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Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

 

 

SENIOR SECURED NOTES INDENTURE

 

Dated as of December 10, 2025

 

Among

 

HNI CORPORATION

 

THE GUARANTORS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO

 

and

 

U.S. Bank Trust company, National Association

as Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent

 

5.125% SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2029

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
Section 1.01   Definitions 1
Section 1.02   Other Definitions 16
Section 1.03   Rules of Construction 17
Section 1.04   Acts of Holders 17
ARTICLE 2 THE NOTES 19
Section 2.01   Form and Dating; Terms 19
Section 2.02   Execution and Authentication 20
Section 2.03   Registrar and Paying Agent 21
Section 2.04   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust 21
Section 2.05   Holder Lists 22
Section 2.06   Transfer and Exchange 22
Section 2.07   Replacement Notes 23
Section 2.08   Outstanding Notes 23
Section 2.09   Treasury Notes 24
Section 2.10   Temporary Notes 24
Section 2.11   Cancellation 24
Section 2.12   Defaulted Interest 24
Section 2.13   CUSIP and ISIN Numbers 25
ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION 25
Section 3.01   Notices to Trustee 25
Section 3.02   Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased 25
Section 3.03   Notice of Redemption 26
Section 3.04   Effect of Notice of Redemption 27
Section 3.05   Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price 27
Section 3.06   Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part 27
Section 3.07   Optional Redemption 28
ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS 28
Section 4.01   Payment of Notes 28
Section 4.02   Maintenance of Office or Agency 28
Section 4.03   [Reserved] 29
Section 4.04   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 29
Section 4.05   Corporate Existence 29
Section 4.06   Reports and Other Information 29
Section 4.07   Compliance Certificate 30
Section 4.08   Limitation on Liens 30
Section 4.09   Additional Note Guarantees 30
Section 4.10   Change of Control Triggering Event 31
Section 4.11   Limitation of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions 33

 

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ARTICLE 5 SUCCESSORS 33
Section 5.01   Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets 33
Section 5.02   Successor Entity Substituted 35
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 35
Section 6.01   Events of Default 35
Section 6.02   Acceleration 37
Section 6.03   Other Remedies 37
Section 6.04   Waiver of Past Defaults 38
Section 6.05   Control by Majority 38
Section 6.06   Limitation on Suits 38
Section 6.07   Rights of Holders to Receive Payment 39
Section 6.08   Collection Suit by Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent 39
Section 6.09   Restoration of Rights and Remedies 39
Section 6.10   Rights and Remedies Cumulative 39
Section 6.11   Delay or Omission Not Waiver 39
Section 6.12   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 40
Section 6.13   Priorities 40
Section 6.14   Undertaking for Costs 41
ARTICLE 7 TRUSTEE 41
Section 7.01   Duties of Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent 41
Section 7.02   Rights of Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent 42
Section 7.03   Individual Rights of Trustee 43
Section 7.04   Trustee’s Disclaimer 44
Section 7.05   Notice of Defaults 44
Section 7.06   Compensation and Indemnity 44
Section 7.07   Replacement of Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent 45
Section 7.08   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. 46
Section 7.09   Eligibility; Disqualification 46
Section 7.10   Trustee as Collateral Agent. 47
Section 7.11   Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral 47
ARTICLE 8 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 47
Section 8.01   Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 47
Section 8.02   Legal Defeasance and Discharge 47
Section 8.03   Covenant Defeasance 48
Section 8.04   Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance 49
Section 8.05   Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions 50
Section 8.06   Repayment to the Company 50
Section 8.07   Reinstatement 50
ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER 51
Section 9.01   Without Consent of Holders 51
Section 9.02   With Consent of Holders 52

 

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Section 9.03   Revocation and Effect of Consents 54
Section 9.04   Notation on or Exchange of Notes 54
Section 9.05   Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, etc. 54
ARTICLE 10 GUARANTEES 55
Section 10.01   Guarantee 55
Section 10.02   Limitation on Guarantor Liability 56
Section 10.03   Execution and Delivery 56
Section 10.04   Subrogation 57
Section 10.05   Benefits Acknowledged 57
Section 10.06   Release of Note Guarantees 57
ARTICLE 11 COLLATERAL 58
Section 11.01   Collateral 58
Section 11.02   Maintenance of Collateral 59
Section 11.03   Impairment of Collateral 59
Section 11.04   Further Assurances 59
Section 11.05   After-Acquired Collateral 59
Section 11.06   Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent Under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement 60
Section 11.07   Documents and Intercreditor Agreement 61
Section 11.08   Release of Collateral 61
ARTICLE 12 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 62
Section 12.01   Satisfaction and Discharge 62
Section 12.02   Application of Trust Money 63
ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS 63
Section 13.01   Notices 63
Section 13.02   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent 64
Section 13.03   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion 65
Section 13.04   Rules by Trustee and Agents 65
Section 13.05   No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Stockholders 65
Section 13.06   Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction 66
Section 13.07   Waiver of Jury Trial 66
Section 13.08   Force Majeure 66
Section 13.09   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements 66
Section 13.10   Successors 66
Section 13.11   Severability 67
Section 13.12   Counterpart Originals 67
Section 13.13   Table of Contents, Headings, etc. 67
Section 13.14   Facsimile and PDF Delivery of Signature Pages 67
Section 13.15   U.S.A. PATRIOT Act 68
Section 13.16   Payments Due on Non-Business Days 68

 

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Appendix A Provisions Relating to Initial Notes and Additional Notes
   
Exhibit A Form of Note
Exhibit B Form of Supplemental Indenture to Be Delivered by Subsequent Guarantors

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of December 10, 2025, among HNI Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “Company” or “HNI”), the Guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and notes collateral agent.

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the creation of and issue of $350,979,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the “Initial Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantors have duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Section 1.01    Definitions.

