at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the
products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each of the 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-twentieth) that will elapse
between such date and the making of such payment, by (ii) the then outstanding
principal amount of such Indebtedness.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person
all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which
(other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such
Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person. Unrestricted
Subsidiaries shall not be included in the definition of Wholly Owned Subsidiary
for any purposes of this Indenture (except, as the context may otherwise
require, for purposes of the definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary.")
SECTION 1.2 OTHER DEFINITIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Defined in
Term Section
---- -------
<S> <C>
"Acceleration Notice" 6.2
"Affiliate Transaction" 4.14
</TABLE>
25
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
"Asset Sale Offer" 4.8
"Bankruptcy Law" 6.1
"Change of Control Offer" 4.7
"Change of Control Payment" 4.7
"Change of Control Payment Date" 4.7
"Covenant Defeasance" 8.3
"DTC" 2.3
"Event of Default" 6.1
"Excess Proceeds" 4.8
"Legal Defeasance" 8.2
"Offer Amount" 4.8
"Offer Period" 4.8
"Paying Agent" 2.3
"Payment Blockage Notice" 10.3
"Payment Default" 10.3
"Purchase Date" 4.8
"Registrar" 2.3
"Restricted Payments" 4.9
</TABLE>
SECTION 1.3 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 used in this Indenture have the following
meanings:
"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;
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<PAGE>
"obligor" on the Notes means the Company, the Guarantors and any
successor obligor upon the Notes.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA
have the meanings so assigned to them.
SECTION 1.4 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) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(6) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act shall
be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules
adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES
SECTION 2.1 FORM AND DATING
The Notes and the Trustee's certificate of authentication, in respect
thereof, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, which Exhibit
is part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or
endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. The Company shall
approve the form of the Notes and any notation, legend or endorsement on them.
Any such notations, legends or endorsements not contained in the form of Note
attached as Exhibit A hereto shall be
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<PAGE>
delivered in writing to the Trustee. Each Note shall be dated the date of its
authentication. The Notes shall be in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof.
Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend and the "Schedule of
Exchanges of Definitive Notes" attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive
form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto (but
without the Global Note Legend and without the "Schedule of Exchanges of
Definitive Notes" attached thereto). Each Global Note shall represent such of
the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that
it shall represent 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 shall be made by the
Trustee or the Notes Custodian, at the direction of the Company, in accordance
with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.6 hereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the forms of Notes shall
constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and the
Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture,
expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
SECTION 2.2 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION
Two Officers shall sign the Notes for the Company by manual or
facsimile signature. The Company's seal shall be reproduced on the Notes and
may be in facsimile form.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office
at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.
A Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature
of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has
been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Company signed by two
Officers, authenticate Notes for original issue up to the aggregate principal
amount stated
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<PAGE>
in paragraph 4 of the Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding
at any time may not exceed such amount except as provided in Section 2.7 hereof.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Company to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes
whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to
authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An
authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or
an Affiliate of the Company.
The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form, without
coupons, in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
SECTION 2.3 REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT
The Company shall maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, where Notes may be presented for registration
of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar") and an office or agency where Notes
may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a
register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may
appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The
term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar and the term "Paying Agent" includes
any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or
Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company shall notify the Trustee in
writing of the name and address of any 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 Registrar and Paying Agent, unless otherwise stated herein.
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 Note Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
SECTION 2.4 PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of
principal, premium or Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, and
will notify the Trustee of any Default by the Company in making any such
payment. While any such Default continues,
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<PAGE>
the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the
Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money
held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent
(if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for
the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall
segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all
money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization
proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for
the Notes.
SECTION 2.5 HOLDER LISTS
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of
all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA (S) 312(a). If the Trustee is
not the Registrar, the Company shall 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 (S) 312(a).
SECTION 2.6 TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. A Global Note may not be
-------------------------------------
transferred as a whole except 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 (i) the Company delivers to the Trustee
notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as
Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary, (ii)
the Company, at its option, determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not
in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice
to such effect to the Trustee or (iii) upon request of the Trustee or Holders of
a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes if there shall
have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to
the Notes; provided that in no event shall the Reg S Temporary Global Note be
exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes prior to (x) the expiration of the
Distribution Compliance Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of any
certificates identified by the Company or its counsel to be required pursuant to
Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the
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<PAGE>
Securities Act. Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (i), (ii)
or (iii) 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 2.7 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 2.6 or Section 2.7 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 2.6(a). Beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred
and exchanged as provided in Section 2.6(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 shall be
effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted
Global Notes shall 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 shall require compliance with
either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of
the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(i) 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 Distribution Compliance Period,
transfers of beneficial interests in the Reg 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
2.6(b)(i).
(ii) 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 2.6(b)(i) above, the transferor
of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) an
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 (2) instructions given in
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<PAGE>
accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding
the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) an
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 (2) instructions given by the
Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in
whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer
or exchange referred to in (B)(1) above; provided that in no event shall
Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial
interests in the Reg S Temporary Global Note prior to (x) the expiration of
the Distribution Compliance Period and (y) the receipt by the Registrar of
any certificates identified by the Company or its counsel to be required
pursuant to Rule 903 and Rule 904 under the Securities Act. Upon
consummation of an Exchange Offer by the Company in accordance with Section
2.6(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.6(b)(ii) 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 2.6(h) hereof.
(iii) 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 2.6(b)(ii) above and the
Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a
beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Note, then the transferor must
deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (1) thereof; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a
beneficial interest in the Reg S Temporary Global Note or the Reg S
Permanent Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate
in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
(2) thereof.
32
<PAGE>
(iv) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a
--------------------------------------------------
Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in the 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 2.6(b)(ii) above and:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agree ment
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 (1) a
Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the
Series B Notes or (3) 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: (1) 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 D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a)
thereof; or (2) 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 C hereto, including the
certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth
in this subparagraph (D), an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably
acceptable to the Registrar and the Company 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
33
<PAGE>
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 2.2 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. 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.
- -----
(i) 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 D 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 under the Securities Act, a certificate to
the effect set forth in Exhibit C 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 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect set
forth in Exhibit C 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 under the Securities Act, a
34
<PAGE>
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C 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 C 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 C 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 C hereto, including the
certifications in item (3)(c) thereof,
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable
Restricted Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.6(h)
hereof, and the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication
Order pursuant to Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Person designated in the instructions a Restricted Definitive Note in the
appropriate principal amount. Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange
for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section
2.6(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 Restricted
Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.
Any Restricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a
Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.6(c)(i) shall bear the Private
Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained
therein.
(ii) 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:
35
<PAGE>
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agree ment
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 (1) a Broker-
Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the distribution of the Series B
Notes or (3) 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: (1) if the holder of
such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to
exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note that does not
bear the Private Placement Legend, a certificate from such holder in
the form of Exhibit D hereto, including the certifications in item
(1)(b) thereof; or (2) 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
Definitive Note that does not bear the Private Placement Legend, a
certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto,
including the certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such
case set forth in this subparagraph (D), an Opinion of Counsel in form
reasonably acceptable to the Registrar and the Company 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.
(iii) 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 an Unrestricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest
to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted
Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 2.6(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Unrestricted
36
<PAGE>
Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.6(h) hereof,
and the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order
pursuant to Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the
Person designated in the instructions an Unrestricted Definitive Note in
the appropriate principal amount. Any Unrestricted Definitive Note issued
in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.6(c)(iii)
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
Unrestricted Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are
so registered. Any Unrestricted Definitive Note issued in exchange for a
beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.6(c)(iii) shall not bear the
Private Placement Legend.
(iv) Transfer or Exchange of Reg S Temporary Global Notes.
----------------------------------------------------
Notwithstanding Sections 2.6(c)(i)(A) and (C) hereof, a beneficial interest
in the Reg S Temporary Global Note may not be (A) exchanged for a
Definitive Note prior to (x) the expiration of the Distribution Compliance
Period (unless such exchange is effected by the Company, does not require
an investment decision on the part of the holder thereof and does not
violate the provisions of Regulation S) and (y) the receipt by the
Registrar of any certificates identified by the Company or its counsel to
be required pursuant to Rule 903(c)(3)(B) under the Securities Act or (B)
transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a
Definitive Note prior to the events set forth in clause (A) above or unless
the transfer is pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act other than Rule 903 or Rule 904.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial
--------------------------------------------------------
Interests.
- ---------
(i) 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
37
<PAGE>
Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit D
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 under the Securities Act, a
certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the
certifications in item (1) thereof; or
(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 under the Securities Act, a certificate to the effect
set forth in Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item
(2) thereof,
the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be
increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of subparagraph (A)
above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of subparagraph (B)
above, the U.S. Global Note, and in the case of subparagraph (C) above, the Reg
S Global Note.
(ii) 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 Agree ment
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 (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Series B Notes or (3) 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
38
<PAGE>
(D) the Registrar receives the following: (1) if the Holder of
such Restricted 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 D hereto, including the
certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or (2) 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 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 (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth in this
subparagraph (D), an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable
to the Registrar and the Company to the effect that such exchange or
transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the
restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement
Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the
Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in
this Section 2.6(d)(ii), the Trustee shall cancel the Restricted Definitive
Notes so transferred or exchanged and increase or cause to be increased the
aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(iii) 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 shall 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 (ii)(B), (ii)(D) or (iii) of this Section 2.6(d) 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 2.2 hereof, the Trustee shall 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 2.6(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer
or exchange
39
<PAGE>
of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the
requesting Holder shall 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 shall provide any
additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required
pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.6(e).
(i) 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 under the
Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the
form of Exhibit C 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 C 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 C hereto,
including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel
required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(ii) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive
------------------------------------------------------
Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder
thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or
Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive
Note if:
(A) such exchange or transfer is effected pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in accordance with the Registration Rights Agree ment
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 (1) a Broker-Dealer, (2) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Series B Notes or (3) a Person who is an affiliate
(as defined in Rule 144) of the Company;
40
<PAGE>
(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: (1) 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 D hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d)
thereof; or (2) 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 C hereto, including the
certifications in item (4) thereof; and, in each such case set forth
in this subparagraph (D), an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably
acceptable to the Registrar and the Company 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.
(ii) 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 shall issue and,
upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 and an
Opinion of Counsel for the Company as to certain matters discussed in this
Section 2.6(f), the Trustee shall authenticate (i) one or more Unrestricted
Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the sum of (A) the
principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes
tendered for acceptance by Persons that certify in the applicable Letters of
Transmittal that (x) they are not Broker-Dealers, (y) they are not participating
in a distribution of the Series B Notes and (z) they are not affiliates (as
defined in Rule 144) of the Company, and accepted for exchange in the Exchange
Offer
41
<PAGE>
and (B) the principal amount of Definitive Notes exchanged or transferred
for beneficial interests in Unrestricted Global Notes in connection with the
Exchange Offer pursuant to Section 2.6(d)(ii), and (ii) Definitive Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Restricted
Definitive Notes accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer (other than
Definitive Notes described in clause (i)(B) immediately above). Concurrently
with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal
amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and
the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order pursuant
to Section 2.2, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Persons
designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes in
the appropriate principal amount.
The Opinion of Counsel for the Company referenced above shall state
that:
(i) the Series B Notes have been duly authorized and, when
executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of this
Indenture and delivered in exchange for Series A Notes in accordance with
this Indenture and the Exchange Offer, will be entitled to the benefits of
this Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with their terms except as (x) the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and (y) rights of acceleration and the
availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles
of general applicability; and
(ii) when the Series B Notes are executed and authenticated in
accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and delivered in exchange
for Series A Notes in accordance with this Indenture and the Exchange
Offer, any Guarantees thereof will be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Guarantors,
enforceable in accordance with their terms except as (x) the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally and (y) rights of acceleration and the
availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles
of general applicability.
(g) Legends. The following legends shall 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.
42
<PAGE>
(i) 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 (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND,
ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR
BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT SENTENCE.
BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE
HOLDER: (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"),
(B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE
501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT)
(AN "IAI") OR (C) IT HAS ACQUIRED THIS NOTE IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION
IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULA TION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES
THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO
THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM THE
SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR
FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE 144A, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF
RULE 903 OR RULE 904 OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN A TRANSACTION
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO
AN IAI THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED
LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREE MENTS RELATING TO
THE TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE
TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL
43
<PAGE>
ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS, THAT SUCH
TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITIES ACT (AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE
COMPANY, IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO
EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A
NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. AS USED HEREIN, THE
TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE THE MEANINGS
GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.
THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO
REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING."
(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or
Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(iv), (c)(ii),
(c)(iii), (d)(ii), (d)(iii), (e)(ii), (e)(iii) or (f) to this Section
2.6 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution
thereof) shall not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(ii) Global Note Legend. To the extent required by the
------------------
Depositary, each Global Note shall 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 (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY
MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6
OF THIS INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT
NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO
44
<PAGE>
SECTION 2.6(a) OF THIS INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE
DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF
THIS INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A
SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY."
(iii) Reg S Temporary Global Note Legend. To the extent
----------------------------------
required by the Depositary, each Reg S Temporary Global Note shall 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
DEFINITIVE 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 CASH
PAYMENTS OF INTEREST DURING THE PERIOD WHICH SUCH HOLDER HOLDS THIS
NOTE. NOTHING IN THIS LEGEND SHALL BE DEEMED TO PREVENT INTEREST FROM
ACCRUING ON THIS NOTE."
(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 cancelled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned
to or retained and cancelled 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
shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall 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 shall be
increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by
the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such
increase.
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(i) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
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(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and
Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order.
(ii) No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial
interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes
or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant
to Sections 2.10, 3.7, 4.7 and 4.8 hereof).
(iii) The Registrar shall not be required to register the
transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in
part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(iv) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any
registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same
indebtedness, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as
the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of
transfer or exchange.
(v) The Company shall not be required (A) to issue, to register
the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for
redemption under Section 3.3 hereof and ending at the close of business on
the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any
Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer
of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date.
(vi) Prior to due presentment 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.
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(vii) The Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive
Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof.
(viii) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel
required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.6 to
effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by
facsimile.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as to any
certifications and certificates delivered to the Registrar pursuant to this
Section 2.6, the Registrar's duties shall be limited to confirming that any such
certifications and certificates delivered to it are in the form of Exhibits C
and D attached hereto. The Registrar shall not be responsible for confirming
the truth or accuracy of representations made in any such certifications or
certificates.
SECTION 2.7 REPLACEMENT NOTES
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Company
and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss
or theft of any Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon the written
order of the Company signed by two Officers of the Company, shall 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
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
SECTION 2.8 OUTSTANDING NOTES
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by
the Trustee except for those cancelled by it, those delivered to it for
cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this
Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.9 hereof, a Note
does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the
Company holds the Note.
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If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, it ceases to be
outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the
replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section
4.1 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 shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue
interest.
SECTION 2.9 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 by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Company, shall be considered as
though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent,
only Notes that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.10 TEMPORARY NOTES
Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare
and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Notes upon a written order of the
Company signed by two Officers of the Company. Temporary Notes shall be
substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the
Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall
prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for
temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits of
this Indenture.
SECTION 2.11 CANCELLATION
The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for
cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment.
The Trustee and
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no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer,
exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy cancelled Notes
(subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Certification
of the destruction of all cancelled Notes shall 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
Any interest on any Note which is payable, but is not punctually paid
or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date plus, to the extent lawful,
any interest payable on the defaulted interest at the rate and in the manner
provided in Section 4.1 hereof and in the Note (herein called "Defaulted
Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the
relevant Record Date, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at
its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:
(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
to the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of
business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted
Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall
notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent in writing of the amount of
Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the
proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the
Paying Agent an amount of cash equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be
paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements
satisfactory to the Paying Agent for such deposit prior to the date of the
proposed payment, such cash when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as provided in
this clause (1). Thereupon the Paying Agent shall fix a Special Record
Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more
than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed
payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Paying Agent of
the notice of the proposed payment. The Paying Agent shall promptly notify
the Company and the Trustee of such Special Record Date and, in the name
and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to
be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder at his address as it
appears in the Note register not less than 10 days prior to such Special
Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and
the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such
Defaulted Interest shall be paid to
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the persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective predecessor
Notes) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be
payable pursuant to the following clause (2).
(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any
other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any Notes
exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be
required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the
Trustee and the Paying Agent of the proposed payment pursuant to this
clause, such manner shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee and the
Paying Agent.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Note
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and
unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.
SECTION 2.13 CUSIP NUMBERS
The Company in issuing the Notes may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in 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 of a redemption and
that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on
the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or
omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any
change in the "CUSIP" numbers.
ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT
SECTION 3.1 NOTICES TO TRUSTEE
If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional
redemption provisions of Section 3.7 hereof, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at
least 45 days (unless a shorter period is acceptable to the Trustee) but not
more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers' Certificate setting
forth (i) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall
occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of Notes to be
redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.
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SECTION 3.2 SELECTION OF NOTES TO BE REDEEMED
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the
Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed among the Holders of the Notes in
compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange,
if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the Notes are not so listed, on a
pro rata basis, by lot or in accordance with any other method the Trustee
considers fair and appropriate. In the event of partial redemption by lot, the
particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected, unless otherwise provided
herein, not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by
the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note selected for partial
redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. Notes and portions of
Notes selected shall be in amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000;
except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed, the entire
outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not an integral
multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed. Except as provided in the preceding
sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption
also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption.
SECTION 3.3 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 hereof, at least 30 days but
not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail or cause
to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose
Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Note is being redeemed in part, the portion of the
principal amount of such Note to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date
upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to
the unredeemed portion shall be issued upon cancellation of the original Note;
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(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the
Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption
payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after
the redemption date;
(g) the paragraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Indenture
pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed; and
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy
of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes.
At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall have 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 3.4 EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.3
hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the
redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be
conditional.
SECTION 3.5 DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE
One Business Day prior to the redemption date, the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the
redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed on that
date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent shall 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 price of, and accrued interest on,
all Notes to be redeemed.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding
paragraph, on and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on
the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption unless the Company
defaults in such payments due on the redemption date. If a Note is redeemed on
or after a Record Date but on or
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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 shall not be
so paid upon surrender for redemption because of the failure of the Company to
comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid
principal, from the redemption date until such principal is paid, and to the
extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at
the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.1 hereof.
SECTION 3.6 NOTES REDEEMED IN PART
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Company shall
issue and, upon the Company's written request, the Trustee shall authenticate
for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal
amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
SECTION 3.7 OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this Section 3.7, the
Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section
3.7 prior to August 15, 2003. Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to
redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days notice to the Holders, at the redemption prices (expressed
as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the applicable redemption
date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the
years indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2003................................... 105.500%
2004................................... 103.667%
2005................................... 101.833%
2006 and thereafter.................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section
3.7, at any time prior to August 15, 2001, the Company may, at its option (but
shall not have the obligation to), redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Notes issued hereunder at a redemption price of 111.00% of the
principal amount thereof, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the Net Cash
Proceeds received by the Company from one or more Equity Offerings; provided
that at least 65% of the aggregate principal
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amount of the Notes issued hereunder remain outstanding immediately after the
occurrence of such redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall
occur within 60 days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.
(c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.7 shall be made
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.1 through 3.6 hereof.
SECTION 3.8 NO MANDATORY REDEMPTION
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or
sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
ARTICLE 4
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.1 PAYMENT OF NOTES
The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the
Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the
date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof,
holds as of 10:00 a.m. New York City 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 then due. The Company shall pay
all Liquidated Damages, if any, in the same manner on the dates and in the
amounts set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall notify
the Trustee of the amount of Liquidated Damages, if any, within one day of any
payment date. In the absence of such notice, the Trustee is conclusively
entitled to assume that no Liquidated Damages are payable under the Registration
Rights Agreement.
The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal
to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to
the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in
any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest and
Liquidated Damages (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same
rate to the extent lawful.
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SECTION 4.2 MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY
The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of
New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an
affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be
served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the
location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any
time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate 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; provided,
however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the
Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of
Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Company shall give
prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and
of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section
2.3 hereof.
SECTION 4.3 REPORTS
(a) For so long as Holdings is subject to the reporting requirements
of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and the Company is a wholly owned
Subsidiary of Holdings, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, and to each
Holder, Holdings' annual, quarterly and current reports pursuant to Section 13
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act within 15 days after such reports have been filed
with the SEC; provided, however; in the event that either (i) Holdings is no
longer subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act or (ii) the Company is no longer a wholly owned Subsidiary of
Holdings, then whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC,
so long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company shall furnish to all Holders
(i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be
contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were
required to file such forms, including a "Management's Discussion and
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Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to
the annual information only, a report thereon by the Company's certified
independent accountants and (ii) 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. In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of
the SEC, at any time after the effectiveness of a registration statement with
respect to the Exchange Offer, the Company and Holdings, as the case may be,
shall file a copy of all such information with the SEC for public availability
(unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and shall promptly make such
information available to all securities analysts and prospective investors upon
request.
(b) For so long as any Transfer Restricted Notes remain
outstanding, the Company and Holdings (for so long as the Company is a wholly
owned Subsidiary of Holdings) shall furnish to all 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.
SECTION 4.4 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
(a) The Company 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 shall have occurred, describing
all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and
what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) 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 or
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 4.3(a) hereof shall be
accompanied by a written statement of the Company's independent public
accountants (who shall be a
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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) The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are
outstanding, 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 4.5 TAXES
The Company shall pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to
pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental
levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings
or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material
respect to the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 4.6 STAY, EXTENSION AND USURY LAWS
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that
it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim
or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever
enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or
the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may
lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such
law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay
or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall
suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has
been enacted.