 

Additional Notes” means additional Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 and, if applicable, Section 4.08.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (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.

 

Agent” means the Notes Collateral Agent or any Registrar, Custodian or Paying Agent or any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.02(d).

 

Article 9 Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

Attributable Debt” means, in respect of a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, the present value (discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in the transaction, as determined in good faith by a principal accounting officer of the Company) of the obligation of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such transaction, including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended or, if earlier, until the earliest date on which the lessee may terminate such lease upon payment of a penalty (in which case the obligation of the lessee for rental payments will include such penalty), after excluding all amounts required to be paid on account of maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water and utility rates and similar charges.

 

Bank Agent” means the administrative agent for the lenders and other secured parties under the Senior Credit Facilities, together with its successors and permitted assigns under the Senior Credit Facilities.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended.

 

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Bankruptcy Law” means the Bankruptcy Code and any similar federal, state or foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

Business Day” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

 

Capital Stock” means:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(4)    any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Capitalized 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 and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

 

Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:  (1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution; or (3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the then outstanding number of shares of the Company’s Voting Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to result in a Change of Control if (a) the Company becomes a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of a holding company and (b) the holders of the voting stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s voting stock immediately prior to that transaction.

 

Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.

 

COLI Borrowing” means Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is secured by, or made against, the cash surrender value of any COLI Policy.

 

COLI Policy” means a corporate-owned life insurance policy maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees, officers or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including the cash surrender value and other proceeds thereof.

 

Collateral” means all of the assets and property of the Company and the Guarantors that secure or purport to secure any Notes Obligations as described in the Security Documents.

 

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Company” means the party named as such in the first paragraph of this Indenture of any successor obligor to its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to Article 5.

 

Consolidated EBITDA” means, as of any date of determination, (a) Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (b) the sum of the following to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes incurred by the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense for such period and (iv) all non-cash items decreasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (c) the sum of the following to the extent deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income and without duplication: (i) non-cash charges in connection with a single, one-time, unusual or non-recurring event during such period, (ii) non-recurring cash charges and expenses incurred during such period in connection with operational changes or restructurings of the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) “run rate” cost savings, operating expense reductions and synergies (1) related to the Kite Acquisition that are reasonably quantifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Company in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or initiated or are expected to be taken within 30 months of the Kite Acquisition Closing Date (in the good faith determination of the Company), (2) related to the Transactions that are reasonably quantifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Company in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or initiated or are expected to be taken within 30 months of the Issue Date (in the good faith determination of the Company) and (3) related to any other acquisitions, dispositions and other specified transactions, restructurings, cost savings initiatives and other initiatives that are reasonably quantifiable, factually supportable and projected by the Company in good faith to result from actions that have been taken or initiated or are expected to be taken within 24 months of the date of consummation of such acquisition, disposition, other specified transaction, restructuring, or the taking of such initiative (in the good faith determination of the Company), in each case, calculated (A) on a pro forma basis as though such cost savings, synergies or operating expense reductions had been realized on the first day of such period and (B) net of the amount of actual benefits realized from such actions during such period (it is understood and agreed that “run rate” means the full recurring benefit that is associated with any action taken or initiated or expected in good faith to be taken, whether prior to or following the Issue Date), and (iv) all losses from disposed, abandoned, divested and/or discontinued assets, properties or operations and/or discontinued operations (other than, at the option of the Company, assets or properties pending the divestiture or termination thereof during such period); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of adjustments to Consolidated EBITDA pursuant to clauses (c)(ii), (c)(iii) and (c)(iv) shall not exceed the greater of (x) $97,500,000 and (y) 15.0% of Consolidated EBITDA (calculated before giving effect to all such adjustments) during any measurement period, and minus (d) the following to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax credits of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such period and (ii) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense” means, as of any date of determination, all Interest Expense (excluding amortization of debt discount and premium, but including the interest component under Finance Leases) for such period of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

 

Consolidated Net Income” means, as of any date of determination, for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the net income of the Company and its Subsidiaries for that period.

 

Controlling Collateral Agent” has the meaning given to such term in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business in respect of this Indenture shall be administered and which at the date hereof are located at 333 Commerce Street, Suite 900, Nashville, TN 37201, Attn: HNI Corporation Notes Administrator.

 

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

 

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

 

Definitive Note” means a certificated Initial Note or Additional Note (bearing the Restricted Notes Legend if the transfer of such Note is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Notes Legend.

 

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

 

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state or commonwealth thereof or under the laws of the District of Columbia.

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

Equity Interests” means (a) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, (c) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether general or limited), (d) in the case of a limited liability company, membership interests and (e) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distribution of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

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

 

Excluded Accounts” means, collectively, deposit accounts, to the extent exclusively constituting (a) payroll and other employee wage and benefit accounts, (b) tax accounts, including sales tax accounts, (c) escrow, fiduciary or trust accounts, (d) designated disbursement accounts and non-U.S. bank accounts, (e) deposit accounts (i) that are zero balance accounts or (ii) the balances of which are transferred automatically on a daily basis to deposit accounts that are not Excluded Accounts, (f) accounts holding cash collateral in escrow or in trust for the benefit of a third party in connection with Permitted Encumbrances, and (g) the funds or other property held in or maintained in any such account identified in clauses (a) through (f).

 

Excluded Assets”  means:

 

(1)    any fee-owned real property and all leasehold or subleasehold interests in real property;

 

(2)    any motor vehicles, aircraft and other assets subject to certificates of title (other than to the extent the security interest in such certificates of title may be perfected by the filing of UCC financing statements);

 

(3)    assets in respect of which pledges and security interests are prohibited by applicable U.S. law, rule or regulation or agreements with any Governmental Authority (other than to the extent that such prohibition would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, 9-409 or other applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable

 

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jurisdiction or any other applicable law); provided that, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such prohibitions, such assets shall automatically cease to constitute “Excluded Assets”;

 

(4)    Equity Interests in any Person other than Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries to the extent not permitted by the terms of such Person’s organizational or joint venture documents (unless any such restriction would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, 9-409 or other applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code of any applicable jurisdiction or any other applicable law);

 

(5)    any lease, license or other agreement or any property subject to a purchase money security interest or similar arrangement, to the extent that a grant of a security interest therein would violate or invalidate such lease, license or agreement or purchase money arrangement or create a right of termination in favor of any other party thereto (other than the Company or a Guarantor) (other than (x) proceeds and receivables thereof, the assignment of which is expressly deemed effective under the Uniform Commercial Code notwithstanding such prohibition, (y) to the extent that any such term has been waived or (z) to the extent that any such term would be rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9-406, 9-407, 9-408, 9-409 or other applicable provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law); provided that, immediately upon the ineffectiveness, lapse or termination of any such express term, such assets shall automatically cease to constitute “Excluded Assets”;

 

(6)    Excluded Accounts;

 

(7)    cash to secure letter of credit reimbursement obligations (other than in respect of Letters of Credit) to the extent such secured letters of credit are issued or permitted, and such cash collateral is permitted, by this Indenture;

 

(8)    any “intent-to-use” application for registration of a trademark filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, prior to the filing of a “Statement of Use” pursuant to Section 1(d) of the Lanham Act or an “Amendment to Allege Use” pursuant to Section 1(c) of the Lanham Act with respect thereto, to the extent, if any, that and solely during the period, if any, in which, the grant of a security interest therein would impair the validity or enforceability of any registration that issues from such intent-to-use application under applicable federal law;

 

(9)    Equity Interests in any (x) not-for-profit Subsidiary or (y) other Subsidiary if the granting of a security interest in such Equity Interests (i) is prohibited or restricted by any applicable law or any contractual obligation (limited, in the case of a contractual obligation, to such contractual obligations in existence on the Issue Date or on the date such Subsidiary was acquired by the Company or any other Subsidiary and that was not entered into in contemplation thereof) from providing a Notes Guarantee or (ii) would require a governmental consent, approval, license or authorization (including any regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization) in order to provide such security interest (other than any such consent, approval, license or authorization that has been obtained);

 

(10)    any assets of a Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company, including any Equity Interests in (i) any direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company and (ii) in respect of any Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary or Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company, voting Equity Interests in such Subsidiary representing more than 65% of the voting Equity Interests in such Subsidiary;

 

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(11)    any assets to the extent a security interest in such assets would result in material adverse Tax consequences (as reasonably determined by the Company in consultation with the Bank Agent);

 

(12)    Specified Assets;

 

(13)    the cash surrender value of any COLI Policy securing any COLI Borrowing to the extent the Liens thereon are permitted under clause (ii) of Section 6.2(g) of the Senior Credit Facilities;

 

(14)    any “margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation U; and

 

(15)    for so long as the Senior Credit Facilities are outstanding, any asset at any time that is not then subject to a Lien securing First Lien Obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities at such time.

 

provided that, “Excluded Assets” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Assets (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would otherwise constitute Excluded Assets).

 

fair market value” means, with respect to any asset or liability, the fair market value of such asset or liability as determined in good faith by the board of directors or senior management of the Company.

 

Finance Lease” means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any Property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a finance lease on the balance sheet of that Person.

 

First Lien Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor having Pari Passu Lien Priority (without regard to control of remedies) with the Obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities and the Notes and the Note Guarantees, including, for the avoidance of doubt when such term is used in this Indenture, the Senior Credit Facilities and the Notes Guarantees.

 

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

Foreign Subsidiary Holding Company” means any Subsidiary of the Company which is a Domestic Subsidiary substantially all of the assets of which consist of the capital stock or Indebtedness of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries (or Subsidiaries thereof) and other assets relating to an ownership interest in such capital stock or Indebtedness, or Subsidiaries.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time. Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, all obligations of any Person that are or would have been treated as operating leases for purposes of GAAP prior to the effectiveness of FASB ASC 842 shall continue to be accounted for as operating leases for purposes of all financial definitions and calculations for purpose of this Indenture (whether or not such operating lease obligations were in effect on such date) notwithstanding the fact that such obligations are required in accordance with FASB ASC 842 (on a prospective or retroactive basis or otherwise) to be listed on the balance sheet in the financial statements. Furthermore, Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, and the effects of FASB ASC 825 and FASB ASC 470-20 on financial liabilities shall be disregarded.

 

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Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Government Securities” means securities that are (1) direct obligations of the United States for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

 

Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company that executes this Indenture as a Guarantor on the Issue Date and each other Subsidiary of the Company that thereafter guarantees the Notes, until, in each case, such Person is released from its Note Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

Hedging Agreements” means, with respect to any Person, any agreement entered into to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates, or currency or raw materials values or similar market risks, including, without limitation, any interest rate swap, cap or collar agreement or similar arrangement between such Person and one or more counterparties, any foreign currency exchange agreement, currency protection agreements, commodity purchase or option agreements or other interest or exchange rate or commodity price hedging agreements.

 

holder” means, with reference to any indebtedness or other Obligations, any holder or lender of, or trustee or collateral agent or other authorized representative with respect to, such indebtedness or Obligations, and, in the case of Hedging Agreements, any counter-party to such Hedging Agreements.

 

Holder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the registrar’s books.