SECTION 4.7 CHANGE OF CONTROL
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes shall
have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Notes 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 and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase (the
"Change of Control Payment") on a date (the "Change of Control Payment Date") no
later than 60 Business Days after the
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occurrence of the Change of Control. Within 35 days following any Change of
Control, the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering
to repurchase Notes pursuant to the procedures required by this Indenture and
described in such notice, which offer shall remain open for at least 20 Business
Days following its commencement, but in any event no longer than 30 Business
Days. The Company and the Guarantors shall comply with the requirements of Rule
14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations
thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection
with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the
extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict
with the provisions of this paragraph, compliance by the Company or any of the
Guarantors with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a
breach of its obligations under such covenant.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, 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 so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the
aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the
Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee shall
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of
the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The Company shall
publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as
practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
Prior to complying with the provisions of this Section 4.7, but in any
event within 30 days following a Change of Control, the Company will either
repay all outstanding Designated Senior Indebtedness or obtain the requisite
consents, if any, under all agreements governing outstanding Designated Senior
Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of Notes required by this Section 4.7.
The Company will not be required to purchase any Notes until it has complied
with the preceding sentence, but the Company's failure to make a Change of
Control Offer when required or to purchase tendered Notes when tendered would
constitute an Event of Default.
If the Change of Control Payment Date hereunder is on or after an
interest payment Record Date and on or before the associated Interest Payment
Date,
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any accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any) due on such
Interest Payment Date will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is
registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and such interest (and
Liquidated Damages, if applicable) will not be payable to Holders who tender the
Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer.
SECTION 4.8 ASSET SALES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, engage in an Asset Sale in excess of $1,000,000 unless (i) the Company (or
such Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of such
Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity
Interests sold or otherwise disposed of and, in the case of a lease of assets, a
lease providing for rent and other conditions which are no less favorable to the
Company (or the Subsidiary, as the case may be) in any material respect than the
then prevailing market conditions (evidenced in each case by a resolution of the
Board of Directors of such entity set forth in an Officers' Certificate
delivered to the Trustee) and (ii) at least 75% (100% in the case of lease
payments) of the consideration therefor received by the Company or such
Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount
of (x) any Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any Indebtedness of any
Subsidiary (as shown on the Company's or such Subsidiary's most recent balance
sheet or in the notes thereto, but excluding contingent liabilities and trade
payables) that is assumed by the transferee of any such assets and from which
the Company or such Subsidiary is unconditionally released from liability and
(y) any notes, securities or other obligations received by the Company or any
such Subsidiaries from such transferee that are promptly, but in no event more
than 30 days after receipt, converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into
cash (to the extent of the cash received) shall, in each case, be deemed to be
cash for purposes of this provision and the receipt of such cash shall be
treated as cash received from the Asset Sale for which such Notes or obligations
were received.
The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may apply the Net Proceeds from
each Asset Sale, at its option, within 360 days after the consummation of such
Asset Sale, (a) to permanently reduce any Senior Indebtedness or any
Indebtedness of its Subsidiaries (and in the case of any senior revolving
indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries correspondingly permanently to
reduce commitments with respect thereto), (b) to make capital expenditures, for
the acquisition of another business or the acquisition of other long-term
assets, in each case, in the same or a Related Business or (c) to reimburse the
Company or its Subsidiaries for expenditures made, and costs incurred, to
repair, rebuild, replace or restore property subject to loss, damage or taking
to the extent that the Net Proceeds consist of insurance proceeds received on
account
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of such loss, damage or taking. Pending the final application of any such Net
Proceeds, the Company may invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not
prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not
applied or invested as provided in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be
deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $5,000,000, the Company shall be required to make an
unconditional and irrevocable offer to all Holders of Notes (an "Asset Sale
Offer") and to holders of other Indebtedness of the Company outstanding ranking
on a parity with the Notes with similar provisions requiring the Company to make
a similar offer with proceeds from asset sales, pro rata in proportion to the
respective principal amounts (or accreted values in the case of Indebtedness
issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes and such other Indebtedness
then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal amount (or accreted value,
as applicable) of Notes and such other Indebtedness, if any, that may be
purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in cash in an amount
equal to 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as applicable)
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value, as
applicable) of Notes and such Indebtedness surrendered by Holders thereof
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis in increments of $1,000 with such Indebtedness.
Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall
be reset at zero.
Any Asset Sale Offer shall remain open for at least 20 Business Days,
but in any event no longer than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a
longer period is required by applicable law (the "Offer Period"). No later than
five Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the "Purchase
Date"), the Company shall purchase the principal amount of Notes required to be
purchased pursuant to this Section 4.8 (the "Offer Amount") or, if less than the
Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered in response to the Asset Sale
Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made in the same manner as
interest payments are made. Any Asset Sale Offer shall be made in compliance
with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, including, if applicable,
Regulation 14E of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and
all other applicable Federal and state securities laws. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of
this paragraph, compliance by the Company or any of its subsidiaries with such
laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of its
obligations under such covenant.
If the payment date in connection with an Asset Sale Offer hereunder
is on or after an interest payment Record Date and on or before the associated
Interest
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Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest (and Liquidated Damages, if any,
due on such Interest Payment Date) will be paid to the person in whose name a
Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date, and such
interest (or Liquidated Damages, if applicable) will not be payable to Holders
who tender Notes pursuant to such Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company shall send,
by first class mail, a notice to each of the Holders, with a copy to the
Trustee. The notice shall contain all instructions and materials necessary to
enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The Asset
Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders. The notice, which shall govern the
terms of the Asset Sale Offer, shall state:
(a) that the Asset Sale Offer is being made pursuant to this
Section 4.8 and the length of time the Asset Sale Offer shall remain open;
(b) the Offer Amount, the purchase price and the Purchase Date;
(c) that any Note not tendered or accepted for payment shall
continue to accrete or accrue interest;
(d) that, unless the Company defaults in making such payment, any
Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer shall cease to
accrete or accrue interest on and after the Purchase Date;
(e) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to an
Asset Sale Offer may only elect to have all of such Note purchased and may not
elect to have only a portion of such Note purchased;
(f) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to
any Asset Sale Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form
entitled "Option of Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Note
completed, 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;
(g) that Holders shall 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
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delivered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his
election to have such Note purchased;
(h) that, if the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered
by Holders exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed
appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in denominations of $1,000, or
integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased); and
(i) that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part shall be
issued new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the
Notes surrendered (or transferred by book-entry transfer).
On or before the Purchase Date, the Company shall, 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 shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such
Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Company in accordance
with the terms of this Section 4.8. The Company, the Depositary or the Paying
Agent, as the case may be, shall 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 shall promptly issue a new Note, and
the Trustee, upon written request from the Company shall authenticate and mail
or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any
unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be
promptly mailed or delivered by the Company to the Holder thereof. The Company
shall publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase
Date.
SECTION 4.9 RESTRICTED PAYMENTS
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries
to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any
distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' or any of
its direct or indirect parent's Equity Interests (including, without limitation,
any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the
Company) (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or dividends or distributions
payable to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company); (ii) purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or
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any direct or indirect parent of the Company or other Affiliate or Subsidiary of
the Company (other than any such Equity Interests owned by the Company); (iii)
make any principal payment on, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire
or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to or pari passu with
(unless, in the case of pari passu Indebtedness only, such purchase, redemption,
defeasance, acquisition or retirement is made, or offered (if applicable), pro
rata with the Notes or the Guaranty, if applicable) the Notes or any Guaranty,
as applicable (and other than the Notes or the Guaranty, as applicable), except
for any scheduled repayment or at the final maturity thereof; or (iv) make any
Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in clauses
(i) through (iv) above being collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments"),
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(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 trailing 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 of Section
4.10 hereof; and
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate of all
other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Subsidiaries after the
Issue Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (i), (vi), (vii)
and (viii), but excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (ii), (iii),
(iv), (v) and (ix) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of
(i) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income (adjusted to exclude any amounts that are
otherwise included in this clause (c) to the extent there would be, and to
avoid, any duplication in the crediting of any such amounts) of the Company for
the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning of the first
fiscal quarter commencing after the Issue 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 deficit, less 100% of such deficit), plus (ii) 100%
of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received directly by the Company after the
Issue Date from a Capital Contribution or from the issue or sale of Equity
Interests of the Company or of debt securities of the Company that have been
converted into such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or
convertible debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary or an Unrestricted Subsidiary
of the Company and other than Disqualified Stock or debt securities that have
been converted into Disqualified Stock), plus (iii) 100% of any cash dividends
received by the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company after
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the Issue Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company, plus (iv) 100% of
the Net Proceeds realized by the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the
Company upon the sale of any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or any
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company (less the amount of any reserve
established for purchase price adjustments and less the maximum amount of any
indemnification or similar contingent obligation for the benefit of the
purchaser, any of its Affiliates or any other third party in such sale, in each
case as adjusted for any permanent reduction in any such amount on or after the
date of such sale, other than by virtue of a payment made to such Person) to a
Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary of the
Company following the Issue Date, plus (v) to the extent that any Restricted
Investment that was made after the Issue Date is sold to a Person other than the
Company or a Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company for cash or
Cash Equivalents or otherwise liquidated or repaid by a Person other than the
Company or a Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company for cash or
Cash Equivalents, the amount of Net Proceeds received directly by the Company or
a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company with respect to such Restricted
Investment.
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit (i) the payment of any
dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date
of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of this
Indenture; (ii) the making of any Restricted Investment, directly or indirectly,
in exchange for, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds of, the substantially
concurrent Capital Contribution or sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the
Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock);
provided that any Net Cash Proceeds that are utilized for any such Restricted
Investment, and any Net Income resulting therefrom, shall be excluded from
clauses (c)(i) and (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iii) the redemption,
repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests of the
Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent
sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) of other Equity Interests of
the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock); provided that any Net Cash
Proceeds that are utilized for any such redemption, repurchase, retirement or
other acquisition, and any Net Income resulting therefrom, shall be excluded
from clauses (c)(i) and (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; (iv) the defeasance,
redemption, repurchase, acquisition or other retirement of pari passu or
subordinated Indebtedness with the cash proceeds from an incurrence of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness or, in exchange for, or out of the Net Cash Proceeds
of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the
Company) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock);
provided that any Net Cash Proceeds that are utilized for any such defeasance,
redemption, repurchase, and any Net Income resulting therefrom, shall be
excluded from clauses (c)(i) and (c)(ii) of the preceding paragraph; (v) the
repurchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement
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for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company or Holdings held by any member of the Company's (or any of its
Subsidiaries') management pursuant to any management agreement or stock option
or other agreement entered into in good faith for proper purposes in the
ordinary course of business; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such
repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed the
sum of (A) $5,000,000 and (B) the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Company from any reissuance of Equity Interests by Holdings or the Company to
members of management of the Company and its Subsidiaries (provided that cash
proceeds referred to in this clause (B) shall be excluded from clause (c)(ii) of
the preceding paragraph), and no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing immediately after such transaction; (vi) so long as no Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Restricted Payments
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 made on and after the Issue
Date; (vii) pro rata dividends and other distributions on the Capital Stock of
any Subsidiary of the Company by such Subsidiary; (viii) payments in lieu of
fractional shares in an amount not to exceed $250,000 in the aggregate made on
and after the Issue Date; (ix) Permitted Payments to Holdings; (x) the sale or
liquidation of a Restricted Investment, provided no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing immediately after such transaction; and
(xi) the amount required from the Company to discharge Holdings' obligations
with respect to (A) the Merger (including amounts paid with respect to appraisal
rights, if any, and any noncompetition agreements, and any execution bonuses)
(B) the Tender Offer and (C) any expenses directly related thereto.
Additionally, the foregoing provisions of this covenant will not
prohibit, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any payment to Holdings (i) made not more than 10 Business Days
after an Interest Payment Date if the Company shall first have paid to the
Holders all principal, premium (if any) and interest (and Liquidated Damages, if
any) due and owing on the Notes on or prior to such Interest Payment Date and
(ii) used by Holdings concurrently with such payment (a) to make a scheduled
interest payment on its Senior Discount Notes as required by the terms of its
Senior Discount Notes relating to the amount and timing of interest payments and
maturity as they exist on the Issue Date, (b) to make a scheduled interest
payment or payment of principal on its Convertible Subordinated Debentures or
(c) to repurchase the Convertible Subordinated Debentures. The full amount of
any Restricted Payments made pursuant to clause (ii)(a) of this paragraph,
however, will be deducted in the calculation of the aggregate amount of
Restricted Payments available to be made pursuant to clause (c) of the first
paragraph of this covenant.
The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if such designation would not cause a Default. For
purposes of
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making such determination, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its
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 this covenant. All such outstanding Investments will be
deemed to constitute Investments in an amount equal to the greatest of (x) the
net book value of such Investments at the time of such designation, (y) the fair
market value (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors)
of such Investments at the time of such designation and (z) the original fair
market value (as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors)
of such Investments at the time they were made. Such designation will only be
permitted if such Restricted Payment would be permitted at such time and if such
Subsidiary to be designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the
fair market value (evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth
in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) on the date of the
Restricted Payment of the asset(s) proposed to be transferred by the Company or
such Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. Not
later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver
to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is
permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculation required by
this Section 4.9 were computed, which calculations may be based upon the
Company's latest available financial statements.
SECTION 4.1 INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS AND ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its 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 Indebtedness) and
that the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit any
of its Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock or Disqualified
Stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur Indebtedness (including
Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock if: (i) the 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 (the "Ratio Test"), determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma
application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness
had been incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued,
as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period;
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and (ii) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would occur as a consequence thereof. For purposes of determining any particular
amount of Indebtedness under this covenant, guarantees, liens or obligations
with respect to letters of credit supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in
the determination of such particular amount shall be not included (except for
any such guarantees, liens or obligations with respect to letters of credit
supporting Indebtedness incurred by a Subsidiary in support of Indebtedness
(other than Senior Indebtedness) of the Company). The foregoing provisions will
not apply to:
(a) the incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or its Subsidiaries
under the Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount
equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its
subsidiaries thereunder) not to exceed an amount equal to $85,000,000,
less the aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied to
reduce permanently the outstanding amount or, as applicable, the
commitments with respect to such Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.8
hereof;
(b) Existing Indebtedness;
(c) the incurrence by the Company and Subsidiaries of the Company
that are Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes and the
Guaranty pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;
(d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings
or Purchase Money Obligations, in each case incurred for the purpose of
financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or
improvement of property used in the business of the Company or such
Subsidiary, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding
(including any Indebtedness incurred to refinance, retire, renew, defease,
refund or otherwise replace any such Indebtedness) not to exceed
$2,500,000;
(e) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of
which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund,
Indebtedness that was permitted by this Indenture pursuant to the Ratio
Test or Clauses (b) or (c) of this Section 4.10 to be incurred or was
outstanding on the Issue Date, after giving effect to the Transactions;
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(f) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company
and any of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries or between or among any Wholly
Owned Subsidiaries; provided, however, that (i) any subsequent issuance or
transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being
held by a Person other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and (ii) any sale or
other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the
Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall be deemed, in each case, to
constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be;
(g) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
Hedging Obligations or purchase of foreign currencies that are incurred for
the purpose of (i) fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any
floating rate Indebtedness or (ii) fixing or hedging currency risks that is
permitted by this Indenture to be incurred;
(h) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of
Indebtedness in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding (including any
Indebtedness incurred to refinance, retire, renew, defease, refund or
otherwise replace any such Indebtedness) not to exceed $12,500,000;
(i) the incurrence by the Company or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness
in respect of judgment, appeal, surety, performance and other like bonds,
bankers acceptance and letters of credit provided by the Company and its
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount
(including any indebted ness incurred to refinance, retire, renew,
defease, refund or otherwise replace any such indebtedness) at any time
outstanding of not more than $10,000,000; and
(j) Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
arising from agreements or their respective bylaws providing for
indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, or
from guarantees of letters of credit, surety bonds or performance bonds
securing the performance of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any
Person acquiring all or a portion of such business or assets of a
Subsidiary of the Company for the purpose of financing such acquisition, in
a principal amount not to exceed 25% of the gross proceeds (with proceeds
other than cash or Cash Equivalents being valued at the fair market value
thereof as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good
faith) actually received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
connection with such disposition.
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, a Guarantee by a
Guarantor of Indebtedness of the Company or another Guarantor permitted by the
terms of this Indenture at the time such Indebtedness was incurred will not
constitute a separate incurrence of Indebtedness.
Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of any Person which is outstanding
at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Company (including upon
designation of any subsidiary or other Person as a Subsidiary) or is merged with
or into or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company shall be
deemed to have been incurred at the time such Person becomes such Subsidiary of
the Company or is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or a
Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable.
SECTION 4.11 LIENS
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any
asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom or
assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, except Permitted Liens,
unless the Notes are secured by such Lien on an equal and ratable basis;
provided that if the Obligation secured by any Lien is subordinate or junior in
right of payment to the Notes, the Lien securing such Obligation shall be
subordinate and junior to the Lien securing the Notes with the same or lesser
relative priority as such Obligation shall have been with respect to the Notes.
SECTION 4.12 DIVIDEND AND OTHER PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECT ING SUBSIDIARIES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its 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 Subsidiary
to (i)(a) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other
interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (b) pay any
indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) make loans or
advances to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer any of its
properties or assets to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (a) Existing
Indebtedness as in effect on the date of this Indenture, (b) the Credit
Agreement as in effect as of the date of this Indenture, and any amendments,
modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings,
replacements or refinancings thereof, (c) this Indenture and the
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Notes or Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to this Indenture and
ranking pari passu with the Notes or the Guaranty, as applicable, to the extent
such restrictions are no more restrictive than those of this Indenture, (d)
applicable law, (e) any instrument governing Acquired Indebtedness or Capital
Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in
effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Acquired
Indebtedness was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person,
or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the
property or assets of the Person, so acquired, (f) by reason of customary non-
assignment provisions in leases and licenses entered into in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practices, (g) Purchase Money Obligations
or Capital Lease Obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of
business that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (iii) above
only on the property so acquired, (h) agreements relating to the financing of
the acquisition of real or tangible personal property acquired after the date of
this Indenture, provided, that such encumbrance or restriction relates only to
the property which is acquired and in the case of any encumbrance or restriction
that constitutes a Lien, such Lien constitutes a Permitted Lien as set forth in
clause (xi) of the definition of "Permitted Lien," (i) any restriction or
encumbrance contained in contracts for sale of assets permitted by this
Indenture in respect of the assets being sold pursuant to such contract, (j)
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness permitted to be incurred
under this Indenture and incurred on or after the date of this Indenture, (k)
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in
the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more
restrictive than those contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness
being refinanced thereby, or (l) any restriction with respect to a Subsidiary
(or any of its property or assets) imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into
for the direct or indirect sale or disposition of all or substantially all of
the Capital Stock or assets of such Subsidiary (or the property or assets that
are subject to such restriction) pending the closing of such transaction.
SECTION 4.13 LIMITATION ON LAYERING DEBT
The Company shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or
otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that by its terms or the terms of
any document or instrument relating thereto is subordinate or junior in right of
payment to any Senior Indebtedness and senior in any respect in right of payment
to the Notes. The Guarantors shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that by its terms or the terms
of any document or instrument relating thereto is subordinate or junior in right
of payment to any Guarantor Senior Indebtedness and senior in any respect in
right of payment to the Guaranty.
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SECTION 4.14 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to
enter into any transaction (including the sale, lease, exchange, transfer or
other disposition of any of its properties or assets or services, or the
purchase of any properties, assets or services), or enter into or make any
contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the
benefit of, any Affiliate (each of the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"),
unless (i) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to
the Company or the relevant Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained
in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Subsidiary with an unrelated
Person and (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee (a) with respect to any
Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions entered into
after the date of this Indenture involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$1,000,000, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers'
Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transactions comply with clause (i)
above and that such Affiliate Transactions have been approved by a majority of
the disinterested members of the Board of Directors and (b) with respect to any
Affiliate Transactions or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving
aggregate consideration in excess of $10,000,000, a favorable written opinion as
to the fairness to the Company or such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transactions
from a financial point of view issued by an investment banking firm of national
standing in the United States, or in the event such transaction is a type that
investment bankers do not generally render fairness opinions, a valuation or
appraisal firm of national standing; provided that the following shall not be
deemed to be Affiliate Transactions: (A) the Corporate Development and
Administrative Services Agreement dated August 17, 1998 among the Company,
Holdings, Brentwood Private Equity, L.L.C. and Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC
as in effect on the Issue Date, so long as no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing; (B) the Stockholders Agreement dated August 17, 1998
among Holdings and the stockholders listed as signatories thereto; (C)
indemnification agreements entered into by the Company with any of its officers
and directors; (D) any employment or consulting agreement entered into by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries in good faith and in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with the past practice of the Company or such Subsidiary
(including the Lee Employment Agreement and the George Employment Agreement as
in effect on the Issue Date); (E) transactions between or among the Company
and/or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; and (F) transactions permitted by Section
4.9 hereof. In addition, none of the Transactions shall be deemed to be
Affiliate Transactions.
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SECTION 4.15 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES AND INSURANCE
The Company and Subsidiaries of the Company that are Guarantors shall
cause all material properties used or useful to the conduct of their business
and the business of each of their Subsidiaries to be maintained and kept in good
condition, repair and working order (reasonable wear and tear excepted) and
supplied with all necessary equipment and shall cause to be made all necessary
repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in
their reasonable judgment may be necessary, so that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided, however,
that nothing in this Section 4.15 shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company that is a Guarantor from discontinuing any operation or maintenance
of any of such properties, or disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance
or disposal is (a), in the judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company,
desirable in the conduct of the business of such entity and (b) not
disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
The Company and Subsidiaries of the Company that are Guarantors shall
provide, or cause to be provided, for themselves and each of their Subsidiaries,
insurance (including appropriate self-insurance) against loss or damage of the
kinds that, in the reasonable, good faith opinion of the Company is adequate and
appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Company, the Guarantors and
such Subsidiaries.
SECTION 4.16 LINE OF BUSINESS
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or
indirectly engage to any substantial extent in any line or lines of business
activity other than that which, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the
Board of Directors of the Company, is a Related Business.
SECTION 4.17 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 (i) 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 (ii) 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
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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.
SECTION 4.18 STATUS AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY
The Company shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to
become required to register as an "investment company" (as that term is defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or otherwise become subject
to regulation under the Investment Company Act.
ARTICLE 5
SUCCESSORS
SECTION 5.1 MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, OR SALE OF ASSETS
The Company will not in a single transaction or series of related
transactions consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not the Company is
the surviving corporation) or directly or indirectly sell, assign, transfer,
lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties
or assets in one or more related transactions, to another corporation, Person or
entity unless (i) the Company is the surviving corporation or the entity or the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia, (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Notes
and this Indenture, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee, (iii) immediately after such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists; (iv) the Company or the entity or Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the
Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made will, at the time of such transaction and
after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the
beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least
$1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
test set forth in the first paragraph in Section 4.10 hereof; and (v) the
Company shall have delivered to the
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Trustee an Officer's Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that
such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any)
comply with this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the transactions
constituting the Transactions shall be deemed to be expressly permitted under
this Indenture and shall not require the execution and delivery of a
supplemental indenture.
SECTION 5.2 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1
hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with
which the Company is merged or to which such transfer is made shall succeed to,
and (except in the case of a lease) be substituted for, and may exercise every
right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if
such successor corporation had been named therein as the Company, and (except
in the case of a lease) the Company shall be released from the obligations under
the Notes and this Indenture except with respect to any obligations that arise
from, or are related to, such transaction.
For the purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment,
sale or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of
one or more Subsidiaries of the Company, the Company's interest in which
constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company
shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties
and assets of the Company.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT
An "Event of Default" occurs if:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of interest or Liquidated
Damages, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable and the
Default continues for a period of 30 days, whether or not such payment is
prohibited by the provisions of Article 10 hereof;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of or
premium, if any, on any Note when the same becomes due and payable at
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maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, whether or not such payment is
prohibited by the provisions of Article 10 hereof;
(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any covenant, condition
or agreement on the part of the Company to be observed or performed
pursuant to Sections 4.7 or 4.8 hereof;
(4) the Company fails to comply with any of its other agreements or
covenants in, or provisions of, the Notes or this Indenture and the Default
continues for a period of 60 days after receipt of written notice given to
the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders
of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes outstanding
specifying such default or breach, requiring it to be remedied and stating
that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder;
(5) a default occurs under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or
evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee now exists
or shall be created hereafter, which default (a) is caused by a failure to
pay principal of or premium on such Indebtedness at maturity (after giving
effect to any applicable grace period provided in such Indebtedness) or (b)
results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express
maturity and, in each case, the principal amount of such Indebtedness,
together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under
which there has been such a payment default or the maturity of which has
been so accelerated, aggregates $5,000,000 or more;
(6) a nonappealable final judgment or final judgments for the payment
of money (not fully covered by insurance) are entered by a court or courts
of competent jurisdiction against the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments are not paid, bonded,
discharged or stayed for a period (during which execution shall not be
effectively stayed) of 60 days, provided that the aggregate of all such
undischarged judgments exceeds $5,000,000;
(7) except as otherwise permitted by this Indenture, the Guaranty
shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or
shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor,
or any Person
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acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations
under the Guaranty;
(8) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to or
within the meaning of any 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, or
(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
or
(9) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under
any Bankruptcy Law that:
(a) is for relief against the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary in an involuntary case,
(b) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company
or any Significant Subsidiary, or
(c) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive
days.
The term "Bankruptcy Law" means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar
Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term "Custodian" means any
receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy
Law.
SECTION 6.2 ACCELERATION
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
clauses (8) and (9) of Section 6.1 relating to the Company, any Significant
Subsidiary or
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any group of Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may, by notice in
writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders) (an
"Acceleration Notice"), declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.
Upon such declaration, the principal and interest shall be due and payable
immediately (together with the premium referred to in Section 6.1, if
applicable). If an Event of Default specified in clause (8) or (9) of Section
6.1 relating to the Company, any Significant Subsidiary or any group of
Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary,
occurs, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable without further action
or notice. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration
and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or
decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal or
interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured
or waived.
SECTION 6.3 OTHER REMEDIES
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may
pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium or
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the
performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any
of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or
remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or
constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies
are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.4 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the
Holders of all of the Notes, waive an existing Default or Event of Default and
its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in
the payment of the principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, or
interest on, the Notes (including in connection with an offer to purchase).
Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured
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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 6.5 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, it being
understood, however, that, subject to Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have no
duty or obligation to ascertain whether or not such actions or forebearances are
unduly prejudicial to such Holders, or that may involve the Trustee in personal
liability. The Trustee may take any other action that it deems proper that is
not inconsistent with any such direction.
SECTION 6.6 LIMITATION ON SUITS
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture
or the Notes only if:
(a) the Holder of a Note gives to the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
then outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the
remedy;
(c) such Holder of a Note or Holders of Notes offer and, if requested,
provide to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss,
liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after
receipt of the request and the offer and, if requested, the provision of
indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a
direction inconsistent with the request.
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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 6.7 RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NOTES TO RECEIVE PAYMENT
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of
any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium and Liquidated
Damages, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates
expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to
bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective
dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
SECTION 6.8 COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1 occurs and is
continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as
trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of
principal of, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest remaining
unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful,
interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and
expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
SECTION 6.9 TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the
Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall
be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other
property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any custodian in any
such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such
payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the
making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
Trustee under Section 7.7 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 7.7 hereof out
of the estate in any such
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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, provided, that nothing stated herein
shall modify the rights as between the Holders of the Notes and the holders of
the Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, as set
forth in Article 10 hereof. 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; provided,
however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and may be a member of the
creditors' committee.
SECTION 6.10 PRIORITIES
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article, it shall
pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under
Section 7.7 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense 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 and Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest, ratably, without
preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on
the Notes for principal, premium and Liquidated Damages, if any and interest,
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
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reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party
litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the
claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a
suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.7
hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of
the then outstanding Notes.
ARTICLE 7
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.1 DUTIES OF TRUSTEE
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and
use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of its own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the
express provisions of this Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those
duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no
implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the
Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may
conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of
the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to
the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However,
the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine
whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own
negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:
(i) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of
this Section;
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(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment
made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction
received by it pursuant to Section 6.5 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.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee shall be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the
request of any Holders, unless such Holder shall have offered to the Trustee
security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or
expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received
by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held
in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.
SECTION 7.2 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it
to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The
Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an
Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not
be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on
such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with
counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall
be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not
be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.
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(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits
to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any
demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if
signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of
any of the Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee
security reasonable to it or indemnity against the costs, expenses and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or
direction.
(g) Except with respect to Section 4.1 herein, the Trustee shall have
no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company's covenants in Article 4
hereof. In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Default or Event of Default except (i) any Event of Default occurring pursuant
to Sections 6.1(1), 6.1(2) and 4.1 or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of
which the Trustee shall have received written notification or obtained "actual
knowledge." As used herein, the term "actual knowledge" means the actual fact
or statement of knowing, without any duty to make any investigation with regard
thereto.
(h) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in
respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
SECTION 7.3 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 it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for
permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with
like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11
hereof.
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SECTION 7.4 TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation
as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be
accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money
paid to the Company or upon the Company's direction under any provision of this
Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money
received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be
responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or
any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this
Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.5 NOTICE OF DEFAULTS
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case
of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding
the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 7.6 REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS OF THE NOTES
Within 60 days after each December 15 beginning with the December 15
following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain
outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report
dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA (S) 313(a) (but if no
event described in TIA (S) 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months
preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also
shall comply with TIA (S) 313(b)(2). The Trustee shall also transmit by mail
all reports as required by TIA (S) 313(c).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of
Notes shall be mailed to the Company and filed with the SEC and each stock
exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA (S) 313(d). The
Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Notes are listed on any stock
exchange.
SECTION 7.7 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this
Indenture
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and services hereunder. The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any
law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall
reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements,
advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for
its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation,
disbursements and expenses of the Trustee's agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify the Trustee and hold it harmless 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 (including this Section 7.7) and defending itself against any claim
(whether asserted by the Company or any Holder or any other person) or liability
in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties
hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be
attributable to its negligence or bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee
shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.
Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of
its obligations hereunder unless and to the extent such failure materially
prejudices the Company's ability to defend against such claim or otherwise
exercise its rights hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the
Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel
and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The
Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld.
The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.7 shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the
Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or
collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and
interest on particular Notes, provided, that nothing stated herein shall modify
the rights as between the Holders of the Notes and the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, as set forth in
Article 10 hereof. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of
this Indenture, and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of
Default specified in Section 6.1(8) or (9) 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.
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The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA (S) 313(b)(2) to
the extent applicable.
SECTION 7.8 REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor
Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of
appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign in writing 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:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an
order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy
Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or
its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
Trustee. Within one year after the 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.
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 for the
appointment of a successor Trustee.
If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder of a Note who has
been a Holder of a Note for at least six months, fails to comply with Section
7.10, such Holder of a Note may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
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A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appoint
ment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or
removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor
Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this
Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to
Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property
held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided all sums owing to the
Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section
7.7 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section
7.8, the Company's obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the
benefit of the retiring Trustee.
SECTION 7.9 SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER, ETC.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all
or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation,
the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor
Trustee.
SECTION 7.10 ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION
There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation
organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or
of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state
authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000
as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the require
ments of TIA (S) 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA (S)
310(b).
SECTION 7.11 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY
The Trustee is subject to TIA (S) 311(a), excluding any creditor
relationship listed in TIA (S) 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been
removed shall be subject to TIA (S) 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
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ARTICLE 8
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 8.1 OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The Company may, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by
a resolution set forth in an Officers' Certificate, at any time, elect to have
either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon
compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
SECTION 8.2 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.2, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be deemed to have been
discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the
date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "Legal
Defeasance"). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall
be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the
outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "outstanding" only for
the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture
referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other
obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of
and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive
until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders
of outstanding Notes to receive solely from the trust fund described in Section
8.4 hereof, and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest and Liquidated Damages, if any,
on such Notes when such payments are due, (b) the Company's obligations with
respect to such Notes under Article 2 and Section 4.2 hereof, (c) the rights,
powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company's
obligations in connection therewith including, without limitation, Section 7.7
hereof, and (d) this Article 8. The Company may exercise its option under this
Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3
hereof.
SECTION 8.3 COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Upon the Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option
applicable to this Section 8.3, the Company shall, subject to the satisfaction
of the
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conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be released from its obligations
under the covenants contained in Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.11,
4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15 and 4.16 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on
and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter,
"Covenant Defeasance"), and the Notes shall thereafter be deemed not
"outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration
or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such
covenants, but shall continue to be deemed "outstanding" for all other purposes
hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding
for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with
respect to the outstanding Notes, the Company may omit to comply with and shall
have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in
any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference
elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such
covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such
omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under
Section 6.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this
Indenture and such Notes shall be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the
Company's exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this
Section 8.3 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
Section 8.4 hereof, Sections 6.1(5) through 6.1(7) hereof shall not constitute
Events of Default.
SECTION 8.4 CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The following shall be the conditions to the application of either
Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
(a) 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, if any, and interest and
Liquidated Damages, 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 maturity or to a particular
redemption date;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.2 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States
reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (A) the Company has
received
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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;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.3 hereof, the Company
shall have delivered 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;
(d) no Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit (other than an Event of Default or
Default resulting from the incurrence of Indebtedness all or a portion of the
proceeds of which will be used to defease the Notes pursuant to this Article 8
concurrently with such incurrence) or insofar as Sections 6.1(8) or 6.1(9)
hereof is concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the
date of deposit;
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Bank Debt or
any other material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that on 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;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent
of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the
intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of
the Company; and
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(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent provided for, in the case of the Officer's Certificate, (a) through
(g) and, in the case of the Opinion of Counsel, clauses (a) (with respect to the
validity and perfection of the trust), (b), (c) and (e) of this paragraph
relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as applicable, have
been complied with.
SECTION 8.5 DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST;
OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all money and non-callable Government
Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee, collectively for
purposes of this Section 8.5, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in
respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the
Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to
the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the 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, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other
funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable
Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 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 shall 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 8.4 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 8.4(a) 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 8.6 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, if any,
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Liquidated Damages, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two
years after such principal, and premium, if any, Liquidated Damages or interest
has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its written request
or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the
Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as a secured creditor, 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, shall 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 shall not be less than 30 days
from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such
money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 8.7 REINSTATEMENT
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States
dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.2 or
8.3 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 obligations under this Indenture and the Notes
shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to
Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is
permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof,
as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the
reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights
of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the
Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 9.1 WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES
Notwithstanding Section 9.2 of this Indenture, but subject to the
consent of the holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness in the case of any
amendment of or supplement to Article 10 or Section 11.7 hereof, or the
definitions of terms used therein only insofar as such terms are used therein,
the Company and the Trustee may
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amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any
Holder of a Note:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of
certificated Notes;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to the
Holders of the Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation pursuant to
Article 5 hereof;
(d) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the Holders of the Notes (including the addition of any Guarantor)
or that does not adversely affect the legal rights hereunder of any Holder of
the Note;
(e) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA; or
(f) to comply with the procedures of the Depositary with respect to
the provisions of this Indenture and the Notes relating to transfers and/or
exchanges of the Notes.
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
7.2 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of any
amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this
Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that
may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into
such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
SECTION 9.2 WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS OF NOTES
Except as provided below in this Section 9.2, the Company and the
Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including Sections 4.7 and 4.8
hereof) and the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or
exchange offer for the Notes), and, subject
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to Sections 6.4 and 6.7 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other
than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment
default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance
with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent
of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer
or exchange offer for the Notes).
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 7.2 hereof, the Trustee shall
join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture
unless such amended or supplemental Indenture affects the Trustee's own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the
Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such
amended or supplemental Indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes
under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment
or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance
thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section becomes
effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a
notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of
the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental
Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.4 and 6.7 hereof, the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may waive
compliance in a particular instance by the Company with any provision of this
Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected,
an amendment or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-
consenting Holder):
(a) reduce the aggregate principal amount of Notes whose Holders
must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any
Note or alter or waive any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of
the Notes (neither Section 4.7 nor 4.8 hereof shall constitute a provision with
respect to the redemption of the Notes);
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(c) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
including default interest, on any Note;
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal
of, premium, if any, Liquidated Damages, if any, or interest on the Notes
(except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes and a waiver of the
payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(e) make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the
Notes;
(f) make any change in the provisions of this Indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of Notes to receive payments
of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;
(g) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note (a payment
required by either Section 4.7 or 4.8 hereof shall not constitute a redemption
payment); or
(h) make any change in Section 6.4 or 6.7 hereof or in the
foregoing amendment and waiver provisions.
In addition, any amendment to, or supplement or waiver of, Article 10
or Section 11.7 of this Indenture, or the definitions of the terms used therein
only insofar as such terms are used therein, will require the consent of the
holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 9.3 COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes shall be
set forth in a amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as
then in effect.
SECTION 9.4 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
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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 waiver, supplement or amendment becomes
effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance
with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
SECTION 9.5 NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF NOTES
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment,
supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Company in
exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate new Notes
that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not
affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
SECTION 9.6 TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS, ETC.
The Trustee shall 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 amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board
of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture,
the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be
fully protected in relying upon, an Officer's 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
SUBORDINATION
SECTION 10.1 AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE
The Company agrees, and each Holder by accepting a Note agrees, that
the Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes and the payment of principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and Liquidated Damages, if any, in
respect of the Notes are subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in
the manner provided in this Article 10, to the prior payment in full of all
Obligations in respect of Senior
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Indebtedness (whether outstanding on the date hereof or hereafter issued,
created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed), and that the subordination is for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness. This Article 10 shall constitute
a continuing offer to all Persons who become holders of, or continue to hold,
Senior Indebtedness, and such provisions are made for the benefit of the holders
of Senior Indebtedness.
SECTION 10.2 LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY
Upon any distribution to creditors of the Company or a Guarantor in a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a Guarantor or in a bankruptcy,
reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the
Company or a Guarantor or its property, whether voluntary or involuntary, an
assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of the Company's or
any Guarantor's assets and liabilities:
(1) holders of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness,
as applicable, shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash or Cash
Equivalents of all Obligations due in respect of such Senior Indebtedness
or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable (including Post-Petition
Interest, Expense and Indemnity Claims), before the Holders of the Notes or
the Guaranty shall be entitled to receive any payment with respect to the
Notes or the Guaranty (except that Holders of the Notes or the Guaranty may
receive (i) Junior Securities and (ii) payments and other distributions
made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof upon
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof); and
(2) until all Obligations due with respect to Senior Indebtedness or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable (including Post-Petition
Interest, Expense and Indemnity Claims) are paid in full in cash or Cash
Equivalents, any distribution to which Holders of the Notes or the Guaranty
would be entitled but for this Article shall be made to holders of Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable (except that
Holders of the Notes or the Guaranty may receive (i) Junior Securities and
(ii) payments and other distributions made from any defeasance trust
created pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof upon satisfaction of the conditions
set forth in Section 8.4 hereof).
SECTION 10.3 DEFAULT ON DESIGNATED SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor may make any payment or
distribution in respect of the Notes or the Guaranty or acquire any Notes
pursuant to
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Section 4.7 or 4.8 hereof (other than (i) Junior Securities and (ii) payments
and other distributions made from any defeasance trust created pursuant to
Section 8.1 hereof upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4
hereof) until all principal, interest and other Obligations with respect to the
Senior Indebtedness or the applicable Guarantor Senior Indebtedness have been
paid in full if:
(a) a default in the payment of any principal, interest or any
other Obligations due in respect of Designated Senior Indebtedness occurs
and is continuing beyond any applicable grace period in the agreement,
indenture or other document governing such Designated Senior Indebtedness
(a "Payment Default"); or
(b) a default, other than a Payment Default, on Designated Senior
Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that then permits holders of such
Designated Senior Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee
receives a notice of the default (a "Payment Blockage Notice") from a
Person who may give it pursuant to Section 10.11 hereof. If the Trustee
receives any such Payment Blockage Notice, no subsequent Payment Blockage
Notice shall be effective for purposes of this Section 10.3 unless and
until at least 360 days shall have elapsed since the effectiveness of the
immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice. No nonpayment default that
existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage
Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent
Payment Blockage Notice (it being acknowledged that any subsequent action
or any breach of any financial covenant for a period ending after the
expiration of such Payment Blockage Period that, in either case, would give
rise to a new default, even through it is a breach pursuant to any
provision under which a prior default previously existed shall constitute a
new default for this purpose.)
The Company may and shall resume payments on and distributions in
respect of the Notes and may acquire them upon the earlier of:
(1) in the case of a default referred to in Section 10.3 (a) hereof,
the date upon which the default is cured or waived, or
(2) in the case of a default referred to in Section 10.3(b) hereof,
the earlier of the date on which such default is waived or cured or 179
days pass after the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received, unless
the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated,
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if this Article 10 otherwise permits the payment, distribution or acquisition at
the time of such payment, distribution or acquisition.
SECTION 10.4 ACCELERATION OF NOTES
If payment of the Notes is accelerated because of an Event of Default,
the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Indebtedness of the
acceleration.
SECTION 10.5 WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER
In the event that the Trustee or any Holder receives any payment or
distribution in respect of any Obligations with respect to the Notes or the
Guaranty at a time when the Trustee has actual knowledge that such payment or
distribution is prohibited by Section 10.2 or 10.3 hereof, such payment shall be
held by the Trustee or such Holder, in trust for the benefit of, and shall be
paid forthwith over and delivered, upon written request, to, the holders of
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, as their
interests may appear or their Representative under the agreement (if any)
pursuant to which Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as
applicable, may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for
application to the payment of all Obligations with respect to Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, remaining unpaid
(including Post-Petition Interest, Expense and Indemnity Claims) to the extent
necessary to pay such Obligations in full in accordance with their terms, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable.
With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, or Guarantor
Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, the Trustee undertakes to perform only such
obligations on the part of the Trustee as are specifically set forth in this
Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders
of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed
to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, or Guarantor
Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, and shall not be liable to any such holders
if the Trustee shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders or the
Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holders of Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, shall be entitled
by virtue of this Article 10, except if such payment is made as a result of the
bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence of the Trustee.
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SECTION 10.6 NOTICE BY COMPANY
The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of
any facts known to the Company that would cause a payment of any Obligations
with respect to the Notes to violate this Article 10, but failure to give such
notice shall not affect the subordination of the Notes and the Guaranty to the
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, as provided
in this Article 10.