 

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

 

(1)    all obligations of such Person for borrowed money,

 

(2)    all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, or upon which interest payments are customarily made,

 

(3)    all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property purchased by such Person (other than customary reservations or retentions of title under agreements with suppliers entered into in the ordinary course of business),

 

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(4)    all obligations of such Person incurred, issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services purchased by such Person that would appear as liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person and that are (i) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of such obligations or (ii) evidenced by a note or a similar written instrument, in each case, other than trade debt and other accrued liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue by more than 90 days or that are currently being contested in good faith,

 

(5)    all obligations of such Person under take-or-pay or similar arrangements or under commodities agreements,

 

(6)    all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on, or payable out of the proceeds of production from, property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed; provided that so long as such Indebtedness is non-recourse to such Person, only the portion of such obligations which is secured shall constitute Indebtedness hereunder,

 

(7)    all Guaranty Obligations (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) of such Person with respect to Indebtedness of another Person,

 

(8)    the principal portion of all obligations of such Person under Finance Leases, synthetic leases, tax retention operating leases, off-balance sheet loans or similar off-balance sheet financing products plus any accrued interest thereon,

 

(9)    all obligations of such Person under Hedging Agreements to the extent required to be accounted for as a liability under GAAP, excluding any portion thereof which would be accounted for as interest expense under GAAP,

 

(10)    the maximum amount of all letters of credit issued or bankers’ acceptances facilities created for the account of such Person and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder (to the extent unreimbursed) other than commercial letters of credit, bankers acceptances, or the functional equivalent thereof issued to support payment obligations in connection with trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business,

 

(11)    Disqualified Equity Interests (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities), and

 

(12)    the Indebtedness of any partnership or unincorporated joint venture in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person.

 

Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Initial Notes” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

 

Intercreditor Agreement” means the First Lien Priority Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2025, among the Company, the Guarantors, the Bank Agent, the Notes Collateral Agent and each additional Authorized Representative (as defined therein) from time to time party thereto, which may be amended from time to time without the consent of the holders of the Notes to add other parties holding First Lien Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Indenture, the Senior Credit Facilities and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, the sum of the amount of interest paid or accrued in respect of such period.

 

Interest Payment Date” means January 18 and July 18 of each year to stated maturity of the Notes.

 

Issue Date” means December 10, 2025.

 

Issuing Lender” has the meaning as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities.

 

Kite Acquisition” means the merger of Ozark Merger Sub, Inc., an Indiana Corporation and a Subsidiary of the Company, with and into Kimball International, Inc., an Indiana corporation (“Kite”), with Kite surviving the merger as a Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to the Kite Acquisition Agreement.

 

Kite Acquisition Closing Date” means the date on which the Kite Acquisition was consummated.

 

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York or in the place of payment .

 

Letters of Credit” means any letter of credit issued by an Issuing Lender pursuant to the terms hereof and each existing Letter of Credit, as such letters of credit may be amended, restated, modified, extended, renewed or replaced from time to time.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), preference, priority or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any financing or similar statement or notice filed under the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in the relevant jurisdiction or other similar recording or notice statute, and any lease in the nature thereof), provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

Material Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount equal to or greater than $50,000,000.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto.

 

Note Guarantee” means the guarantee by any Guarantor of the Company’s Obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

Notes” means any Note authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, including the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and Notes to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange of Notes.

 

Notes Collateral Agent” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as collateral agent for the holders of the Obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents and any successor pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture and the Security Documents.

 

Notes Obligations” means Obligations in respect of the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents relating to the Notes.

 

Obligations” means any principal, interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the

 

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documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), premium, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable, in each case, under the documentation governing any indebtedness; provided, that any of the foregoing (other than principal and interest) shall no longer constitute “Obligations” after payment in full of such principal and interest.

 

Offering Memorandum” means the Offering Memorandum dated September 26, 2025 relating to the offering of the Notes.

 

Officer” means the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President, Finance or any other officer designated by any such individuals of the Company or any other Person, as the case may be.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer of the Company or on behalf of any other Person, as the case may be, that meets the requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions). The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or other counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

Pari Passu Lien Priority” means, with respect to specified indebtedness, such indebtedness is secured by a Lien that is equal in priority to the Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes (without regard to control of remedies) and is subject to the Intercreditor Agreement (or such other intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms as the Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole).

 

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(1)    Liens for taxes, assessments, charges or other governmental levies not yet due or as to which the period of grace, if any, related thereto has not expired or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued for which adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP (or, in the case of Subsidiaries with significant operations outside of the United States of America, generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in their respective jurisdictions of incorporation);

 

(2)    carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than sixty (60) days or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued, provided that (i) any proceedings commenced for the enforcement of such Liens and encumbrances shall have been duly suspended and (ii) adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, in conformity with GAAP (or, in the case of Subsidiaries with significant operations outside of the United States of America, generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in their respective jurisdictions of incorporation);

 

(3)    pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

 

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(4)    Liens to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds, and other obligations of a like nature (including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations) incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(5)    Liens arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s business that (i) do not secure Indebtedness and (ii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;

 

(6)    Liens at any time of or resulting from any judgment or award, the time for the appeal or petition for rehearing of which shall not have expired, or in respect of which the Company or a Subsidiary shall at any time in good faith be prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured;

 

(7)    minor survey exceptions or minor encumbrances, easements or reservations, or rights of others for rights-of-way, utilities and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties, which customarily exist on properties of corporations engaged in similar activities and similarly situated and which do not in any event materially impair their use in the operation of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries; and

 

(8)    customary rights of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback under deposit agreements or under applicable law, of banks or other financial institutions where the Company or its Subsidiaries maintain deposits in the ordinary course of business.