SECTION 10.7 SUBROGATION
After all Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as
applicable, is paid in full and until the Notes are paid in full, Holders shall
be subrogated (equally and ratably with all other Indebtedness pari passu with
the Notes) to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness, as applicable, to receive distributions applicable to Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, to the extent that
distributions otherwise payable to the Holders have been applied to the payment
of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable. A
distribution made under this Article 10 to holders of Senior Indebtedness or
Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, that otherwise would have been
made to Holders is not, as between the Company or any Guarantor, as applicable,
and Holders, a payment by the Company or such Guarantor, as applicable, on the
Notes.
SECTION 10.8 RELATIVE RIGHTS
This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Holders and holders of
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable. Nothing in
this Indenture shall:
(1) impair, as between the Company and Holders, the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay principal of and
interest on the Notes in accordance with their terms;
(2) affect the relative rights of Holders and creditors of the
Company other than their rights in relation to holders of Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable; or
(3) prevent the Trustee or any Holder from exercising its available
remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject to the rights of
holders and owners of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness,
as applicable, to receive distributions and payments otherwise payable to
Holders.
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If the Company fails because of this Article 10 to pay principal of or
interest on a Note on the due date, the failure is still a Default or Event of
Default.
SECTION 10.9 SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY COMPANY
No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness, as applicable, to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness
evidenced by the Notes shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the
Company or any Holder or by the failure of the Company or any Guarantor, as
applicable, or any Holder to comply with this Indenture. The holders of Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, may extend, renew,
modify or amend the terms of the Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness, as the case may be, or any security therefor and release, sell or
exchange such security and otherwise deal freely with the Company and the
Guarantors, all without affecting the liabilities and obligations of the parties
to this Indenture or the Holders.
SECTION 10.10 DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE
Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of
Senior Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, the
distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative. The
Trustee acknowledges that Societe Generale is the initial Representative under
the Credit Agreement. The Company shall provide the Trustee with notice of the
name and address of any other Representative. In the absence of such notice,
the Trustee may conclusively assume that no Representative exists.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to
in this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon
any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction or upon any
certificate of such Representative or of the liquidating trustee or agent or
other Person making any distribution to the Trustee or to the Holders for the
purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such
distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of
the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid
or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article
10.
SECTION 10.11 RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other
provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of
the existence of
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any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment or distribution by the
Trustee, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent may continue to make payments on
the Notes, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office
at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment written notice of
facts that would cause the payment of any Obligations with respect to the Notes
to violate this Article 10. Only the Company or a Representative may give the
notice. Nothing in this Article 10 shall impair the claims of, or payments to,
the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.7 hereof.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior
Indebtedness or Guarantor Senior Indebtedness, as applicable, with the same
rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with
like rights.
SECTION 10.12 AUTHORIZATION TO EFFECT SUBORDINATION
Each Holder of a Note by the Holder's acceptance thereof authorizes
and directs the Trustee on the Holder's behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this
Article 10, and appoints the Trustee to act as the Holder's attorney-in-fact for
any and all such purposes. If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim
or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section
6.9 hereof at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such
claim, any Representative is hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for
and on behalf of the Holders of the Notes.
SECTION 10.13 AMENDMENTS
The provisions of this Article 10 shall not be amended or modified
without the written consent of the holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness or
their Representatives in accordance with the instruments governing the terms of
such Designated Senior Indebtedness.
ARTICLE 11
GUARANTY
SECTION 11.1 GUARANTY
At any time Notes are outstanding under this Indenture, the Company
may cause any one or more of its Subsidiaries to become a Guarantor hereunder,
in accordance with the terms of this Article 11. Subject to the provisions of
this Article 11,
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and in consideration of good and valuable consideration, the receipt of and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each of the Guarantors, jointly
and severally, hereby unconditionally guarantees (the "Guaranty") to each Holder
of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee and its
successors and assigns, that: (a) the principal of, and premium, if any,
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes will be duly and
punctually paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, and interest on overdue principal of, and premium, if any, Liquidated
Damages, if any and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any interest,
if any, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the Holders or
the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes (including fees, expenses or other)
will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms
hereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any
Notes or any of such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full
when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or renewal,
whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon a Change
of Control Offer, upon an Asset Sale Offer or otherwise. Failing payment when
due of any amount so guaranteed or failing performance of any other obligation
of the Company to the Holders, for whatever reason, each Guarantor will be
obligated to pay, or to perform or to cause the performance of, the same
immediately and before failure so to pay becomes an Event of Default. An Event
of Default under this Indenture or the Notes shall constitute an event of
default under the Guaranty, and shall entitle the Holders of Notes to accelerate
the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder in the same manner and to the same
extent as the obligations of the Company, but only if the obligations of the
Company are so accelerated.
Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of
the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any
waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any thereof, the
entry 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 and
relinquishes: (a) any right to require the Trustee, the Holders or the Company
(each, a "Benefitted Party") to proceed against the Company, the Subsidiaries or
any other Person or to proceed against or exhaust any security held by a
Benefitted Party at any time or to pursue any other remedy in any secured
party's power before proceeding against the Guarantors; (b) any defense that may
arise by reason of the incapacity, lack of authority, death or disability of any
other Person or Persons or the failure of a Benefitted Party to file or enforce
a claim against the estate (in administration, bankruptcy or any other
proceeding) of any other Person or Persons; (c) demand, protest and notice of
any kind (except as expressly required by this Indenture), including but not
limited to notice of the existence, creation or incurring of
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any new or additional Indebtedness or obligation or of any action or non-action
on the part of the Guarantors, the Company, the Subsidiaries, any Benefitted
Party, any creditor of the Guarantors, the Company or the Subsidiaries or on the
part of any other Person whomsoever in connection with any obligations the
performance of which are hereby guaranteed; (d) any defense based upon an
election of remedies by a Benefitted Party, including but not limited to an
election to proceed against the Guarantors for reimburse ment; (e) any defense
based upon any statute or rule of law which provides that the obligation of a
surety must be neither larger in amount nor in other respects more burdensome
than that of the principal; (f) any defense arising because of a Benefitted
Party's election, in any proceeding instituted under the Bankruptcy Law, of the
application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; and (g) any defense
based on any borrowing or grant of a security interest under Section 364 of the
Bankruptcy Code. The Guarantors hereby covenant that the Guaranty will not be
discharged except by payment in full of all principal, premium, if any,
Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other costs
provided for under this Indenture, or as provided in Section 8.1.
If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to
return to either the Company or the Guarantors, or any trustee or similar
official acting in relation to either the Company or the Guarantors, any amount
paid by the Company or the Guarantors to the Trustee or such Holder, the
Guaranty, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full
force and effect. Each of the Guarantors 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 agrees that, as between it, on the one hand,
and the Holders of Notes and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of
the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6
hereof for the purposes hereof, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other
prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations
guaranteed hereby, but otherwise only if the obligations of the Company are
accelerated hereunder and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such
obligations as provided in Article 6 hereof, such obligations (whether or not
due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for
the purpose of the Guaranty.
SECTION 11.2 EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF GUARANTY
To evidence the Guaranty set forth in Section 11.1 hereof, each of the
Guarantors agrees that a Guarantee substantially in the form of the Guaranty
included in Exhibit B shall be delivered and that this Indenture shall be
executed on behalf of the
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Guarantors by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, the President or one
of the Vice Presidents of the Guarantors.
Each of the Guarantors agrees that the Guarantee set forth in this
Article 11 will remain in full force and effect and apply to all the Notes
notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note a notation of the Guarantee.
If an Officer whose facsimile signature is on a Note no longer holds
that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note to which the Guaranty
relates, the Guaranty shall be valid nevertheless.
The delivery of any Note by the Trustee, after the authentication
thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of the Guaranty set forth in
this Indenture on behalf of the Guarantors.
SECTION 11.3 GUARANTORS MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ON CERTAIN TERMS
(a) Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Notes shall prevent
any consolidation or merger of a Guarantor with or into the Company or another
Guarantor, or shall prevent the transfer of all or substantially all of the
assets of a Guarantor to the Company or another Guarantor. Upon any such
consolidation, merger, transfer or sale, the Guaranty of such Guarantor shall no
longer have any force or effect.
(b) Except as set forth in Article 4, nothing contained in this
Indenture or in any of the Notes shall prevent any consolidation or merger of a
Guarantor with or into a corporation or corporations other than the Company or
another Guarantor (whether or not affiliated with the Guarantor), or successive
consolidations or mergers in which such a Guarantor or its successor or
successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent the transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of such a Guarantor, to a corporation other than
the Company or another Guarantor (whether or not affiliated with such Guarantor)
authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that, except as
provided in Section 11.4 hereof, each such Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees
that, upon any such consolidation, merger or transfer, the Guaranty, and the due
and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions
of this Indenture to be performed by such Guarantor, shall be expressly assumed
(in the event that the Guarantor is not the surviving corporation in the
merger), by a supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee,
executed and delivered to the Trustee, by the corporation formed by such
consolidation, or into which such Guarantor shall have been merged, or by the
corporation which shall have acquired such property.
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In case of any such consolidation, merger or transfer of assets and upon the
assumption by the successor corporation, by supplemental indenture, executed and
delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the
Guaranty and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture to be performed by such Guarantor, such successor
corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for such Guarantor with the same
effect as if it had been named herein as a Guarantor. Such successor corporation
thereupon may cause to be signed any or all of each Guaranty of all of the Notes
issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company
and delivered to the Trustee. Each Guaranty so issued shall in all respects have
the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as each Guaranty
theretofore and thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture
as though each such Guaranty had been issued at the date of the execution
hereof.
(c) The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 11.4 hereof,
shall be entitled to receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel
as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance,
and any such assumption of Obligations, comply with the provisions of this
Section 11.3. Such certificate and opinion shall comply with the provisions of
Section 11.5.
SECTION 11.4 RELEASE OF GUARANTORS
(a) Without any further notice or action being required by any Person,
any Guarantor, and each Subsidiary of such Guarantor that is also a Guarantor,
shall be fully and conditionally released and discharged from all obligations
under its Guaranty and this Indenture, upon (i) the sale or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the assets or properties of such Guarantor, or 50%
or more of the Equity Interests of any such Guarantor to Persons other than the
Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) the consolidation or merger of any such
Guarantor with any Person other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company,
if, as a result of such consolidation or merger, Persons other than the Company
and its Subsidiaries beneficially own more than 50% of the capital stock of such
Guarantor, provided that, in either such case, the Net Proceeds of such sale,
disposition, merger or consolidation are applied in accordance with Section 4.8
of this Indenture; or (iii) a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as set
forth in Article 8.
(b) The releases and discharges set forth in Section 11.4(a) shall be
effective (i) in the case of releases and discharges effected pursuant to clause
(i) or (ii) of Section 11.4(a) by virtue of a sale, disposition, consolidation
or merger, on the date of consummation thereof and (ii) in the case of releases
and discharges effected pursuant to clause (iii) of Section 11.4(a), upon the
date of Covenant Defeasance or
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Legal Defeasance, as applicable. At the written request of the Company, the
Trustee shall promptly execute and deliver appropriate instruments in forms
reasonably acceptable to the Company evidencing and further implementing any
releases and discharges pursuant to the foregoing provisions. If the Company
desires the instruments evidencing or implementing any releases or discharges to
be executed prior to the effectiveness of such releases and discharges as set
forth above, such instruments may be made conditional upon the occurrence of the
events necessary to cause the effectiveness of such releases and discharges, as
specified in the first sentence of this Section 11.4
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 11, (i)
any Guarantor whose Guaranty would otherwise be released pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 11.4 may elect, by written notice to the Trustee, to
maintain such Guaranty in effect notwithstanding the event or events that
otherwise would cause the release of such Guaranty (which election to maintain
such Guaranty in effect may be conditional or for a limited period of time), and
(ii) any Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Guarantor may elect, by
written notice to the Trustee, to become a Guarantor (which election may be
conditional or for a limited period of time).
SECTION 11.5 LIMITATION OF GUARANTOR'S LIABILITY; CERTAIN BANKRUPTCY EVENTS
(a) Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby
confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Guarantee by such
Guarantor pursuant to its Guaranty not constitute a fraudulent transfer or
conveyance for purposes of the Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance
Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law.
To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and such Guarantor hereby
irrevocably agree that the obligations of such Guarantor under this Article 11
shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other
contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to
any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in
respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 11, result
in the obligations of such Guarantor under the Guaranty of such Guarantor not
constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.
(b) Each Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees, to the fullest extent
that it may do so under applicable law, that in the event of the insolvency,
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, such
Guarantor shall not file (or join in any filing of), or otherwise seek to
participate in the filing of, any motion or request seeking to stay or to
prohibit (even temporarily) execution on the
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Guaranty and hereby waives and agrees not to take the benefit of any such stay
of execution, whether under Section 362 or 105 of the Bankruptcy Law or
otherwise.
SECTION 11.6 APPLICATION OF CERTAIN TERMS AND PROVISIONS TO THE GUARANTOR
(a) For purposes of any provision of this Indenture which provides for
the delivery by any Guarantor of an Officers' Certificate and/or an Opinion of
Counsel, the definitions of such terms in Section 1.1 shall apply to such
Guarantor as if references therein to the Company were references to such
Guarantor.
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand which by any provision of
this Indenture is to be made by any Guarantor, shall be sufficient if evidenced
as described in Section 12.2 as if references therein to the Company were
references to such Guarantor.
(c) Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is
required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of
Notes to or on any Guarantor may be given or served as described in Section 12.2
as if references therein to Company were references to such Guarantor.
(d) Upon any demand, request or application by any Guarantor to the
Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, such Guarantor shall furnish to
the Trustee such certificates and opinions as are required in Section 11.4
hereof as if all references therein to the Company were references to such
Guarantor.
SECTION 11.7 SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTY
The Obligations of each Guarantor under its Guaranty pursuant to this
Article 11 shall be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all Obligations in respect of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness of such
Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are subordinated to the Senior
Indebtedness of the Company. For the purposes of the foregoing sentence, (a)
each Guarantor may make, and the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall have
the right to receive and/or retain, payments by any of the Guarantors or
distributions in any proceeding described in Section 10.2 hereof only at such
times and on such conditions as they may receive and/or retain payments and
distributions in respect of the Notes pursuant to this Indenture, including
Article 10 hereof, and (b) the rights and obligations of the relevant parties
relative to the Guaranty and the Guarantor Senior Indebtedness shall be the same
as their respective rights and
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obligations relative to the Notes and Senior Indebtedness of the Company
pursuant to Article 10.
ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 12.1 TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with
the duties imposed by TIA (S)318(c), the imposed duties shall control. If any
provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA that
may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to
this Indenture as so modified or excluded, as the case may be.
SECTION 12.2 NOTICES
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the
others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first
class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telex,
telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the
others' address:
If to the Company:
Bell Sports, Inc.
6350 San Ignacio Avenue
San Jose, California 95119
Telephone No.: (408) 574-3400
Telecopier No.: (408) 574-3436
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
If to the Trustee:
Harris Trust and Savings Bank
311 West Monroe Street
12/th/ Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Telephone No.: (312) 461-2420
Telecopier No.: (312) 461-3525
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Attention: Corporate Trust Department
The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders)
shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if
personally delivered; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged,
if telecopied; 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 shall be mailed by first class
mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air
courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept
by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any
Person described in TIA (S) 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above
within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee
receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall
mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION 12.3 COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS OF NOTES WITH OTHER HOLDERS OF NOTES
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA (S) 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 (S)
312(c).
SECTION 12.4 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:
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(a) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 12.5 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions
precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the
proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in
Section 12.5 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such
conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
SECTION 12.5 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 (S) 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA
(S) 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has
read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has
made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express
an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been
satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person,
such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
SECTION 12.6 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 12.7 NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND
STOCKHOLDERS
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No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator
or stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Notes, this Indenture or for any claim
based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The
waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
SECTION 12.8 GOVERNING LAW
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO
CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND THE GUARANTY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT
LIMITATION, SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.
SECTION 12.9 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 shall
bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind
its successors.
SECTION 12.11 SEVERABILITY
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes shall be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 12.12 COUNTERPART ORIGINALS
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each
signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same
agreement.
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SECTION 12.13 TABLE OF CONTENTS, HEADINGS, ETC.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the
Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of
reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in
no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
[Signatures on following page]
113
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Indenture as of the
day and year first above written.
BELL SPORTS, INC.,
as Issuer
By: /s/ Linda K. Bounds
-----------------------------------
Name: Linda K. Bounds
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary
and Treasurer
BELL SPORTS CORP.,
as Guarantor
By: /s/ Linda K. Bounds
-----------------------------------
Name: Linda K. Bounds
Title: Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary
and Treasurer
HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
as Trustee
By: /s/ J. Bartolini
-----------------------------------
Name: J. Bartolini
Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
[FORM OF NOTE]
BELL SPORTS, INC.
11% [SERIES A] [SERIES B] SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE
DUE 2008
CUSIP: _________
No. $________________
Bell Sports, Inc., a California corporation (hereinafter called the
"Company" which term includes any successors under this Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to __________, or
registered assigns, the principal sum of __________ Dollars, on August 15, 2008.
Interest Payment Dates: February 15 and August 15; commencing February 15,
1999.
Record Dates: February 1 and August 1
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note on the reverse
side, which will, for all purposes, have the same effect as if set forth at this
place.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: ____________, 1998
BELL SPORTS, INC.
a California corporation
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
By:___________________________
Name:
Title:
A-1
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[FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]
This is one of the Notes described in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Harris Trust and Savings Bank
as Trustee
By:_____________________________
Authorized Signatory
Dated:______________, 1998
A-2
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(Back of Note)
11% [Series A] [Series B] Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
[Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Notes in
definitive form, this Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to
the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any
such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor
Depositary. Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New
York) ("DTC"), to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange
or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co.
or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC
(and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or such other entity as may be requested
by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.
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 (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS
MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL
NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.6(a)
OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE
FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS
GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR
WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.]/1/
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE AND THE
CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR DEFINITIVE NOTES,
ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS
- ----------------
/1/ This paragraph should be included only for the Global Securities.
A-3
<PAGE>
DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS
REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE CASH
PAYMENTS OF INTEREST DURING THE PERIOD WHICH SUCH HOLDER HOLDS THIS NOTE.
NOTHING IN THIS LEGEND SHALL BE DEEMED TO PREVENT INTEREST FROM ACCRUING ON
THIS NOTE./2/
THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S.
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND,
ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S.
PERSONS, EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THE NEXT SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION
HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER: (1) REPRESENTS THAT
(A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT) (A "QIB"), (B) IT IS AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) (AN "IAI") OR (C) IT HAS ACQUIRED THIS NOTE IN AN
OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE
EXCEPT (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES, (B) TO A PERSON WHOM
THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR
FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QIB IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144A, (C) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 903
OR RULE 904 OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE
REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN IAI THAT,
PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING
CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THIS
NOTE (THE FORM OF WHICH CAN BE
- --------------
/2/ This paragraph should be included only for the Reg S Temporary Global
Securities.
A-4
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OBTAINED FROM THE TRUSTEE) AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF
COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, IF THE COMPANY SO REQUESTS, THAT SUCH
TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, (F) IN ACCORDANCE WITH
ANOTHER EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT
(AND BASED UPON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY, IF THE
COMPANY SO REQUESTS) OR (G) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
AND, IN EACH CASE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY
STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND (3)
AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS NOTE OR AN INTEREST
HEREIN IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
AS USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" AND "UNITED STATES" HAVE
THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY RULE 902 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT. THE INDENTURE CONTAINS A PROVISION REQUIRING THE TRUSTEE TO REFUSE TO
REGISTER ANY TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE IN VIOLATION OF THE FOREGOING./3/
Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in
this Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
1. Interest. Bell Sports, Inc., a California corporation (the "Company"),
promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 11% per annum
and shall pay the Liquidated Damages, if any, payable pursuant to Section 5 of
the Registration Rights Agreement referred to below. The Company will pay
interest and Liquidated Damages semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of
each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the preceding Business
Day (each, an "Interest Payment Date"). Interest on the Notes will accrue from
the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been
paid, from the date of original issuance; provided that if there is no existing
Default in the payment of interest, and if this Note is authenticated between a
Record Date (defined below) 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
- ------------
/3/ This paragraph should be included only for the Transfer Restricted
Securities.
A-5
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shall be February 15, 1999. The Company shall pay interest (including post-
petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at a rate that is 1%
per annum in excess of the rate then in effect; it shall pay interest (including
post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue
installments of interest and Liquidated Damages (without regard to any
applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the same rate to the
extent lawful. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months.
2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except
defaulted interest) and Liquidated Damages, if any, to the Persons who are
registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on the February 1 or August
1 next preceding the Interest Payment Date (each, a "Record Date"), even if such
Notes are cancelled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest
Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of this Indenture with respect
to defaulted interest. The Notes will be payable as to principal, premium,
interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose within the City and State of New York, or, at the
option of the Company, payment of interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, may
be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the
register of Holders, and provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately
available funds will be required with respect to principal of, interest, premium
and Liquidated Damages, if any, on all Global Notes and all other Notes the
Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Company
or the Paying Agent. Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the
United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment
of public and private debts.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Harris Trust and Savings Bank,
the Trustee under this 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
August 17, 1998 ("Indenture") between the Company, Holdings and the Trustee.
The terms of the Notes include those stated in this Indenture and those made
part of this Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (15 U.S. Code (S)(S) 77aaa-77bbbb). The Notes are subject to all such
terms, and Holders are referred to this Indenture and such Act for a statement
of such terms. The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company limited to
$150,000,000 (of which $110,000,000 will be issued as of August 17, 1998) in
aggregate principal amount.
5. Optional Redemption.
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(a) Except as set forth in clause (b) of this Section of this Note,
the Company shall not have the option to redeem the Notes prior to August 15,
2003. Thereafter, the Company shall have the option to redeem the Notes, in
whole or in part, from time to time, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days
notice to the Holders, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon, to the applicable redemption date, if
redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 15 of the years
indicated below:
YEAR PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
2003................................... 105.500%
2004................................... 103.667%
2005................................... 101.833%
2006 and thereafter.................... 100.000%
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (a) of this Section of
the Notes, at any time prior to August 15, 2001, the Company may (but shall not
have the obligation to) redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of
the Notes issued under the Indenture at a redemption price of 111.00% of the
principal amount thereof, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the redemption date, with the Net Cash
Proceeds received by the Company from one or more of Equity Offerings; provided
that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under the
Indenture remain outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such
redemption; and provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 60
days of the date of the closing of such Equity Offering.
(c) Notice of redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more
than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder whose Notes are to be
redeemed at its registered address. Notes in denominations larger than $1,000
may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $1,000, unless all of
the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed. On and after the redemption date
interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption
unless the Company defaults in such payments due on the redemption date.
6. Mandatory Redemption.
The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking
fund payments with respect to the Notes.
7. Repurchase at Option of Holder.
A-7
<PAGE>
(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder of Notes will
have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to
$1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of such Holder's Notes 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 and Liquidated Damages, if any, thereon to the date of purchase on a
date (the "Change of Control Payment") no later than 60 Business Days after the
occurrence of the Change of Control. Within 35 days following any Change of
Control, the Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control and offering
to repurchase Notes pursuant to the procedures required by this Indenture and
described in such notice, which offer shall remain open for at least 20 Business
Days following its commencement, but in any event no longer than 30 Business
Days. 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 the Notes as a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that
the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the
provisions of this paragraph, compliance by the Company or any of the Guarantors
with such laws and regulations shall not in and of itself cause a breach of its
obligations under such covenant.
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 so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee the Notes so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the
aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions thereof being purchased by the
Company. The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes so
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will
promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to
each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of
the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a
principal amount of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Prior to complying
with the provisions of this covenant, but in any event within 30 days following
a Change of Control, the Company will either repay all outstanding Designated
Senior Indebtedness or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all
agreements governing outstanding Designated Senior Indebtedness to permit the
repurchase of Notes required by this covenant. The Company will not be required
to purchase any Notes until it has complied with the preceding sentence, but the
Company's failure to make a Change of Control Offer when required or to purchase
tendered Notes when tendered would constitute an Event of Default. 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.
A-8
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(b) The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to,
engage in an Asset Sale in excess of $1,000,000 unless (i) the Company (or such
Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset
Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interest
sold or otherwise disposed of and, in the case of a lease of assets, a lease
providing for rent and other conditions which are no less favorable to the
Company (or the Subsidiary, as the case may be) in any material respect than the
then prevailing market conditions (evidenced in each case by a resolution of the
Board of Directors of such entity set forth in an Officers' Certificate
delivered to the Trustee) of the assets or Equity Interests sold or otherwise
disposed of, and (ii) at least 75% (100% in the case of lease payments) of the
consideration therefor received by the Company or such Subsidiary is in the
form of cash or Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of (x) any Senior
Indebtedness of the Company or any Indebtedness of any Subsidiary (as shown on
the Company's or such Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet or in the notes
thereto, but excluding contingent liabilities and trade payables) that is
assumed by the transferee of any such assets and from which the Company or such
Subsidiary are unconditionally released from liability and (y) any notes,
securities or other obligations received by the Company or any such Subsidiaries
from such transferee that are promptly, but in no event more than 30 days after
receipt, converted by the Company or such Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of
the cash received) shall be deemed to be cash for purposes of this provision and
the receipt of such cash shall be treated as cash received from the Asset Sale
for which such Notes or obligations were received.
The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may apply the Net Proceeds from each
Asset Sale, at its option within 360 days, (a) to permanently reduce any Senior
Indebtedness and any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary (and in the case of any senior
revolving indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries correspondingly
permanently to reduce commitments with respect thereto), (b) to make capital
expenditures, for the acquisition of another business or the acquisition of
other long-term assets, in each case, in the same or a Related Business, or (c)
to reimburse the Company or its Subsidiaries for expenditures made, and costs
incurred, to repair, rebuild, replace or restore property subject to loss,
damage or taking to the extent that the Net Proceeds consist of insurance
proceeds received on account of such loss, damage or taking. Pending the final
application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may invest such Net Proceeds
in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture. Any Net Proceeds from
Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the first sentence
of this paragraph will be deemed to constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the
aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $5,000,000, the Company will be
required to make an unconditional and irrevocable offer to all Holders of Notes
(an "Asset Sale Offer") and to holders of other Indebtedness of the Company
outstanding ranking on a parity with the Notes with similar provisions requiring
the Company to make a similar offer with proceeds from asset sales, pro rata in
proportion to the respective principal amounts (or accreted values
A-9
<PAGE>
in the case of Indebtedness issued with an original issue discount) of the Notes
and such other Indebtedness then outstanding, to purchase the maximum principal
amount (or accreted value, as applicable) of Notes and such other Indebtedness,
if any, that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, at an offer price in
cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount (or accreted value, as
applicable) thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and Liquidated Damages, if
any, thereon to the date of purchase, in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount (or accreted value,
as applicable) of Notes and such Indebtedness surrendered by Holders thereof
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be
purchased on a pro rata basis in increments of $1,000 with such Indebtedness.
Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall
be reset at zero.
8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000.
The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided
in this 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 this Indenture. The Company need not exchange or register the
transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption, except for
the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part. Also, it need not
exchange or register the transfer of any Notes for a period of 15 days before a
selection of Notes to be redeemed or during the period between a Record Date and
the corresponding Interest Payment Date.
9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered Holder of a Note may be treated
as its owner for all purposes.
10. Amendment, Supplement and Waiver. Subject to certain exceptions, this
Indenture or the Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding
Notes, and any existing default or compliance with any provision of this
Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. Without
the consent of any Holder of a Note, this Indenture or the Notes 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 obligations to Holders of the Notes
in case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would provide any
additional rights or benefits to the Holders of the Notes (including the
addition of any Guarantor) or that does not adversely affect the legal rights
under this Indenture of any such Holder, or to comply with the requirements of
the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act.
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11. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default include: (i) default for 30
days in the payment when due of interest or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the
Notes; (ii) default in payment when due of principal of or premium, if any, on
the Notes when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon redemption
(including in connection with an offer to purchase) or otherwise, (iii) failure
by the Company to comply with Section 4.7 and 4.8 of this Indenture; (iv)
failure by the Company for 60 days after notice to the Company by the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then
outstanding to comply with certain other agreements in this Indenture or the
Notes; (v) default under certain other agreements relating to Indebtedness of
the Company which default results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior
to its express maturity; (vi) certain nonappealable final judgments for the
payment of money that remain undischarged for a period of 60 days; (vii) a
declaration that the Guaranty is unenforceable; or (viii) certain events of
bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately by
notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from
certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding Notes will become
due and payable without further action or notice. Holders may not enforce this
Indenture or the Notes except as provided in this Indenture. Subject to certain
limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.
The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing
Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default relating to
the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice
is in their interest. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the
Holders of all of the Notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and
its consequences under this Indenture except a continuing Default or Event of
Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the Notes. The
Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding
compliance with this 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.
12. Subordination. The Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes and the
payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on and Liquidated
Damages, if any, in respect of the Notes will be subordinated in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of Senior Indebtedness as set forth in
Article 10 of the Indenture.
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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. A director, officer, employee,
incorporator or stockholder, of the Company, as such, shall not have any
liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or this Indenture
or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or
their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the
issuance of the Notes.
15. Authentication. This Note shall 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 Transfer Restricted Notes. In
addition to the rights provided to Holders of Notes under this Indenture,
Holders of Transferred Restricted Notes shall have all the rights set forth in
the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of the date of this Indenture,
between the Company and the parties named on the signature pages thereof (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. Notation of Guarantee. As more fully set forth in the Indenture, each
of Holdings and the Persons constituting Guarantors from time to time, in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, unconditionally and jointly and
severally guarantee, in accordance with Section 11.1 of the Indenture, to each
Holder of a Note authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and to the Trustee
and its successors and assigns, that: (a) the principal of, and premium, if
any, Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the Notes will be duly and
punctually paid in full when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, and interest on overdue principal of, and premium, if any,
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Liquidated Damages, if any and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any
interest, if any, on the Notes and all other obligations of the Company to the
Holders or the Trustee hereunder or under the Notes (including fees, expenses or
other) will be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the
terms hereof; and (b) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of
any Notes or any of such other obligations, the same will be promptly paid in
full when due or performed in accordance with the terms of the extension or
renewal, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, call for redemption, upon
a Change of Control Offer, upon an Asset Sale Offer or otherwise. Such
guarantees are subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
all Obligations in respect of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness as set forth in
Article 10 of the Indenture and shall cease to apply, and shall be null and
void, with respect to any Guarantor who, pursuant to Article 11 of the
Indenture, is released from its Guaranty or whose Guaranty otherwise ceases to
be applicable pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
When a successor assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the
Notes and the Indenture, the predecessor will be released from those
obligations.
20. Governing Law. THE INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.
The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without
charge a copy of this Indenture and/or the Registration Rights Agreement.
Requests may be made to:
Bell Sports, Inc.
6350 San Ignacio Avenue
San Jose, California 95119
Telecopier No.: (408) 574-3436
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
A-13
<PAGE>
Assignment Form
To assign this Note, fill in the form below: (I) or (we) assign and
transfer this Note to
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint____________________________________________________
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:
__________________________________________________________________________
A-14
<PAGE>
Option of Holder to Elect Purchase
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to
Section 4.7 or 4.8 of this Indenture, check the box below:
[_] Section 4.7 [_] Section 4.8
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.7 or Section 4.8 of this Indenture, state the amount you
elect to have purchased:
$___________
Date:_____________________ Your Signature:_______________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the Note)
Tax Identification No.:____________________
Signature Guarantee:
__________________________________________________________________________
A-15
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF DEFINITIVE NOTE/4/
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for Definitive Notes
have been made:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Amount of Signature of
Amount of decrease in Amount of increase in this Global Note following authorized officer of
Principal Amount of Principal Amount of such decrease Trustee or Note
Date of Exchange this Global Note this Global Note (or increase) Custodian
- ----------------- --------------------- --------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
</TABLE>
/4/ This should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.
A-16
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
GUARANTY
The Guarantor listed below (hereinafter referred to as the "Guarantors,"
which term includes any successor or assign under this Indenture (the
"Indenture") and any additional Guarantors), has irrevocably and unconditionally
guaranteed (i) the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, Liquidated Damages, if any, and interest on the 11% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2008 (the "Notes") of Bell Sports, Inc., a California corporation
(the "Company"), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, the
due and punctual payment of interest on the overdue principal, and premium and
Liquidated Damages, if any, and (to the extent permitted by law) interest on any
interest, if any, on the Notes, 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 set forth in Article 11 of this Indenture, (ii) in
case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any 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, and (iii) the payment of any and
all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the
Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Guaranty.
The obligations of each Guarantor to the Holder and to the Trustee pursuant
to this Guaranty and this Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 11 of
this Indenture and reference is hereby made to such Indenture for the precise
terms of this Guaranty.
No stockholder, officer, director or incorporator, as such, past, present
or future of each Guarantor shall have any liability under this Guaranty by
reason of his or its status as such stockholder, officer, director or
incorporator.
This is a continuing Guarantee and shall remain in full force and effect
and shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns until
full and final payment of all of the Company's obligations under the Notes and
Indenture and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the
Trustee and the Holders, and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of
rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges herein conferred
upon that party shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee
or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions hereof. This is a
Guarantee of payment and not of collectibility.
This Guaranty shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until the
certificate of authentication on the Note upon which this Guaranty is noted
shall have been executed by the Trustee under this Indenture by the manual
signature of one of its authorized officers.
The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guaranty shall be limited to
the extent necessary to insure that it does not constitute a fraudulent
conveyance under applicable law.
B-1
<PAGE>
The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guaranty pursuant to Article 11
of the Indenture are subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all Obligations in respect of Guarantor Senior Indebtedness (as defined
in the Indenture) of such Guarantor on the same basis as the Notes are
subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of the Company. For the purposes of the
foregoing sentence, (a) each Guarantor may make, and the Trustee and the Holders
of the Notes shall have the right to receive and/or retain, payments by any of
the Guarantors or distributions in any proceedings described in Section 10.2
hereof only at such times and on such conditions as they may receive and/or
retain payments and distributions in respect of the Notes pursuant to this
Indenture, including Article 10 thereof, and (b) the rights and obligations of
the relevant parties relative to the Guaranty and the Guarantor Senior
Indebtedness shall be the same as their respective rights and obligations
relative to the Notes and Senior Indebtedness of the Company pursuant to Article
10 of this Indenture.
THE TERMS OF ARTICLE 10 AND ARTICLE 11 OF THE INDENTURE ARE INCORPORATED
HEREIN BY REFERENCE.
Capitalized terms used herein have the same meanings given in this
Indenture unless otherwise indicated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Instrument to be duly
executed.
Guarantor:
BELL SPORTS CORP.
By: /s/ Linda K. Bounds
--------------------------------
Name: Linda K. Bounds
Title: Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary and Treasurer
B-2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Bells Sports, Inc.
6350 San Ignacio Avenue
San Jose, California 95119
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Harris Trust and Savings Bank
311 W. Monroe
12/th/ Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attention: Corporate Trust Group
Re: __% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August __, 1998 (the
"Indenture"), among Bell Sports, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the Guarantors
party thereto and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, 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 (i) a beneficial interest in
the U.S. Global Note or (ii) a Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The
Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under
the United States 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 believed and 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
C-1
<PAGE>
or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in
the Private Placement Legend printed on the U.S. Global Note and/or the
Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. [_] Check if Transferee will take delivery of (i) a beneficial interest in
the Reg S Global Note or (ii) a 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 Distribution
Compliance 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) and the
interest transferred will be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or
Cedel. 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 Reg S Global Note and/or the Definitive Note and in the
Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. [_] Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial
interest in a 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
C-2
<PAGE>
(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 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 a form of
Exhibit E 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 and provided to the
Company, which has confirmed its acceptability), 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
Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated
in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 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.
(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 and the Securities Act.
(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 (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 and the Securities Act.
C-3
<PAGE>
(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 and the Guarantors.
__________________________ Dated:______________
[Insert Name of Transferor]
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
C-4
<PAGE>
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) [_] U.S. Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(ii) [_] Reg S 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) [_] U.S. Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(ii) [_] Reg S Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(iii) [_] Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ); or
(b) [_] a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c) [_] an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
C-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Bells Sports, Inc.
6350 San Ignacio Avenue
San Jose, California 95119
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Harris Trust and Savings Bank
311 W. Monroe
12/th/ Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attention: Corporate Trust Group
Re: __% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August __, 1998
(the "Indenture"), among Bell Sports, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
Guarantors party thereto and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, 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 United States 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.
D-1
<PAGE>
(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.
(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
D-2
<PAGE>
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] [_] U.S. Global Note or [_] Reg S 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 and the Guarantor.
__________________________
[Insert Name of Owner]
By:_______________________
Name:
Title:
Dated:________________
D-3
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM ACQUIRING
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Bells Sports, Inc.
6350 San Ignacio Avenue
San Jose, California 95119
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Harris Trust and Savings Bank
311 W. Monroe
12/th/ Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Attention: Corporate Trust Group
Re: __% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2008
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of August __, 1998
(the "Indenture"), among Bell Sports, Inc., as issuer (the "Company"), the
Guarantors party thereto and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, 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 United States
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 the proposed transfer is in
respect of an aggregate principal amount of Notes of
E-1
<PAGE>
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, (F) in accordance with another exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act (and based upon an Opinion of Counsel
acceptable to the Company) or (G) pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any
person purchasing the Definitive Note from us in a transaction meeting the
requirements of clauses (A) through (F) 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 such
certifications, legal opinions and other information as you 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. We further understand that any subsequent
transfer by us of the Notes or beneficial interest therein acquired by us must
be effected through one of the Initial Purchasers.
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 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.
_______________________________ Dated: __________________, ____
[Insert Name of Accredited Investor]
By:_______________________________
Name:
Title:
E-2
<PAGE>
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture
Act Section Indenture Section
--------------- -----------------
<S> <C>
310(a)(1) 7.10
(a)(2) 7.10
(a)(3) N.A.
(a)(4) N.A.
(b) 7.8; 7.10; 12.2
(c) N.A.
311(a) 7.11
(b) 7.11
(c) N.A.
312(a) 2.5
(b) 12.3
(c) 12.3
313(a) 7.6
(b)(1) N.A.
(b)(2) 7.6
(c) 7.6; 12.2
(d) 7.6
314(a) 4.9; 12.2
(b) N.A.
(c)(1) 12.4
(c)(2) 7.2; 12.4
(c)(3) N.A.
(d) N.A.
(e) 12.5
(f) N.A.
315(a) 7.1(2)
(b) 7.5; 12.2
(c) 7.1(1)
(d) 7.1(3)
(e) 6.11
316(a)(last sentence) 2.9(a)(1)(A)6.5
(a)(1)(B) 6.4
(a)(2) N.A.
(b) 6.7
317(a)(1) 6.8
</TABLE>
E-1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
(a)(2) 6.9
(b) 2.4
318(a) 12.1
</TABLE>
- ---------------------
N.A. means not applicable.
*This Cross-Reference Table is not part of this Indenture.
E-2
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
BELL SPORTS CORP.
BELL SPORTS CORP. (the "Corporation"), a corporation organized and existing
under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,
does hereby certify that:
I. On September 15, 1989, the Corporation (under the name of EHI
Acquisition Corp.) filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware a Certificate
of Incorporation, thereby causing the Corporation to become organized and
existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
II. On September 29, 1989, the Corporation filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware a Certificate of Amendment Before Payment of Stock whereby
Article I of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation was amended thereby
changing the Corporation's name to Bell Helmets Holding Corp.
III. On October 5, 1989, the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State
of Delaware a Certificate of Amendment Before Payment of Stock whereby Article I
of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation was amended thereby changing
the Corporation's name to Bell Sports Holding Corp.
IV. On February 14, 1992, the Corporation filed an Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of Delaware in
accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware after such
certificate had been approved by the directors and shareholders of the
Corporation at that time, thereby changing the Corporation's name to Bell Sports
Corp.
V. On September 27, 1994, the Corporation filed with the Secretary of
State of Delaware in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware a Certificate of Designations creating a Series of Preferred Stock
designated the "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock", setting the
---------------------------------------------
authorized number of shares constituting the Series
<PAGE>
A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at 250,000 and fixing the other powers,
preferences and rights of such series and the qualifications, limitations and
restrictions thereof.
VI. On August 17, 1998, the Corporation, upon resolution of the Board of
Directors and pursuant to the provisions of Section 151 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, filed a Certificate of Elimination
with respect to the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
VII. On August 17, 1998 the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State
of Delaware in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware a Certificate of Designation stating the designations and the powers,
preferences, privileges and rights of the Series A Preferred Stock and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof after such Certificate had
been approved by the directors and shareholders of the Corporation.
VII. On August 17, 1998, the Corporation filed with the Secretary of State
of Delaware in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware a Certificate of Merger effecting the merger of HB Acquisition
Corporation with and into the Corporation after such merger had been approved by
the directors and shareholders of the Corporation.
IX. On August 17, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Corporation by a
unanimous written consent executed in accordance with Section 141(f) of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware approved an increase in the
authorized shares of the Corporation and the adoption of the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation set forth below.
X. On August 17, 1998, the stockholders of the Corporation by a unanimous
written consent executed in accordance with Section 228(a) of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware approved an increase in the authorized
shares of the Corporation and the adoption of the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation set forth below.
XI. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation set forth below
has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware:
ARTICLE FIRST. Name. The name of the Corporation is BELL SPORTS CORP.
----
ARTICLE SECOND. Registered Office and Agent. The registered office of the
---------------------------
Corporation in the State of Delaware is located at 1013 Centre Road, in the City
of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such
address is Corporation Service Company.
-2-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE THIRD. Purpose. The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any
-------
lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended.
ARTICLE FOURTH. Stock.
-----
The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have
authority to issue is two million six hundred thousand (2,600,000) shares,
consisting of one million one hundred thousand (1,100,000) shares of Common
Stock with a par value of one cent ($0.01) per share (hereinafter called "Common
Stock"), and one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares of Preferred
Stock with a par value of one cent ($0.01) per share (hereinafter called
"Preferred Stock") (the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock issued and
outstanding at any time and from time to time is sometimes hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Stock").
The Preferred Stock may be divided into such number of series as the Board
of Directors may determine. Other than with respect to the Series A Preferred
Stock referenced below, the Board of Directors is authorized to determine and
alter the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions (including without
limitation voting rights) granted to and imposed upon the Preferred Stock or any
series thereof with respect to any wholly unissued class or series of Preferred
Stock, and to fix the number of shares of any series of Preferred Stock and the
designation of any such series of Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors
originally fixing the number of shares constituting any series may increase or
decrease (but not below the number of any series then outstanding) the number of
shares of any series subsequent to the issue of shares of that series.