 

Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1)    Liens existing on the Issue Date (including Liens securing the (i) Notes (other than any Additional Notes) and the related Note Guarantees and (ii) Senior Credit Facilities);

 

(2)    Liens on property, shares of stock (or other equivalents of or interests in equity) or indebtedness of an entity existing at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such Liens were not created in anticipation of the transaction in which such entity becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(3)    Liens on property acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary existing at the time of acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)    Liens upon any property to secure all or a portion of the purchase price of such property or Indebtedness incurred to finance such purchase price, whether such Indebtedness was incurred prior to, at the time of or within 12 months after the date of such acquisition; or Liens upon any property to secure all or part of the cost of improvement, repair or construction thereof or Indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of or within 12 months after the completion of such improvement, repair or construction or the commencement of full operations thereof (whichever is later) to provide funds for such purpose;

 

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

 

(6)    Liens on property, shares of stock (or other equivalents of or interests in equity) or indebtedness of an entity existing at the time such entity is merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of all or

 

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substantially all of the properties of an entity as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Lien was not incurred in anticipation of such merger or consolidation or sale, lease or other disposition;

 

(7)    Liens on Principal Properties subject to Sale and Lease-Back Transactions not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture to the extent attributable to such Sale and Lease-Back Transactions and securing only the related Attributable Debt;

 

(8)    Liens on property of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in favor of governmental bodies to secure payments of amounts owed under contract or statute or to secure any Indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to such Liens; and

 

(9)    any extension, renewal or replacement of any Lien referred to above or of any Indebtedness secured by that Lien, provided that such extension, renewal or replacement Lien will secure no larger an amount of Indebtedness than that existing at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement.

 

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

 

Principal Property” means the land, improvements, buildings and fixtures (including any leasehold interest thereof) constituting the principal corporate office, any manufacturing plant or any manufacturing, research or engineering facility (whether owned or leased at, or acquired or leased after, the date of this Indenture) that is owned or leased by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary and that is located within the continental United States, unless the Company’s board of directors (or a committee thereof) has determined in good faith that such property is not material to the operation of the business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Property” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible (including Equity Interests).

 

Rating Agency” means each of S&P and Moody’s, or if S&P or Moody’s or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s board of directors) which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody’s, or both, as the case may be.

 

Rating Event” means with respect to a Change of Control, if the Notes carry immediately prior to the first public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control:

 

(1)    an investment grade credit rating (BBB-/Baa3, or equivalent, or better) from both Rating Agencies, the rating from both Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either Rating Agency) is either downgraded to a non-investment grade credit rating (BB+/Ba1 or equivalent, or worse) or withdrawn and is not within such period subsequently (in the case of a downgrade) upgraded to an investment grade credit rating or (in the case of a withdrawal) replaced by an investment grade credit rating;

 

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(2)    a non-investment grade credit rating (BB+/Ba1, or equivalent, or worse) from both Rating Agencies, the rating from both Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either Rating Agency) is either downgraded by one or more notches (for illustration, Ba1 to Ba2 being one notch) or withdrawn and is not within such period subsequently (in the case of a downgrade) upgraded to its earlier credit rating or better or (in the case of a withdrawal) replaced by its earlier credit rating or better; or both an investment grade credit rating (BBB-/Baa3, or equivalent, or better) from one Rating Agency and a non-investment grade credit rating (BB+/Ba1, or equivalent, or worse) from the other Rating Agency and (i) the investment grade credit rating on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either Rating Agency) is either downgraded to a non-investment grade credit rating (BB+/Ba1, or equivalent, or worse) or withdrawn and is not within such period subsequently (in the case of a downgrade) upgraded to an investment grade credit rating by such Rating Agency or (in the case of a withdrawal) replaced by an investment grade credit rating from such Rating Agency and (ii) the non-investment grade credit rating on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of the Change of Control (which 60-day period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either Rating Agency) is either downgraded by one or more notches (for illustration, Ba1 to Ba2 being one notch) or withdrawn and is not within such period subsequently (in the case of a downgrade) upgraded to its earlier credit rating or better by such Rating Agency or (in the case of a withdrawal) replaced by its earlier credit rating or better by such Rating Agency; provided that in making the relevant decision(s) referred to above to downgrade or withdraw such ratings, as applicable, the relevant Rating Agency announces publicly or confirms in writing to the Company that such decision(s) resulted, in whole or in part, from the occurrence of such Change of Control or the first public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control.

 

Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means the January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, or any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means, any Subsidiary (1) substantially all of whose property is located within the continental United States, (2) which owns a Principal Property and (3) in which the Company’s investment exceeds 2.5% of its total assets as set out on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the last fiscal quarter for which financial information is available

 

S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc. or any successor thereto.

 

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property, whether owned at the date of the issuance of the Notes or thereafter acquired (excluding temporary leases of a term, including renewal

 

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periods, of not more than three years), that has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to such person with the intention of taking back a lease of the property.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Secured Indebtedness” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, Indebtedness that is secured by any Lien.

 

Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Security Agreement” means that certain Security Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Company, the Guarantors and the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

Security Documents” means, collectively, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agreement, other security agreements relating to the Collateral and the instruments filed and recorded in appropriate jurisdictions to preserve and protect the Liens on the Collateral (including, without limitation, financing statements under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant states) applicable to the Collateral, each for the benefit of the Notes Collateral Agent, as amended, amended and restated, modified, supplemented, renewed or replaced from time to time.

 

Senior Credit Facilities” means the Credit Agreement, dated September 5, 2025, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 5, 2025, as further amended by Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2025, among the Company, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, providing for a senior secured revolving credit facility, secured term loan A credit facility and senior secured term loan B credit facility, as the same may be amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time (including increasing the amount loaned thereunder; provided that any increase in borrowing is permitted, to the extent applicable, under the “—Certain covenants—Limitation of liens” and the definition of “Permitted Liens”); provided, further, that Senior Credit Facilities shall not (1) include Indebtedness issued, created or incurred pursuant to a registered offering of securities under the Securities Act or a private placement of securities (including under Rule 144A or Regulation S) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or (2) relate to Indebtedness that does not consist exclusively of Indebtedness that ranks equally in right of payment to the Notes, in the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantees, in the case of any Guarantor.