ARTICLE FIFTH. Preferred Stock. The following is a statement of the
---------------
designations and the powers, preferences, privileges and rights, and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in respect of the Series A
Preferred Stock:
1. Designation. A series of the Preferred Stock of the Corporation is
-----------
hereby designated as "Series A Preferred Stock" (hereinafter called the "Series
A Preferred Stock") consisting initially of one million five hundred thousand
(1,500,000) shares. Shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall rank prior to
the Corporation's Common Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and upon
liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or otherwise. Unless specifically
designated as junior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to the payment
of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or otherwise, all
other series of Preferred Stock and other classes of Preferred Stock of the
Corporation shall rank on parity with the Series A Preferred Stock with respect
thereto.
2. Dividends.
---------
a. Each holder of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive dividends on each such share at the rate of six percent (6%)
per annum (computed on the
-3-
<PAGE>
basis of $50.99 per share), if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors
of the Corporation, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends,
in respect of the period from and including the date of the original issuance of
each such share of Series A Preferred Stock with respect to each such share to
and including September 30, 1998 (the "Initial Dividend Period"), and for each
quarterly dividend period thereafter (a "Quarterly Dividend Period"), which
Quarterly Dividend Periods shall commence on July 1, October 1, January 1, and
April 1 in each year and shall end on and include the day immediately preceding
the first day of the next Quarterly Dividend Period. Dividends on the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall be payable on June 30, September 30, December 31,
and March 31 of each year (a "Dividend Payment Date"), commencing September 30,
1998. Each such dividend shall be paid to the holders of record of the Series A
Preferred Stock as they shall appear on the stock register of the Corporation on
such record date, not exceeding 45 days nor less than 10 days preceding such
Dividend Payment date, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation or a duly authorized committee thereof.
If, on any Dividend Payment date, the holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock shall not have received the full dividends provided for in this Section 2
in cash, then such dividends shall cumulate, whether or not earned or declared,
with additional dividends thereon, compounded quarterly, at the dividend rate of
six percent (6%) per annum, for each succeeding full Quarterly Dividend Period
during which such dividends shall remain unpaid.
b. The amount of any dividends accrued on any share of the Series A
Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date shall be deemed to be the amount of
any unpaid dividends accumulated thereon, to and including such Dividend Payment
Date, whether or not earned or declared. The amount of dividends accrued on any
share of the Series A Preferred Stock on any date other then a Dividend Payment
Date shall be deemed to be the sum of (i) the amount of any unpaid dividends
accumulated thereon, to and including the last preceding Dividend Payment Date,
whether or not earned or declared, (ii) an amount determined by multiplying (a)
$50.99 by (b) the result (the"Multiplier") of multiplying one and one-half
percent (1.5%) by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of days
from the last preceding Dividend Payment Date, to and including the date on
which the dividend shall be determined and the denominator of which shall be the
number of days in such Quarterly Dividend Period, and (iii) an amount determined
by multiplying the amount set forth in clause (i) above by the Multiplier.
c. Declaration Prior to Redemption or Liquidation. Immediately
----------------------------------------------
prior to authorizing or making any distribution in redemption or liquidation
with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock (other than a purchase or
acquisition of Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer
made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding Series A Preferred Stock),
the Board of Directors shall, to the extent of any funds legally available
therefor, declare a dividend in cash on the Series A Preferred Stock, payable on
the distribution date in the amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends on
the Series A Preferred Stock, as of such date.
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<PAGE>
3. Redemption.
----------
a. Optional Redemption. The Series A Preferred Stock may be
-------------------
redeemed for cash, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time after
August 14, 2009 at the election of the Corporation by resolution of its Board of
Directors, on notice as set forth in Section 3(b), below, at the redemption
price of $50.99 per share of Series A Preferred Stock, plus any accrued but
unpaid dividends to the redemption date (the "Redemption Price").
In the event that at any time less than all of the Series A Preferred Stock
outstanding is to be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot
or pro rata, except that if the redemption is pro rata, the Corporation may
redeem all shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by all holders of 100 or
fewer shares, provided that the Corporation may not redeem less than all of the
Series A Preferred Stock outstanding unless all accrued but unpaid dividends
have been paid on all then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
b. Notice of Redemption. Notice of any redemption pursuant to this
--------------------
Section 3 shall be mailed, postage prepaid, at least 15 days but not more than
60 days prior to said redemption date to each holder of record of the Series A
Preferred Stock to be redeemed at its address as the same shall appear on the
stock register of the Corporation. Each such notice shall state: (i) the date
fixed for such redemption, (ii) the place or places where certificates for such
shares of Series A Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment, (iii) the
Redemption Price, and (iv) that unless the Corporation defaults in making the
redemption payment, dividends on the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock
owned by such holder that are then to be redeemed shall cease to accrue on the
redemption date. Such notice shall also specify the number of shares of such
holder which are to be redeemed and the number of the certificates representing
such shares.
If such notice of redemption shall have been so mailed and if prior to the
date of redemption specified in such notice all said funds necessary for such
redemption shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust, for the account of
the holders of the shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, to be redeemed (and
so as to be and continue to be available therefor), with the bank or trust
company named in such notice doing business in Boston, Massachusetts or New
York, New York and having capital surplus and undivided profits of at least
$50,000,000, thereupon, and without awaiting the redemption date, all shares of
the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to which such notice shall have been
so mailed and such deposit shall have been so made, shall, notwithstanding that
any certificate for shares of Series A Preferred Stock, shall not have been
surrendered for cancellation, be deemed to be no longer outstanding and all
rights with respect to such shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall
forthwith upon such deposit in trust cease and terminate, except for the right
of the holders thereof on or after the redemption date to receive from such
deposit the amount payable upon the redemption, but without interest. In case
the holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock which shall have been
called for redemption shall not within two years (or any longer period if
required by law) after the redemption date claim any amount so deposited in
trust for the redemption of such shares, such bank or trust
-5-
<PAGE>
company shall, if permitted by applicable law, pay over to the Corporation any
such unclaimed amount so deposited with it, and shall thereupon be relieved of
all responsibility in respect thereof, and thereafter the holders of such shares
shall, subject to applicable escheat laws, look only to the Corporation for
payment of the redemption price thereof, but without interest.
c. Status of Shares. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock redeemed,
----------------
purchased or otherwise acquired for value by the Corporation shall, after such
acquisition, have the status of authorized and unissued shares of Preferred
Stock and may be reissued by the Corporation at any time as shares of any series
of Preferred Stock, other than shares of Series A Preferred Stock.
4. Priority
--------
a. Priority as to Dividends. Subject to section 4(b), no dividends
------------------------
(other than dividends payable in Common Stock or in another stock ranking, which
with respect to the payment of dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or otherwise is junior to, or on a parity with, the Series A
Preferred Stock) shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the
Preferred Stock of any series, or stock of any other class which, in either
case, ranks, as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution, winding up or
otherwise, (x) junior to the Series A Preferred Stock ("Junior Stock") or (y) on
a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock ("Parity Stock") for any period
unless at the time of such declaration or payment or setting apart for payment
(i) full cumulative dividends have been or contemporaneously are declared and
paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart for
such payment) on the Series A Preferred Stock for all Quarterly Dividend Periods
terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such dividends on Junior Stock
or Parity Stock, (ii) the Corporation shall not be in default with respect to
any obligation to redeem shares of Series A Preferred Stock, and (iii) an amount
equal to the dividends accrued on the Series A Preferred Stock from the last
Dividend Payment Date to the date of payment of such dividends on Junior Stock
or Parity Stock has been declared and set apart in cash for payment on the
Series A Preferred Stock.
b. Series A Preferred Stock Consent. In addition to the
--------------------------------
requirements set forth in Section 4(a) above, dividends on any class of Stock
other than the Series A Preferred Stock may only be paid if the consent of
66.67% of the Series A Preferred Stock is received.
c. Priority on Redemption. The Corporation shall not, directly or
----------------------
indirectly, redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for value any Junior Stock
or Parity Stock unless, at the time of making such redemption, purchase or other
acquisition, the Corporation shall have redeemed, or shall contemporaneously
redeem, all of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock at the
applicable Redemption Price (or shall have irrevocably committed to redeem all
of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock and have set aside a
sum sufficient for the payment thereof at the applicable Redemption Price on the
date of such subsequent redemption).
-6-
<PAGE>
5. Liquidation Preference.
----------------------
a. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary of involuntary, after payment or
provision for payment of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation, the
holders of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive
for each share of Series A Preferred Stock then held, out of the assets of the
Corporation, whether such assets are capital or surplus and whether or not any
dividends as such are declared, the applicable Redemption Price on the date
fixed for distribution, and no more, before any distribution shall be made to
the holders of any class of the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of
assets.
If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the
affairs of the Corporation, the assets of the Corporation distributable among
the holders of all outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, stock and
of any Parity Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment in full to such
holders of the preferential amounts to which they are entitled, then the entire
assets of the Corporation remaining after the payment or provision for payment
of the debts and other liabilities of the Corporation shall be distributed among
the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock, and of any Parity Stock ratable in
proportion to the full amounts to which they would otherwise be respectively
entitled.
b. Written notice of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, stating a payment
date and the place where the distributive amounts shall be payable, shall be
given by mail, postage prepaid, not less than 30 days prior to the payment date
stated therein, to the holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock at
their respective addresses as the same shall appear on the books of the
Corporation.
c. No payment on account of such liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the affairs of the Corporation shall be made to the holders of any Parity
Stock, unless there shall likewise be paid at the same time to the holders of
the Series A Preferred Stock like proportionate distributive amounts, ratable,
in proportion to the full distributive amounts to which they and the holders of
such Parity Stock are respectively entitled with respect to such preferential
distribution.
d. For the purposes of this Section 5, i) the sale of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets or ii) a consolidation or merger
of the Corporation with or into another corporation or corporations in which
fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Stock of the Corporation is
transferred will be considered a liquidation.
6. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or as otherwise
-------------
required by law, the Series A Preferred Stock shall be non-voting.
ARTICLE SIXTH: Common Stock. The total number of shares of Common Stock
------------
which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one million one hundred
thousand (1,100,000)
-7-
<PAGE>
shares, consisting of (i) nine hundred thousand (900,000) shares of Class A
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (hereinafter "Class A Common Stock"),
(ii) one hundred and fifty thousand (150,000) shares of Class B Common Stock,
par value $0.01 per share (hereinafter called "Class B Common Stock"), and (iii)
fifty thousand (50,000) shares of Class C Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share (hereinafter called "Class C Common Stock"). All shares of Common Stock of
the Corporation outstanding as of the time of the filing of this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall become shares of Class A Common
Stock upon the filing of this Certificate.
Except as otherwise provided herein, all shares of Class A Common Stock,
Class B Common Stock and Class C Common Stock will be identical and will entitle
holders thereof to the same rights and privileges.
1. Dividends. Subject to the preferential rights of the Series A
---------
Preferred Stock, including, but not limited to, the consent of the holders of
Series A Preferred Stock in Section 4(b) of Article Fifth above, and the
preferential rights, if any, of any other classes of Preferred Stock, the
holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive, when and if
declared by the Board of Directors, out of the assets of the Corporation which
are by law available therefor, dividends payable either in cash, in property or
in shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Common Stock or
other classes of Common Stock.
2. Voting Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein or as otherwise
-------------
required by law, at every annual or special meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation, (i) every holder of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one
vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of Class A Common Stock standing in
his name on the books of the Corporation, (ii) every holder of Class B Common
Stock shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of
Class B Common Stock standing in his name on the books of the Corporation, to
the extent that such shares have vested under the Bell Sports Corp. Investment
and Incentive Plan (the "Incentive Plan"), and (iii) every holder of Class C
Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each
share of Class C Common Stock standing in his name on the books of the
Corporation, to the extent that such shares have vested under the Incentive
Plan.
3. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-Up. In the event of any voluntary
--------------------------------------
or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the
Corporation, after payment or provision for payment of the debts and other
liabilities of the Corporation and of the preferential amounts, if any, to which
the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled, (i) the holders of
all outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to share ratably in the
remaining net assets of the Corporation, (ii) the holders of all outstanding
shares of Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to share ratably in the
remaining net assets of the Corporation to the extent such shares have vested
under the Incentive Plan, and (iii) the holders of all outstanding shares of
Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to share ratably in the remaining net
assets of the Corporation to the extent such shares have vested under the
-8-
<PAGE>
Incentive Plan. For the purposes of this section, (a) the sale of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets or (b) a consolidation or merger
by the Corporation with or into another corporation or corporations in which
fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the Stock of the Corporation is
transferred will be considered a liquidation.
4. Limitations. The Ownership of the Class B Common Stock and the Class
-----------
C Common Stock are limited by and subject to all of the restrictions in and
provisions of the Incentive Plan.
ARTICLE SEVENTH. Liability of Directors. A director of this Corporation
----------------------
shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent that
exculpation from liability is not permitted under the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware as in effect at the time such liability is determined. No
amendment or repeal of this Article Seventh shall apply to or have any effect on
the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or
with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such
amendment or repeal.
ARTICLE EIGHTH. Indemnification. This Corporation shall, to the maximum
---------------
extent permitted from time to time under the law of the State of Delaware,
indemnify and upon request advance expenses to any person who is or was a party
or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit, proceeding or claim, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was or has agreed to
be a director or officer of this Corporation or while a director or officer is
or was serving at the request of this Corporation as a director, officer,
partner, trustee, employee or agent of any corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, against expenses (including attorney's fees and expenses),
judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement incurred (and not
otherwise recovered) in connection with the investigation, preparation to defend
or defense of such action, suit, proceeding or claim; provided, however, that
-------- -------
the foregoing shall not require this Corporation to indemnify or advance
expenses to any person in connection with any action, suit, proceeding, claim or
counterclaim initiated by or on behalf of such person. Such indemnification
shall not be exclusive of other indemnification rights arising under any by-law,
agreement, vote of directors or stockholders or otherwise and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs and legal representatives of such person. Any person
seeking indemnification under this Article Eighth shall be deemed to have met
the standard of conduct required for such indemnification unless the contrary
shall be established. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of
this Article Eighth shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a
director or officer of this Corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of
such director or officer occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
-9-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE NINTH. Directors.
---------
a. Number. The number of directors constituting the entire Board of
------
Directors shall be not less than four (4) nor more than eight (8) as fixed from
time to time by vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors; provided,
however, that the number of directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the
term of any director at the time in office, and provided further, that the
number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be eight (8) until
otherwise fixed by a majority of the entire Board of Directors.
b. Directors' Powers. All of the powers of the Corporation, insofar
-----------------
as the same may be lawfully vested by this Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation in the Board of Directors, are hereby conferred upon the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. In furtherance and not in limitation of that
power, the Board of Directors shall have the power to make, adopt, alter, amend
and repeal from time to time the Bylaws of the Corporation.
ARTICLE TENTH. Existence. The existence of the Corporation shall be
---------
perpetual.
ARTICLE ELEVENTH. Amendments. Except as otherwise provided herein, the
----------
Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change, or repeal any provision
contained in this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the
manner now or hereafter prescribed by law and all rights, preferences and
privileges conferred on officers, directors, and stockholders pursuant to this
certificate are granted subject to this reservation.
The foregoing Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly
adopted by unanimous written consent of the directors and stockholders of the
Corporation in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 141, 228,
242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
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<PAGE>
[Amended and Restated Cert. of Incorporation]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said BELL SPORTS CORP. has caused this Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be executed this 17th day of August,
1998.
BELL SPORTS CORP.
By: /s/ Mary J. George
________________________________
ATTEST:
By: /s/ Linda K. Bounds
__________________________________
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 4.3
BY-LAWS
OF
BELL SPORTS CORP.
Section 1. LAW, CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
AND BY-LAWS
1.1. These by-laws are subject to the certificate of incorporation of the
corporation. In these by-laws, references to law, the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws mean the law, the provisions of the certificate of
incorporation and the by-laws as from time to time in effect.
Section 2. STOCKHOLDERS
2.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held at
--------------
10:00 a.m. on the Second Wednesday in September in each year, unless that day be
a legal holiday at the place where the meeting is to be held, in which case the
meeting shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding day not a legal
holiday, or at such other date and time as shall be designated from time to time
by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which they
shall elect a board of directors and transact such other business as may be
required by law or these by-laws or as may properly come before the meeting.
2.2. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the stockholders may be
----------------
called at any time by the chairman of the board, if any, the president or the
board of directors. A special meeting of the stockholders shall be called by
the secretary, or in the case of the death, absence, incapacity or refusal of
the secretary, by an assistant secretary or some other officer, upon application
of a majority of the directors. Any such application shall state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed meeting. Any such call shall state the place, date,
hour, and purposes of the meeting.
2.3. Place of Meeting. All meetings of the stockholders for the election
----------------
of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such place within or
without the State of Delaware as may be determined from time to time by the
chairman of the board, if any, the president or the board of directors. Any
adjourned session of any meeting of the stockholders shall be held at the place
designated in the vote of adjournment.
<PAGE>
2.4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, a written
------------------
notice of each meeting of stockholders stating the place, day and hour thereof
and, in the case of a special meeting, the purposes for which the meeting is
called, shall be given not less then ten nor more than sixty days before the
meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat, and to each stockholder
who, by law, by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws, is
entitled to notice, by leaving such notice with him or at his residence or usual
place of business, or by depositing it in the United States mail, postage
prepaid, and addressed to such stockholder at his address as it appears in the
records of the corporation. Such notice shall be given by the secretary, or by
an officer or person designated by the board of directors, or in the case of a
special meeting by the officer calling the meeting. As to any adjourned session
of any meeting of stockholders, notice of the adjourned meeting need not be
given if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the
adjournment was taken except that if the adjournment is for more than thirty
days or if after the adjournment a new record date is set for the adjourned
session, notice of any such adjourned session of the meeting shall be given in
the manner heretofore described. No notice of any meeting of stockholders or
any adjourned session thereof need be given to a stockholder if a written waiver
of notice, executed before or after the meeting or such adjourned session by
such stockholder, is filed with the records of the meeting or if the stockholder
attends such meeting without objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
meeting of the stockholders or any adjourned session thereof need be specified
in any written waiver of notice.
2.5. Quorum of Stockholders. At any meeting of the stockholders a quorum
----------------------
as to any matter shall consist of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on
the matter, except where a larger quorum is required by law, by the certificate
of incorporation or by these by-laws. Any meeting may be adjourned from time to
time by a majority of the votes properly cast upon the question, whether or not
a quorum is present. If a quorum is present at an original meeting, a quorum
need not be present at an adjourned session of that meeting. Shares of its own
stock belonging to the corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of
the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other
corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the corporation, shall neither
be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that
the foregoing shall not limit the right of any corporation to vote stock,
including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
2.6. Action by Vote. When a quorum is present at any meeting, a plurality
--------------
of the votes properly cast for election to any office shall elect to such office
and a majority of the votes properly cast upon any question other than an
election to an office shall decide
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<PAGE>
the question, except when a larger vote is required by law, by the certificate
of incorporation or by these by-laws. No ballot shall be required for any
election unless requested by a stockholder present or represented at the meeting
and entitled to vote in the election.
2.7. Action without Meetings. Unless otherwise provided in the
-----------------------
certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by
stockholders for or in connection with any corporate action may be taken without
a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares
entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the
corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware by hand or
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to its principal place
of business or to an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the
book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Each such
written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs
the consent. No written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action
referred to therein unless written consents signed by a number of stockholders
sufficient to take such action are delivered to the corporation in the manner
specified in this paragraph within sixty days of the earliest dated consent so
delivered.
If action is taken by consent of stockholders and in accordance with the
foregoing, there shall be filed with the records of the meetings of stockholders
the writing or writings comprising such consent.
If action is taken by less than unanimous consent of stockholders, prompt
notice of the taking of such action without a meeting shall be given to those
who have not consented in writing and a certificate signed and attested to by
the secretary that such notice was given shall be filed with the records of the
meetings of stockholders.
In the event that the action which is consented to is such as would have
required the filing of a certificate under any provision of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, if such action had been voted upon by
the stockholders at a meeting thereof, the certificate filed under such
provision shall state, in lieu of any statement required by such provision
concerning a vote of stockholders, that written consent has been given under
Section 228 of said General Corporation Law and that written notice has been
given as provided in such Section 228.
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2.8. Proxy Representation. Every stockholder may authorize another person
--------------------
or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a stockholder is
entitled to participate, whether by waiving notice of any meeting, objecting to
or voting or participating at a meeting, or expressing consent or dissent
without a meeting. Every proxy must be signed by the stockholder or by his
attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from
its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy
shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and, if, and only as
long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an
irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the
interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an
interest in the corporation generally. The authorization of a proxy may but
need not be limited to specified action, provided, however, that if a proxy
limits its authorization to a meeting or meetings of stockholders, unless
otherwise specifically provided such proxy shall entitle the holder thereof to
vote at any adjourned session but shall not be valid after the final adjournment
thereof.
2.9. Inspectors. The directors or the person presiding at the meeting
----------
may, but need not, appoint one or more inspectors of election and any substitute
inspectors to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. Each inspector,
before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath
faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict
impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors, if any,
shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding and the voting power
of each, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a
quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or
consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection
with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents,
determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or
vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the person presiding at
the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge,
question or matter determined by them and execute a certificate of any fact
found by them.
2.10. List of Stockholders. The secretary shall prepare and make, at
--------------------
least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the
stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order
and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered
in his name. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are
stockholders entitled to examine such list or to vote in person or by proxy at
such meeting.
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Section 3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
3.1. Number. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole
------
board shall not be less than one nor more than ten in number. Thereafter,
within the foregoing limits, the stockholders at the annual meeting shall
determine the number of directors and shall elect the number of directors as
determined. Within the foregoing limits, the number of directors may be
increased at any time or from time to time by the stockholders or by the
directors by vote of a majority of the directors then in office. The number of
directors may be decreased to any number permitted by the foregoing at any time
either by the stockholders or by the directors by vote of a majority of the
directors then in office, but only to eliminate vacancies existing by reason of
the death, resignation or removal of one or more directors. Directors need not
be stockholders.
3.2. Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the certificate of
------
incorporation or by these by-laws, each director shall hold office until the
next annual meeting and until his successor is elected and qualified, or until
he sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified.
3.3. Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed
------
by or under the direction of the board of directors who shall have and may
exercise all the powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by law, the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws
directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
3.4. Vacancies. Vacancies and any newly created directorships resulting
---------
from any increase in the number of directors may be filled by vote of the
stockholders at a meeting called for the purpose, or by a majority of the
directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining
director. When one or more directors shall resign from the board, effective at
a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who
have resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote or
action by writing thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations
shall become effective. The directors shall have and may exercise all their
powers notwithstanding the existence of one or more vacancies in their number,
subject to any requirements of law or of the certificate of incorporation or of
these by-laws as to the number of directors required for a quorum or for any
vote or other actions.
3.5. Committees. The board of directors may, by vote of a majority of the
----------
whole board, (a) designate, change the membership of or terminate the existence
of any committee or committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the
directors; (b)
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<PAGE>
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee who
may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee;
and (c) determine the extent to which each such committee shall have and may
exercise the powers of the board of directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the corporation, including the power to authorize the seal of the
corporation to be affixed to all papers which require it and the power and
authority to declare dividends or to authorize the issuance of stock; excepting,
however, such powers which by law, by the certificate of incorporation or by
these by-laws they are prohibited from so delegating. In the absence or
disqualification of any member of such committee and his alternate, if any, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another
member of the board of directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such
absent or disqualified member. Except as the board of directors may otherwise
determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but
unless otherwise provided by the board or such rules, its business shall be
conducted as nearly as may be in the same manner as is provided by these by-laws
for the conduct of business by the board of directors. Each committee shall keep
regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors
upon request.
3.6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the board of directors may be
----------------
held without call or notice at such places within or without the State of
Delaware and at such times as the board may from time to time determine,
provided that notice of the first regular meeting following any such
determination shall be given to absent directors. A regular meeting of the
directors may be held without call or notice immediately after and at the same
place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
3.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors may be
----------------
held at any time and at any place within or without the State of Delaware
designated in the notice of the meeting, when called by the chairman of the
board, if any, the president, or by one-third or more in number of the
directors, reasonable notice thereof being given to each director by the
secretary or by the chairman of the board, if any, the president or any one of
the directors calling the meeting.
3.8. Notice. It shall be reasonable and sufficient notice to a director
------
to send notice by mail at least forty-eight hours or by telegram at least
twenty-four hours before the meeting addressed to him at his usual or last known
business or residence address or to give notice to him in person or by telephone
at least twenty-four hours before the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be
given to any director if a written waiver of notice, executed by him before or
after the meeting, is filed with the records of the meeting, or to any director
who attends the meeting without protesting prior thereto or at
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<PAGE>
its commencement the lack of notice to him. Neither notice of a meeting nor a
waiver of a notice need specify the purposes of the meeting.
3.9. Quorum. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, by the
------
certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws, at any meeting of the
directors a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum;
a quorum shall not in any case be less than one-third of the total number of
directors constituting the whole board. Any meeting may be adjourned from time
to time by a majority of the votes cast upon the question, whether or not a
quorum is present, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further
notice.
3.10. Action by Vote. Except as may be otherwise provided by law, by the
--------------
certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws, when a quorum is present at
any meeting the vote of a majority of the directors present shall be the act of
the board of directors.
3.11. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be
------------------------
taken at any meeting of the board of directors or a committee thereof may be
taken without a meeting if all the members of the board or of such committee, as
the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and such writing or writings are
filed with the records of the meetings of the board or of such committee. Such
consent shall be treated for all purposes as the act of the board or of such
committee, as the case may be.
3.12. Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of the
-------------------------------------------------
board of directors, or any committee designated by such board, may participate
in a meeting of such board or committee by means of conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other or by any other means permitted by law. Such
participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
3.13. Compensation. In the discretion of the board of directors, each
------------
director may be paid such fees for his services as director and be reimbursed
for his reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of his duties as
director as the board of directors from time to time may determine. Nothing
contained in this section shall be construed to preclude any director from
serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving reasonable
compensation therefor.
3.14. Interested Directors and Officers.
---------------------------------
(a) No contract or transaction between the corporation and one or more of
its directors or officers, or between the corporation and any other corporation,
partnership,
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<PAGE>
association, or other organization in which one or more of the corporation's
directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest,
shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director
or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board or
committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely
because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(1) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to
the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the board of directors
or the committee, and the board or committee in good faith authorizes the
contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the
disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a
quorum; or
(2) The material facts as to his relationship or interest and as to
the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders
entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically
approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or
(3) The contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation as of
the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the board of directors, a
committee thereof, or the stockholders.
(b) Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the
presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee
which authorizes the contract or transaction.
Section 4. OFFICERS AND AGENTS
4.1. Enumeration; Qualification. The officers of the corporation shall be
--------------------------
a president, a treasurer, a secretary and such other officers, if any, as the
board of directors from time to time may in its discretion elect or appoint
including without limitation a chairman of the board, one or more vice
presidents and a controller. The corporation may also have such agents, if any,
as the board of directors from time to time may in its discretion choose. Any
officer may be but none need be a director or stockholder. Any two or more
offices may be held by the same person. Any officer may be required by the
board of directors to secure the faithful performance of his duties to the
corporation by giving bond in such amount and with sureties or otherwise as the
board of directors may determine.
4.2. Powers. Subject to law, to the certificate of incorporation and to
------
the other provisions of these by-laws, each officer shall have, in addition to
the duties and powers
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<PAGE>
herein set forth, such duties and powers as are commonly incident to his office
and such additional duties and powers as the board of directors may from time to
time designate.
4.3. Election. The officers may be elected by the board of directors at
--------
their first meeting following the annual meeting of the stockholders or at any
other time. At any time or from time to time the directors may delegate to any
officer their power to elect or appoint any other officer or any agents.
4.4. Tenure. Each officer shall hold office until the first meeting of
------
the board of directors following the next annual meeting of the stockholders and
until his respective successor is chosen and qualified unless a shorter period
shall have been specified by the terms of his election or appointment, or in
each case until he sooner dies, resigns, is removed or becomes disqualified.
Each agent shall retain his authority at the pleasure of the directors, or the
officer by whom he was appointed or by the officer who then holds agent
appointive power.
4.5. Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Vice President.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The chairman of the board, if any, shall have such duties and powers as shall be
designated from time to time by the board of directors. Unless the board of
directors otherwise specifies, the chairman of the board, or if there is none
the chief executive officer, shall preside, or designate the person who shall
preside, at all meetings of the stockholders and of the board of directors.
Unless the board of directors otherwise specifies, the president shall be
the chief executive officer and shall have direct charge of all business
operations of the corporation and, subject to the control of the directors,
shall have general charge and supervision of the business of the corporation.
Any vice presidents shall have such duties and powers as shall be set forth
in these by-laws or as shall be designated from time to time by the board of
directors or by the president.
4.6. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. Unless the board of directors
----------------------------------
otherwise specifies, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the
corporation and shall be in charge of its funds and valuable papers, and shall
have such other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the
board of directors or by the president. If no controller is elected, the
treasurer shall, unless the board of directors otherwise specifies, also have
the duties and powers of the controller.
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<PAGE>
Any assistant treasurers shall have such duties and powers as shall be
designated from time to time by the board of directors, the president or the
treasurer.
4.7. Controller and Assistant Controllers. If a controller is elected, he
------------------------------------
shall, unless the board of directors otherwise specifies, be the chief
accounting officer of the corporation and be in charge of its books of account
and accounting records, and of its accounting procedures. He shall have such
other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the board of
directors, the president or the treasurer.
Any assistant controller shall have such duties and powers as shall be
designated from time to time by the board of directors, the president, the
treasurer or the controller.
4.8. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The secretary shall record all
-----------------------------------
proceedings of the stockholders, of the board of directors and of committees of
the board of directors in a book or series of books to be kept therefor and
shall file therein all actions by written consent of stockholders or directors.
In the absence of the secretary from any meeting, an assistant secretary, or if
there be none or he is absent, a temporary secretary chosen at the meeting,
shall record the proceedings thereof. Unless a transfer agent has been
appointed the secretary shall keep or cause to be kept the stock and transfer
records of the corporation, which shall contain the names and record addresses
of all stockholders and the number of shares registered in the name of each
stockholder. He shall have such other duties and powers as may from time to
time be designated by the board of directors or the president.
Any assistant secretaries shall have such duties and powers as shall be
designated from time to time by the board of directors, the president or the
secretary.
Section 5. RESIGNATIONS AND REMOVALS
5.1. Any director or officer may resign at any time by delivering his
resignation in writing to the chairman of the board, if any, the president, or
the secretary or to a meeting of the board of directors. Such resignation shall
be effective upon receipt unless specified to be effective at some other time,
and without in either case the necessity of its being accepted unless the
resignation shall so state. A director (including persons elected by directors
to fill vacancies in the board) may be removed from office with or without cause
by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares issued and outstanding
and entitled to vote in the election of directors. The board of directors may
at any time remove any officer either with or without cause. The board of
directors may at any time terminate or modify the authority of any agent. No
director or officer resigning and (except where a right to receive compensation
shall be expressly provided in a duly authorized written
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<PAGE>
agreement with the corporation) no director or officer removed shall have any
right to any compensation as such director or officer for any period following
his resignation or removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal,
whether his compensation be by the month or by the year or otherwise; unless, in
the case of a resignation, the directors, or, in the case of removal, the body
acting on the removal, shall in their or its discretion provide for
compensation.
Section 6. VACANCIES
6.1. If the office of the president or the treasurer or the secretary
becomes vacant, the directors may elect a successor by vote of a majority of
the directors then in office. If the office of any other officer becomes
vacant, any person or body empowered to elect or appoint that officer may choose
a successor. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term, and
in the case of the president, the treasurer and the secretary until his
successor is chosen and qualified or in each case until he sooner dies, resigns,
is removed or becomes disqualified. Any vacancy of a directorship shall be
filled as specified in Section 3.4 of these by-laws.
Section 7. CAPITAL STOCK
7.1. Stock Certificates. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a
------------------
certificate stating the number and the class and the designation of the series,
if any, of the shares held by him, in such form as shall, in conformity to law,
the certificate of incorporation and the by-laws, be prescribed from time to
time by the board of directors. Such certificate shall be signed by the
chairman or vice chairman of the board, if any, or the president or a vice
president and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer or by the secretary or
an assistant secretary. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be
a facsimile. In case an officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or
whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased
to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is
issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were
such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the time of its issue.
7.2. Loss of Certificates. In the case of the alleged theft, loss,
--------------------
destruction or mutilation of a certificate of stock, a duplicate certificate may
be issued in place thereof, upon such terms, including receipt of a bond
sufficient to indemnify the corporation against any claim on account thereof, as
the board of directors may prescribe.
Section 8. TRANSFER OF SHARES OF STOCK
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8.1. Transfer on Books. Subject to the restrictions, if any, stated or
-----------------
noted on the stock certificate, shares of stock may be transferred on the books
of the corporation by the surrender to the corporation or its transfer agent of
the certificate therefor properly endorsed or accompanied by a written
assignment and power of attorney properly executed, with necessary transfer
stamps affixed, and with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the
board of directors or the transfer agent of the corporation may reasonably
require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the certificate of
incorporation or by these by-laws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat
the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for
all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to receive notice
and to vote or to give any consent with respect thereto and to be held liable
for such calls and assessments, if any, as may lawfully be made thereon,
regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the
shares have been properly transferred on the books of the corporation.
It shall be the duty of each stockholder to notify the corporation of his
post office address.
8.2. Record Date and Closing Transfer Books. In order that the
--------------------------------------
corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at
any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the board of directors
may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors, and
which record date shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the
date of such meeting. If no such record date is fixed by the board of
directors, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice
of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on
the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is
waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice
of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the
meeting; provided, however, that the board of directors may fix a new record
date for the adjourned meeting.
In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the board of directors
may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors, and
which date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors. If no
such record date has been fixed by the board of directors, the record date for
determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting, when no prior action by the board of directors is required by
the
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<PAGE>
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, shall be the first date on
which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be
taken is delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in
Delaware by hand or certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to
its principal place of business or to an officer or agent of the corporation
having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are
recorded. If no record date has been fixed by the board of directors and prior
action by the board of directors is required by the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close
of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution
taking such prior action.
In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights
or to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of
stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the board of directors may
fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not
more than sixty days prior to such payment, exercise or other action. If no
such record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any
such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of
directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 9. CORPORATE SEAL
9.1. Subject to alteration by the directors, the seal of the corporation
shall consist of a flat-faced circular die with the word "Delaware" and the name
of the corporation cut or engraved thereon, together with such other words,
dates or images as may be approved from time to time by the directors.
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<PAGE>
Section 10. EXECUTION OF PAPERS
10.1. Except as the board of directors may generally or in particular
cases authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, all deeds, leases,
transfers, contracts, bonds, notes, checks, drafts or other obligations made,
accepted or endorsed by the corporation shall be signed by the chairman of the
board, if any, the president, a vice president or the treasurer.
Section 11. FISCAL YEAR
11.1. The fiscal year of the corporation shall end on the June 30th.
Section 12. AMENDMENTS
12.1. These by-laws may be adopted, amended or repealed by vote of a
majority of the directors then in office or by vote of a majority of the stock
outstanding and entitled to vote. Any by-law, whether adopted, amended or
repealed by the stockholders or directors, may be amended or reinstated by the
stockholders or the directors.
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<PAGE>
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
TO ACCOMPANY CERTIFICATE(S) FORMERLY REPRESENTING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF
BELL SPORTS CORP.
DO NOT SEND STOCK CERTIFICATES TO HB ACQUISITION CORPORATION OR BELL SPORTS
CORP.
DESCRIPTION OF CERTIFICATE(S) SURRENDERED
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME(S) AND
ADDRESS(ES) OF
RECORD HOLDER(S) NUMBER OF SHARES
(AS APPEARS ON CERTIFICATE REPRESENTED BY
CERTIFICATE(S)) NUMBER(S) CERTIFICATE(S)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
TOTAL SHARES:
-----------------------------
NOTE: MAKE ANY CORRECTION OR PERMANENT CHANGES TO YOUR ADDRESS ON THE ABOVE
LABEL.
[_] CHECK HERE IF YOU CANNOT LOCATE YOUR BELL SPORTS CERTIFICATE(S) AND REQUIRE
ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING THEM. UPON RECEIPT OF THE NOTIFICATION ON THIS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE PAYING AGENT WILL CONTACT YOU DIRECTLY WITH
REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS.
To: HARRIS TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, PAYING AGENT
By Mail: By Hand: By Overnight Courier:
Wall Street Station Wall Street Plaza Wall Street Plaza
P.O. Box 1010 88 Pine Street--19th Floor 88 Pine Street--19th
New York, NY 10268-1010 New York, NY 10005 Floor
New York, NY 10005
If you have any questions regarding this Letter of Transmittal, please call
the Paying Agent at 212-701-7624.
SPECIAL INSTRUCTION 1 SPECIAL INSTRUCTION 2
SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 4 AND 7) (SEE GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS 4 AND 7)
To be completed ONLY if the To be completed ONLY if the
check is to be issued in the check is to be mailed to a name
name of someone other than the or address OTHER than that of
undersigned. the party to which it is to be
issued.
Issue check to:
Deliver check to:
Name ____________________________ Name_____________________________
(PLEASE PRINT) (PLEASE PRINT)
Address _________________________ Address _________________________
_________________________________ _________________________________
(ZIP CODE) (ZIP CODE)
_________________________________
(TAX IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER)
PLEASE READ AND FOLLOW THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS
<PAGE>
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby surrenders to Harris Trust Company of New York, as
Paying Agent (the "Paying Agent"), the above-described certificate(s) (the
"Bell Sports Certificates") formerly representing shares of the Common Stock,
$.01 par value per share ("Bell Sports Common Stock"), of Bell Sports Corp.
("Bell Sports"). The Bell Sports Certificates are being surrendered in
connection with the merger (the "Merger") of HB Acquisition Corporation
("Newco") with and into Bell Sports pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of
Recapitalization and Merger dated as of February 17, 1998 as amended (as so
amended, the "Agreement") by and between Bell Sports and Newco. Pursuant to
the Merger, each share of Bell Sports Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Date of the Merger (as defined in the
Agreement) was converted into the right to receive $10.25 (the "Merger
Consideration"). Delivery of the enclosed Bell Sports Certificates shall be
effected, and risk of loss with respect to such Bell Sports Certificates shall
pass, only upon delivery of such Bell Sports Certificates to the Paying Agent.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full
authority to surrender the Bell Sports Certificates and that the shares
represented thereby are free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.
The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional
documents reasonably deemed appropriate or necessary by Bell Sports or, if
Bell Sports has so delegated its power, by the Paying Agent, in connection
with the surrender of the Bell Sports Certificates, provided that such
additional documents relate solely to title to the Bell Sports Certificates
surrendered and contain no assumption of any liabilities other than relating
to title to said Bell Sports Certificates. All authority conferred or agreed
to be conferred by this Letter of Transmittal shall be binding upon the
undersigned and the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and
legal representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and
shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned.
The undersigned understands that surrender of the Bell Sports Certificates
is not made in acceptable form until receipt by the Paying Agent of this
Letter of Transmittal duly completed and signed, together with all
accompanying evidences of authority in form satisfactory to Bell Sports or, if
Bell Sports has so delegated its power, to the Paying Agent. All questions as
to validity, form and eligibility of any surrender of certificates hereunder
will be determined by Bell Sports or, if Bell Sports has so delegated its
power, by the Paying Agent, and such determination shall be final and binding
on all parties.
The undersigned hereby requests the Paying Agent, upon the surrender
herewith of Bell Sports Certificates, to deliver the Merger Consideration to
which the undersigned is entitled under the Agreement upon such surrender, in
the form of a check in an amount determined by multiplying $10.25 by the
number of shares of Bell Sports Common Stock submitted herewith. Unless
otherwise indicated under Special Payment Instructions, please issue the check
in the name of the undersigned. Unless otherwise indicated under Special
Delivery Instructions, please mail the check to the person to whom it is
issued at the address shown above, or if the Special Payment Instructions are
completed, at the address there indicated.
2
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT
STOCKHOLDER(S) MUST SIGN HERE
This Letter of Transmittal must be signed below by the record stockholder(s)
of the Bell Sports Certificates transmitted herewith exactly as the name(s) of
such record stockholder(s) appear(s) on such Bell Sports Certificates or by
person(s) authorized to become record holder(s) by certificates and documents
transmitted herewith. BELL SPORTS CERTIFICATES SHOULD NOT BE ENDORSED ON THE
BACK EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL INSTRUCTION 4. Each joint owner must
sign and if one or more owners are deceased, the other(s) must sign and
enclose the death certificate. If signature is by a trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full
title and submit herewith evidence of authority to sign. See General
Instruction 3. The signature(s) of the undersigned below indicates the
undersigned's consent to the terms and instructions set forth in this Letter
of Transmittal.
PLEASE SIGN BELOW:
X ____________________________________________________
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
X ____________________________________________________
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
______________________________________________________
DATE
______________________________________________________
NAME(S) (PLEASE PRINT)
______________________________________________________
CAPACITY (SEE GENERAL INSTRUCTION 3)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
ADDRESS (INCLUDING ZIP CODE)
( ) ( )
__________________________ _________________________
Home Telephone Number Daytime Telephone Number
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (SEE GENERAL INSTRUCTION 4, IF REQUIRED)
Authorized Signature _________________________________
Name of Firm _________________________________________
Date _________________________________________________
3
<PAGE>
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Set forth below are instructions for surrendering certificates formerly
representing shares of Bell Sports Common Stock in exchange for the Merger
Consideration.
1. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Certificates. This Letter of
Transmittal, completed and signed, must be used in connection with the
delivery and surrender of the Bell Sports Certificates. Both the Bell Sports
Certificates and a properly completed and signed Letter of Transmittal must be
received by Harris Trust Company of New York, as the Paying Agent, in
satisfactory form, to make an effective surrender of the Bell Sports
Certificates. BELL SPORTS CERTIFICATES SHOULD NOT BE ENDORSED ON THE BACK
EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERAL INSTRUCTION 4. Delivery of the Bell Sports
Certificates and other documents shall be effected, and the risk of loss and
title to the Bell Sports Certificates and other documents shall pass, only
upon proper delivery of the Bell Sports Certificates and such other documents
to the Paying Agent. The method of delivery of the Bell Sports Certificates
and other documents is at your sole discretion and risk. If such delivery is
by mail, it is recommended that you use registered mail, return receipt
requested and properly insured, to the Paying Agent at the address shown on
the Letter of Transmittal. A mailing envelope addressed to the Paying Agent is
enclosed for your convenience.