 

Specified Assets” means, collectively, (1) letter of credit rights (other than to the extent the security interest in such letter of credit rights may be perfected by the filing of UCC financing statements) with a value of less than $15,000,000 individually and $30,000,000 in the aggregate, (2) commercial tort claims with an estimated value by the Company of less than $15,000,000 individually and $30,000,000 in the aggregate and (3) such assets as to which the Company and Bank Agent reasonably agrees that the cost of obtaining such a security interest therein or perfection thereof are excessive in relation to the benefit to the Company and the Guarantors of the security to be afforded thereby.

 

Subsidiary” means (1) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding voting stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company, by one or more of its subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more of its subsidiaries and (2) any general partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by the Company, by one or more of its subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more of its subsidiaries

 

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Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Transfer Restricted Notes” means Definitive Notes and any other Notes that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

 

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.

 

If on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

 

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

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Trustee” means U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee, until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

 

Uniform Commercial Code” or “UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.

 

Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such Person .

 

Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary of which all of the equity interests (except directors’ qualifying shares or shares aggregating less than 1% of the outstanding shares of such Subsidiary which are owned by individuals) and voting interests are owned by any one or more of the Person and the Person’s other Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries at such time.

 

Section 1.02    Other Definitions.

 

Term

Defined in Section 

“Agent Members” 2.1(c) of Appendix A
“Applicable Procedures” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“Authentication Order” 2.02(c)
“Change of Control Offer” 4.10(a)
“Change of Control Payment” 4.10(b)
“Change of Control Payment Date” 4.10(c)
“Clearstream” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“Covenant Defeasance” 8.03
“Definitive Notes Legend” 2.2(e) of Appendix A
“Distribution Compliance Period” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“ERISA Legend” 2.2(e) of Appendix A
“Euroclear” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“Event of Default” 6.01
“Exchange Date” 2.2(i) of Appendix A
“Exchange” 2.2(i) of Appendix A
“Expiration Date” 1.04(j)
“Global Note” 2.1(b) of Appendix A
“Global Notes Legend” 2.2(e)(i) of Appendix A
“Guaranteed Obligations” 10.01(a)
“IAI” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“IAI Global Note” 2.1(b) of Appendix A
“Legal Defeasance” 8.02(a)
“Note Register” 2.03(a)
“Paying Agent” 2.03(a)
“Par Call Date” 3.07
“QIB” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“Registrar” 2.03(a)
“Regulation S” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“Regulation S Global Note” 2.1(b) of Appendix A
“Regulation S Notes” 2.1(a) of Appendix A
“Restricted Notes Legend” 2.2(e) of Appendix A
“Rule 144” 1.1(a) of Appendix A
“Rule 144A” 1.1(a) of Appendix A

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“Rule 144A Global Note” 2.1(b) of Appendix A
“Rule 144A Notes” 2.1(a) of Appendix A
“Successor Company” 5.01(a)
“Successor Guarantor” 5.01(c)
“Unrestricted Global Note” 1.1(a) of Appendix A

 

Section 1.03    Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)   a term defined in Section 1.01 or 1.02 has the meaning assigned to it therein;

 

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

 

(3)   “or” is not exclusive;

 

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

 

(5)   provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(6)   unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Appendix,” “Article,” “Section,” “clause,” “Schedule” or “Exhibit” refers to an Appendix, Article, Section, clause, Schedule or Exhibit, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

 

(7)   the words “herein,” “hereof” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision;

 

(8)   “including” means including without limitation;

 

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

 

(10)   unless otherwise provided, references to agreements and other instruments shall be deemed to include all amendments and other modifications to such agreements or instruments, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of this Indenture; and

 

(11)   in the event that a transaction meets the criteria of more than one category of permitted transactions or listed exceptions, the Company may classify such transaction as it, in its sole discretion, determines.

 

Section 1.04    Acts of Holders.

 

(a)    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing.  Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby

 

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expressly required, to the Company and the Guarantors.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or the holding by any Person of a Note, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 7.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent, the Company and the Guarantors, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.04.

 

(b)    The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by or on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute proof of the authority of the Person executing the same.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, deems sufficient.

 

(c)    The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.

 

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

 

(e)    The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, or to vote on or consent to any action authorized or permitted to be taken by Holders; provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in clause (f) below.  Unless otherwise specified, if not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder made by any Person in respect of any such action, or in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, any such record date shall be the later of 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or vote or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation or vote.  If any record date is set pursuant to this clause (e), the Holders on such record date, and only such Holders, shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action (including revocation of any action), whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes, or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date.  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.01.

 

(f)     The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to join in the giving or making of (1) any notice of default under Section 6.01(a), (2) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 6.02, (3) any direction referred to in Section 6.05 or (4) any request to pursue a remedy as permitted in Section 6.06.  If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes or each affected Holder, as applicable, on such record date.  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders

 

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and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.01.

 

(g)    Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Note may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Note or by one or more duly appointed agents, each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.  Any notice given or action taken by a Holder or its agents with regard to different parts of such principal amount pursuant to this paragraph shall have the same effect as if given or taken by separate Holders of each such different part.

 

(h)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that is the Holder of a Global Note may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Note through such Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

 

(i)     The Company may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note held by a Depositary entitled under the procedures of such Depositary, if any, to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided in this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders; provided that if such a record date is fixed, only the beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note on such record date or their duly appointed proxy or proxies shall be entitled to make, give or take such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, whether or not such beneficial owners remain beneficial owners of interests in such Global Note after such record date.  No such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be effective hereunder unless made, given or taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date.