2. Terms of Conversion of Shares. Each share of Bell Sports Common Stock
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted
into the right to receive $10.25.
3. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal. If the Letter of Transmittal is
signed by the record holder(s) of the Bell Sports Certificates, the
signature(s) must correspond exactly with the name(s) as written on the face
of the Bell Sports Certificates, without any change whatsoever. If Bell Sports
Certificates are surrendered by two or more joint owners, all such owners must
sign the Letter of Transmittal exactly as their names are written on the face
of the Bell Sports Certificates. If the Bell Sports Certificates being
surrendered by you are registered in different names, you must complete, sign
and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different
registrations of Bell Sports Certificates surrendered. In case of a signature
by an attorney-in-fact, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, agent,
officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or
representative capacity, such person should indicate such capacity when
signing the Letter of Transmittal, and the Bell Sports Certificates delivered
to the Paying Agent must be accompanied by evidence indicating such person's
authority to sign, such as resolutions of the board of directors with respect
to an officer of a corporation.
4. Guarantee of Signatures. The Bell Sports Certificates should not be
endorsed and signature guarantees on the Letters of Transmittal are
unnecessary unless (a) a Bell Sports Certificate is registered in a name other
than that of the person surrendering the Certificate or (b) the record holder
surrendering the Bell Sports Certificate completes Special Instruction 1. In
either such case, the signature on the Letter of Transmittal must be
guaranteed by a commercial bank or trust company, a broker who is a member of
a national securities exchange or a securities dealer who is a member of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Such guarantor should
complete the information requested on the bottom of page [ 4 ] of the Letter
of Transmittal.
5. Stock Transfer Taxes. If payment for Bell Sports Common Stock is to be
made to any person other than the registered holder, or if surrendered
certificates are registered in the name of any person other than the person(s)
signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any stock transfer taxes
(whether imposed on the registered holder or such person) payable on account
of the transfer to such person will be deducted from the payment for such Bell
Sports Common Stock if satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or
exemption therefrom, is not submitted.
6. Validity of Surrender; Irregularities. All questions as to validity, form
and eligibility of any surrender of Bell Sports Certificates hereunder will be
determined by Bell Sports (which may delegate such power in whole or in part
to the Paying Agent), and such determination shall be final and binding. Bell
Sports reserves the right to waive any irregularities or defects in the
surrender of any Bell Sports Certificates, and its interpretations of the
terms and conditions of the Agreement, this Letter of Transmittal and these
instructions with respect to such
4
<PAGE>
irregularities or defects shall be final and binding. A surrender will not be
deemed to have been made until all irregularities and defects have been cured
or waived.
7. Special Issuance and Delivery Instructions. Indicate in response to
Special Instruction 1 or 2 the name and address to which the check for the
Bell Sports Common Stock is to be issued and sent if different from the name
and address of the person(s) signing the Letter of Transmittal.
8. Additional Copies and Inquiries. Questions and requests for assistance or
additional copies of the Letter of Transmittal or other documents may be
directed to the Paying Agent at the address listed on page 1 of this Letter of
Transmittal.
9. Inadequate Space. If the space provided on the first page of this Letter
of Transmittal is inadequate for describing all Bell Sports Certificates
surrendered, the certificate numbers of the Bell Sports Certificates
surrendered and the number of shares of Bell Sports Common Stock represented
thereby should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.
10. Letter of Transmittal Required; Lost Certificate(s). You will not be
paid any cash in exchange for your Bell Sports Certificates unless and until
this Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and signed, is received by the
Paying Agent, together with the Bell Sports Certificates and any required
accompanying evidences of authority (as described in General Instruction 3).
If the Bell Sports Certificates have been lost or destroyed, you should
indicate such fact on the face of this Letter of Transmittal. In such event,
the Paying Agent will forward additional documentation necessary to be
completed in order to effectively surrender such lost or destroyed Bell Sports
Certificates. No interest will be paid on amounts due with respect to the Bell
Sports Certificates.
11. Form W-9. You are required to provide the Paying Agent with a correct
Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") on the United States Department of the
Treasury/Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 attached hereto. If you are an
individual, the TIN is your social security number. If you are exempt from
federal income tax withholding because you are an exempt payee, you must
provide your correct TIN in Part I of Form W-9 and, in accordance with the
Specific Instructions on page two of Form W-9, write "EXEMPT" in the block in
Part II and sign and date the Form. IF A PERSON IS INDICATED IN SPECIAL
INSTRUCTION 1, THAT PERSON MUST SIGN THE FORM W-9. Failure to provide the
information on the form may subject you to United States federal income tax
withholding on the payment of any amounts due with respect to the Bell Sports
Certificates and withholding of an appropriate amount for applicable state
taxes. If you are not subject to withholding because you are a non-resident
alien or a foreign entity, attach a completed Form W-8 ("Certificate of
Foreign Status").
5
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION
The summary provided below was as of a recent date and is subject to change
without notice. Holders of Bell Sports Certificates are encouraged to consult
with their own tax advisors for more detailed information.
General
Under United States federal income tax law, each Bell Sports stockholder is
required by law to provide the Paying Agent (as payer) with such stockholder's
correct Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) on Form W-9 or a substitute Form
W-9. If such stockholder is an individual, the TIN is his or her social
security number. If the Paying Agent is not provided with the correct TIN, the
stockholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the United States
Internal Revenue Service unless the failure to provide a correct TIN is due to
reasonable cause and not willful neglect. In addition, payments that are made
to such stockholder with respect to surrendered Bell Sports Certificates may
be subject to backup withholding. If the stockholder makes a false statement
with no reasonable basis that results in no imposition of backup withholding,
the stockholder will be subject to a penalty of $500. If the stockholder
willfully falsifies certifications or affirmations, criminal penalties,
including fines and imprisonment, may be imposed.
Exempt shareholders are not subject to these backup withholding and
reporting requirements. In order for a foreign individual or entity to qualify
as an exempt recipient, that stockholder must submit the Form W-9 provided
herewith, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to the individual's
exempt status, as well as a completed Form W-8 ("Certificate of Foreign
Status").
If backup withholding applies, the Paying Agent is required to withhold 31%
of any amount otherwise payable to the stockholder for federal income taxes
and an appropriate amount for applicable state taxes. Backup withholding is
not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup
withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding
results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.
Purpose of Form W-9
To prevent backup withholding on payments that are made to a stockholder
pursuant to the Merger, the stockholder is required to notify the Paying Agent
of his or her correct TIN by submitting a completed Form W-9. If a TIN is not
provided to the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent is required to withhold 31% of
all reportable payments for United States federal income taxes and an
appropriate amount for applicable state taxes.
What Number to Give the Paying Agent
The stockholder is required to give the Paying Agent the social security
number or the employer identification number of the record holder of the Bell
Sports Certificates surrendered herewith. If the Bell Sports Certificates are
in more than one name or are not in the name of the record holder, consult the
instructions on the Form W-9 for additional guidelines on which number to
report. IF A PERSON IS INDICATED IN SPECIAL INSTRUCTION 1, THAT PERSON MUST
SIGN THE FORM W-9.
6
<PAGE>
Form W-9
(Rev. December 1996) REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER GIVE THIS
Department of the Treasury IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FORM TO THE
Internal Revenue Service AND CERTIFICATION REQUESTER.
DO NOT SEND
TO IRS.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name (if a joint account or you changed your name, see SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
on page 2.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Business name, if different from above. (See SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS on page
2.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check appropriate box: [_] Individual/Sole
proprietor [_] Corporation [_] Partnership [_] Other
................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City, state, and ZIP code
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requester's name and
PART I address (optional)
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (TIN) ---------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------- List account number(s)
here (optional)
Enter your TIN in the ap-
propriate box. For indi- ---------------------------
viduals , this is your so-
cial security number PART II
SSN). However, if you are SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER----
a resident alien OR a sole - -
proprietor, see the in- OR
structions on page 2. For
other entities, it is your EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
employer identification -
number (EIN). If you do
not have a number, see HOW FOR PAYEES EXEMPT
TO GET A TIN ON PAGE 2. FROM BACKUP
WITHHOLDING (See
the Instructions on
Page 2.)
NOTE: If the account is in ---------------------------
more than one name, see
the chart on page 2 for
guidelines on whose number
to enter.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PART III
CERTIFICATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:
1. The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number
(or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), AND
2. I am not subject to backup withholding either because (A) I am exempt from
backup withholding, or (B) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a
failure to report all interest or dividends, (C) the IRS has notified me
that I am no longer subject to backup withholding.
CERTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS.--You must cross out item 2 above if you have been
notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding
because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax
return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage
interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of
debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and
generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to
sign the Certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. (See the
instructions on page 2.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIGN HERE
SIGNATURE DATE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURPOSE OF FORM.--A person who is required to file an information return with
IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) to report,
for example, income paid to you, real estate transactions, mortgage interest
you paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt,
or contributions you made to an IRA.
Use Form W-9 to give your correct TIN to the person requesting it (the
requester) and, when applicable, to:
1. Certify the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number
to be issued),
2. Certify you are not subject to backup withholding, or
3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are an exempt payee.
NOTE: If a requester gives you a form other than a W-9 to request your TIN, you
must use the requester's form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.
WHAT IS BACKUP WITHHOLDING?--Persons making certain payments to you must
withhold and pay to the IRS 31% of such payments under certain conditions. This
is called "backup withholding." Payments that may be subject to backup
withholding include interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange
transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, and certain payments from
fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup
withholding.
If you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications,
and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return, payments
you receive will not be subject to backup withholding. Payments you receive
will be subject to backup withholding if:
1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester, or
2. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN, or
3. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did
not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable
interest and dividends only), or
4. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup
withholding under 3 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened
after 1983 only), or
5. You do not certify your TIN when required. See the Part III instructions on
page 2 for details.
Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See the Part II
instructions and the separate INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE REQUESTER OF FORM W-9.
PENALTIES
FAILURE TO FURNISH TIN.--If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a
requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless
your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.
CIVIL PENALTY FOR FALSE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO WITHHOLDING.--If you make a
false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding,
you are subject to s $500 penalty.
CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING INFORMATION.--Willfully falsifying
certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including
fines and/or imprisonment.
MISUSE OF TINS.--If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of
Federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
NAME.--If you are an individual, you must generally enter the name shown on
your social security card. However, if you have changed your last name, for
instance, due to marriage, without informing the Social Security Administration
of the name change, enter your first name, the last name shown on your social
security card, and your new last name.
If the account is in joint names, list first and then circle the name of the
person or entity whose number you enter in Part I of the form.
Sole Proprietor.--You must enter your INDIVIDUAL name as shown on your social
security card. You may enter your business, trade, or "doing business as" name
on the BUSINESS NAME line.
Other Entities.--Enter the business name as shown on required Federal tax
documents. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal
document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or "doing
business as" name on the business name line.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cat. No. 10231X Form W-9 (Rev. 12-96)
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE
<PAGE>
PART I--TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (TIN)
You must enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and
you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS
individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social
security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see HOW TO GET A TIN BELOW.
If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN
or EIN. However, using your EIN may result in unnecessary notices to the
requester.
NOTE: See the chart on this page for further clarification of name and TIN
combinations.
HOW TO GET A TIN.--If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To
apply for an SSN, get FORM SS-5 from your local Social Security Administration
office. Get FORM W-7 to apply for an ITIN or FORM SS-4 to apply for an EIN. You
can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-
3676).
If you do not have a TIN, write "Applied For" in the space for the TIN, sign
and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend
payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable
instruments, you will generally have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the
requester. Other payments are subject to backup withholding.
NOTE: Writing "Applied For" means that you have already applied for a TIN OR
that you intend to apply for one soon.
PART II--FOR PAYEES EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Individuals (including sole proprietors) are NOT exempt from backup
withholding. Corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain
payments, such as interest and dividends. For more information on exempt
payees, see the separate instructions for the Requester of Form W-9.
If you are exempt from backup withholding, you should still complete this form
to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. Enter your correct TIN in Part
I, write "Exempt" in Part II, and sign and date the form.
If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity not subject to backup
withholding, give the requester a completed FORM W-8, Certificate of Foreign
Status.
PART III--CERTIFICATION
For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign
(when required).
1. INTEREST, DIVIDEND, AND BARTER EXCHANGE ACCOUNTS OPENED BEFORE 1984 AND
BROKER ACCOUNTS CONSIDERED ACTIVE DURING 1983. You must give your correct TIN,
but you do not have to sign the certification.
2. INTEREST, DIVIDEND, BROKER, AND BARTER EXCHANGE ACCOUNTS OPENED AFTER 1983
AND BROKER ACCOUNTS CONSIDERED INACTIVE DURING 1983. You must sign the
certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup
withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you
must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.
3. REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. You must sign the certification. You may cross out
item 2 of the certification.
4. OTHER PAYMENTS. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign
the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given
an incorrect TIN. "Other payments" include payments made in the course of the
requester's trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for
merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to
corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services (including attorney and
accounting fees), and payments to certain fishing boat crew members.
5. MORTGAGE INTEREST PAID BY YOU, ACQUISITION OR ABANDONMENT OF SECURED
PROPERTY, CANCELLATION OF DEBT, OR IRA CONTRIBUTIONS. You must give your
correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.
PRIVACY ACT NOTICE
Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to give your correct TIN
to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest,
dividends, and certain other income paid to you, mortgage interest you paid,
the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or
contributions you made to an IRA. The IRS uses the numbers for identification
purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return. The IRS may also
provide this information to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal
litigation and to cities, states, and the District of Columbia to carry out
their tax laws.
You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return.
Payers must generally withhold 31% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain
other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to a payer. Certain penalties
may also apply.
WHAT NAME AND NUMBER TO GIVE THE REQUESTER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT:
GIVE NAME AND SSN OF:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Individual The individual
2. Tow or The actual
more owner of
individuals the
(joint account
account) or, if
combined
account
or, if
combined
funds, the
first
individual
on the
account/1/
3. Custodian The minor/2/
account
of a
minor
(Uniform
Gift to
Minors
Act)
4.a. The The grantor-trustee/1/
usual
revocable
savings
trust
(grantor
is also
trustee)
b. So-called The actual owner/1/
trust
account
that is
not a
legal or
valid trust
under state
law
5. Sole The owner/3/
proprietorship
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT:
GIVE NAME AND SSN OF:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Sole The owner/3/
proprietorship
7. A valid Legal entity/4/
trust,
estate,
or pension
trust
8. Corporate The corporation
9. Association The organization
club,
religious,
charitable,
educational,
or other
tax-exempt
organization
10. Partnership The partnership
11. A broker or The broker or nominee
registered
nominee
12. Account with The public entity
Department of
Agriculture
in the name
of a public
entity such
as a state
or local
government,
school
district,
or prison)
that
receives
agricultural
program
payments.
- -------------------------
/1/ List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If
only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person's number must be
furnished.
/2/ Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's SSN
/3/ You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or
"doing business as" name. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one).
/4/ List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension
trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless
the legal entity itslf is not designated in the account title.)
NOTE: If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will
be considered to be that of the first name listed.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Form W-9 (Rev. 12-87)
Published by Tax Management, Inc., a Subsidiary of The Bureau of National
Affairs, Inc.
W-9. 1
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
[BELL SPORTS LOGO APPEARS HERE]
NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE DATE: July 24, 1998
CONTACT: Sondra L. Lehman, Director of Investor Relations (888) 534-9500
BELL SPORTS CORP. INCREASES
ITS OFFER PRICE AND EXTENDS
THE EXPIRATION DATE FOR ITS
OUTSTANDING OFFER TO PURCHASE
SAN JOSE, CA - Bell Sports Corp. (Nasdaq: BSPT and BSPTG) today announced that
in connection with its outstanding offer to purchase up to $62.5 million of its
4 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2000 (the "Debentures") dated
June 30, 1998 (the "Offer to Purchase"), it has extended the Expiration Date to
7:00 a.m. New York City time, on August 14, 1998, as such date and time may be
further extended.
In addition to extending the Expiration Date, the Company is also amending the
Offer to Purchase to change the consideration to be paid for each Debenture
validly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date to a cash purchase price of
$905 per $1000 principal amount.
Loomis, Sayles & Co, L.P. has informed the Company that it intends to tender its
holding of Debentures pursuant to the revised offer.
Unless otherwise stated herein, the terms and conditions of the Offer to
Purchase remain as set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated June 30, 1998, as
amended, which can be obtained (along with certain related documents) by
contacting Georgeson & Company, Inc., the Information Agent for the Offer to
Purchase, at (800) 223-2064 or (212) 440-9800 for banks and brokers.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation ("DLJ") is acting as the
Dealer Manager for the Offer to Purchase. Questions concerning the Offer to
Purchase may be directed to DLJ at (310) 282-8158 (call collect) or (310)
282-5518 (call collect).
As of July 23, 1998, approximately $4 million aggregate principal amount of
Debentures had been tendered pursuant to the Offer to Purchase.
This press release constitutes neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation
of an offer to sell securities. The offer to purchase is made only pursuant to
the Offer to Purchase dated June 30, 1998, as it may be amended or supplemented
by the Company from time to time. For information regarding the pricing, tender
and delivery procedures and conditions of the Offer to Purchase, reference is
made to the Offer to Purchase and the related documents.
-continued-
<PAGE>
The Company is the leading manufacturer and marketer of bicycle helmets
worldwide and a leading supplier of a broad line of bicycle accessories in North
America. The Company is also a leading supplier of auto racing helmets and a
supplier of bicycle accessories worldwide. Recently, the Company began marketing
in-line skating, snowboarding, snow skiing and water sport helmets. The Company
markets its helmets under the widely recognized Bell, Bell Pro and Giro brand
names, and its accessories under such leading brands as Bell, Blackburn, Rhode
Gear, VistaLite, Copper Canyon Cycling and Spoke-Hedz.
Certain matters within this news release are forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and as such
many involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be
different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon
reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be
attained. These risks are detailed from time to time in the Company's filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.2
[BELL SPORTS LOGO APPEARS HERE]
NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE DATE: August 17, 1998
CONTACT: Sondra L. Lehman, Director of Investor Relations (888) 534-9500
BELL SPORTS CORP.
COMPLETES MERGER WITH
HB ACQUISITION CORPORATION
AND RELATED FINANCING TRANSACTIONS
San Jose, CA - Bell Sports Corp. (Nasdaq: BSPT and BSPTG) announced today
that it has completed its plan of recapitalization and merger with
HB Acquisition Corporation, an affiliate of Charlesbank Equity Fund IV, Limited
Partnership (together with its affiliates, "Charlesbank") and Brentwood
Associates Buyout Fund II, L.P. (together with its affiliates, "Brentwood").
Each outstanding share of the Company's common stock has been converted into the
right to receive $10.25 per share in cash. Today will be the last trading day
for the Company's common stock.
The Company will send each registered stockholder a letter describing the
procedures to be followed in order to surrender his or her stock certificates in
exchange for the merger consideration. Stockholders should not forward their
certificates to the Company.
In connection with the plan of recapitalization and merger, Charlesbank and
Brentwood invested an aggregate of $45 million in equity of the Company and
$15 million in the Company's 14% Senior Discount Debentures due 2009.
The Company accepted for purchase the maximum $82.5 million aggregate
principal amount of its 4 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2000 (the
"Debentures") pursuant to its previously announced offer to purchase. The tender
offer was commenced June 30, 1998 and expired at 7:00 a.m. on August 14, 1998.
Upon expiration of the tender offer, approximately $77 million aggregate
principal amount of Debentures had been tendered. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation acted as dealer manager for the tender offer.
Bell Sports, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued
$110,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11.00% Senior Subordinated Notes due
2008 (the "Notes") pursuant to a private placement, which was not registered
under the Securities Act of 1933. The Notes may not be offered or sold in the
United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration
requirements. Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually, in arrears,
in cash on August 15 and February 15, commencing on February 15, 1999.
Additionally, Bell Sports, Inc. entered into a five year $80 million senior
secured revolving credit facility, subject to borrowing base requirements.
<PAGE>
Mary J. George, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Bell Sports
Corp., commented, "We are very excited about working with our new investors,
Charlesbank and Brentwood. Fiscal 1999 presents many opportunities for the
Company, including growth in international markets, which the Company together
with Charlesbank and Brentwood will fully pursue." George continued, "We remain
focused on our core business and improving its operations."
Certain matters within this news release are forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and
as such may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Bell Sports
Corp. to be different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although Bell Sports
Corp. believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its
expectations will be attained. These risks are detailed from time to time in the
bell Sports Corp.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Bell Sports Corp. is the leading manufacturer and marketer of bicycle
helmets worldwide and a leading supplier of a broad line of bicycle accessories
in North America. The Company is also a leading supplier of auto racing helmets
and a supplier of bicycle accessories worldwide. Recently, the Company began
marketing in-line skating, snowboarding, snow skiing and water sport helmets.
The Company markets its helmets under the widely recognized Bell, Bell Pro and
Giro brand names, and its accessories under such leading brands as Bell,
Blackburn, Rhode Gear, VistaLife, Copper Canyon Cycling and Spoke-Hedz.