 

(j)     With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.04, the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.01, on or prior to both the existing and the new Expiration Date.  If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.04, the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the 90th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this clause (j).

 

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01    Form and Dating; Terms.

 

(a)    Provisions relating to the Initial Notes, the Additional Notes and any other Notes issued under this Indenture are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture.  The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture.  The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, rules or agreements with national securities exchanges to which the Company or any Guarantor is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company).  Each Note shall be dated

 

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the date of its authentication.  The Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

(b)    The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

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

 

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Company pursuant to a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.10, and otherwise as not prohibited by this Indenture.  The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article 3.

 

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Company without notice to or the consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes for all purposes under this Indenture and shall have the same terms and conditions as to status, redemption or otherwise (other than issue date, issue price and, if applicable, the first Interest Payment Date and the first date from which interest will accrue as the Initial Notes); provided that if any such Additional Notes are not fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes or federal securities law purposes with the Notes previously issued, such Additional Notes will not have the same CUSIP number and ISIN (or other securities identification number) as the Notes previously issued. Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to this Indenture.

 

Section 2.02    Execution and Authentication.

 

(a)    At least one Officer shall execute the Notes on behalf of the Company by manual, electronic or facsimile signature.  If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

(b)    A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee.  The signature of the Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

(c)    On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of a written order of the Company signed by an Officer (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver the Initial Notes.  In addition, at any time and from time to time, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued hereunder.  Such Authentication Order shall specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated and whether the Notes are to be Initial Notes, Additional Notes or other Unrestricted Global Notes.

 

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

 

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(e)    The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon an Authentication Order of the Company (a) Initial Notes for original issue on the Issue Date in an aggregate principal amount of $350,979,000 with respect to the Notes, (b) subject to the terms of this Indenture, Additional Notes and (c) any other Unrestricted Global Notes issued in exchange for any of the foregoing in accordance with this Indenture.  

 

Section 2.03    Registrar and Paying Agent.

 

(a)    The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and at least one office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”).  The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to the Notes (“Note Register”) 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 prior 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 Paying Agent or Registrar.

 

(b)    The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.  The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes. The Company has entered into a letter of representations with the Depositary in the form provided by the Depositary and the Trustee and each Agent is hereby authorized to act in accordance with such letter and Applicable Procedures. Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

(c)    The Company shall be responsible for making calculations called for under the Notes and this Indenture, including but not limited to determination of interest, redemption price, premium, if any, and any other amounts payable on the Notes.  The Company will make the calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on the Holders.  The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee when requested by the Trustee, and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee shall forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder of the Notes upon the written request of such Holder.

 

Section 2.04    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Company shall, no later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held in trust for the Holders entitled to the same, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.  The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that such Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by such Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Notes, and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment.  While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, a Paying Agent (if other than the Company) 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, the Trustee and the Agents 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.

 

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Section 2.05    Holder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders.  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least two 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.

 

Section 2.06    Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)    The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A.

 

(b)    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 in accordance with Section 2.02 or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(c)    No service charge shall be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange (other than pursuant to Section 2.07), but the Holders shall be required to pay any transfer tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 4.10, and 9.04).

 

(d)    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 debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(e)    Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (1) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (2) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption, or tendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in connection with a Change of Control Offer, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part or (3) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

(f)     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, premium, if any, and (subject to the Record Date provisions of the Notes) 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.

 

(g)    Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

(h)    At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency.  Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the

 

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replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Appendix A.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.07    Replacement Notes.

 

If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or if a Holder claims that its Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and loss, destruction or theft of such Note, the Company shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are otherwise met.  If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be provided 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 the Holder for the expenses of the Company and the Trustee in replacing a Note.  Every replacement Note is a contractual 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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, in case any mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

 

Section 2.08    Outstanding Notes.

 

(a)    The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.  Except as set forth in Section 2.09, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Note.

 

(b)    If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser, as such term is defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York.

 

(c)    If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue from and after the date of such payment.

 

(d)    If a Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on the maturity date, any redemption date or any date of purchase pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, money sufficient to pay Notes payable or to be redeemed or purchased 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.

 

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Section 2.09    Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes beneficially owned by the Company, or by any Affiliate of 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 a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.  Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

Section 2.10    Temporary Notes.

 

Until definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes.  Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of definitive Notes but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Notes 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 and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under 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 or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy cancelled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act).  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.

 

(a)    If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent or the Trustee, as the case may be, an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12.  The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest.  The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such special record date.  At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) shall mail or deliver by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary, or cause to be mailed or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary to each Holder a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

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(b)    Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, 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 interest, which were carried by such other Note.

 

Section 2.13    CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

 

The Company in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP or ISIN numbers in notices of redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase 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 redemption or exchange or in Offers to Purchase and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption or exchange or Change of Control Offer shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.  The Company shall as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.

 

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

 

Section 3.01    Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Company elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07, it shall furnish to the Trustee, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or sent or caused to be mailed or sent to Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee) but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (1) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (2) the redemption date, (3) the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (4) the redemption price, if then ascertainable.  If the redemption price is not then ascertainable, the Company will give written notice to the Trustee of the actual redemption price calculated as described in this Indenture no later than two Business Days prior to the redemption date.

 

Section 3.02    Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

 

(a)    If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to Section 3.07 or purchased in a Change of Control Offer at any time, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased on a pro rata basis or by lot, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems to be fair and appropriate.  In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 15 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date or purchase date by the Trustee from the then outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

 

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

 

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(c)    After the redemption date or purchase date, upon surrender of a Note to be redeemed or purchased in part only, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the original Note, representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or not purchased, shall be issued in the name of the Holder of the Notes upon cancellation of the original Note (or appropriate book entries shall be made to reflect such partial redemption).

 

Section 3.03    Notice of Redemption.

 

(a)    Notice of any redemption will be delivered at least 15 days, but not more than 60 days, before the redemption date to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed pursuant to this Article at such Holder’s registered address or otherwise in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a redemption if the notice is issued in connection with a legal or covenant defeasance of the Notes as described under Article 8 or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as described under Article 12.

 

(b)    The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP and ISIN number, if applicable) and shall state:

 

(1)    the redemption date;

 

(2)    the redemption price, including the portion thereof representing any accrued and unpaid interest; provided that in connection with a redemption under Section 3.07(a) and Section 3.07(b), the notice need not set forth the redemption price but only the manner of calculation thereof;

 

(3)    if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed;

 

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

 

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

 

(6)    that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

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

 

(8)    any conditions precedent to such redemption described in reasonable detail; and

 

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

 

(c)    Any notice of redemption may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including completion of a refinancing transaction or other corporate transaction. In addition, if a redemption is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the Company may, in its discretion, delay the redemption date until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed. The Company shall provide written notice to the Trustee prior to the close of

 

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business two Business Days prior to the redemption date if any such redemption has been rescinded or delayed, and upon receipt the Trustee shall provide such notice to each Holder in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.

 

(d)    At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense provided that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before notice of redemption is to be given (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice.

 

Section 3.04    Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is mailed or delivered in accordance with Section 3.03, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price (except as provided for in accordance with Section 3.03(c)).  The notice, if mailed or delivered by electronic transmission in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to give such notice or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.  Subject to Section 3.05 and Section 3.03(c), on and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 3.05    Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

 

(a)    No later than 11:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the redemption or purchase date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date.  If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Holder of record on such Record Date.  Upon receipt of the Company’s deposit, the Paying Agent shall promptly deliver to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed or repurchased the applicable redemption or purchase price thereof and accrued and unpaid interest thereon.  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 or purchase price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

 

(b)    If the Company complies with the provisions of Section 3.05(a), on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.  If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date in respect of such Note will be paid on such redemption or purchase date to the Person in whose name such Note is registered at the close of business on such Record Date.  If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 3.05(a), interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and, to the extent lawful, on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in such Notes and in Section 4.01.

 

Section 3.06    Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall promptly authenticate and mail to the Holder (or cause to be transferred by book entry) at the expense of the Company a new Note equal in principal amount to

 

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the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same Indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Note shall be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

 

Section 3.07    Optional Redemption.

 

Prior to July 18, 2028 (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

 

(1)    (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption; and

 

(2)    100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed,

 

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the Holders as of the close of business on the relevant Record Date in accordance with the Notes and this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

 

Section 4.01    Payment of Notes.

 

(a)    The Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in such 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, holds as of 11:00 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 the principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

 

(b)    The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, at the rate equal to 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 (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02    Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

(a)    The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company and the

 

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Guarantors 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; provided that the Corporate Trust Office shall not be a place for service of legal process on the Company.

 

(b)    The Company may also from time to time designate additional offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.  The Company 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.

 

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

 

Section 4.03    [Reserved].

 

Section 4.04    Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.

 

The Company and each Guarantor 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 and each Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.05    Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article 5, the Company and each Guarantor shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate or limited liability company existence, as the case may be.

 

Section 4.06    Reports and Other Information.

 

(a)    Any documents or reports that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any such information, documents or reports, or portions thereof, subject to confidential treatment and any correspondence with the SEC) must be filed by the Company with the Trustee within 30 days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 or any successor rule under the Exchange Act). Documents filed by the Company with the SEC via the EDGAR (or any successor thereto) system will be deemed to be filed with the Trustee as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR (or any successor thereto), it being understood that the Trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether such filings have been made. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Indenture is for informational purposes only and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).

 

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(b)    The Company shall furnish to prospective investors, upon their request, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act so long as the Notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act.

 

Section 4.07    Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)    The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date (beginning with the fiscal year ending December 27, 2025), an Officer’s Certificate that need not comply with Section 13.03 from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company indicating whether such signer knows of any failure by the Company and the Guarantors to comply with all conditions and covenants of this Indenture during such fiscal year, and if the Company shall be in Default, specifying all such Defaults and the state thereof of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

(b)    When any Default has occurred and is continuing under this Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary gives any notice or takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Company will promptly (which shall be within five Business Days following the date on which an Officer of the Company becomes aware of such Default, receives notice of such Default or becomes aware of such action, as applicable) send to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereof.

 

Section 4.08    Limitation on Liens.

 

(a)    The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness for borrowed money, secured by any Lien upon any Principal Property or shares of stock (or other equivalents of or interests in equity) or indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, unless the Notes (and, at the Company’s option, any other indebtedness or guarantee ranking equally in right of payment with the Notes), subject to Permitted Liens, are secured equally and ratably with (or, at the Company’s option, prior to) such secured Indebtedness.

 

(b)    Notwithstanding the restrictions in Section 4.08(a), the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary may issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions without equally and ratably securing the Notes, provided that after giving effect to the Indebtedness secured by such Lien, the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness so secured by Liens (not including Permitted Liens), together with the Attributable Debt of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted under Section 4.11 on the basis that the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary would be permitted to incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien under this paragraph without equally and ratably securing the Notes, does not exceed the greater of (a) $162,500,000 and (b) 25% of Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent period of four fiscal quarters of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.09    Additional Note Guarantees.

 

(a)    After the Issue Date, the Company will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to (i) become an obligor with respect to any Indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, or (ii) incur or guarantee any other Material Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, on the Issue Date or at any time thereafter, unless such Subsidiary, within 60 days, executes and delivers a supplemental indenture, a form of which is attached as Exhibit B, providing for a Note Guarantee by such Subsidiary and joinders to the Intercreditor Agreement and Security Documents or new intercreditor agreements and Security Documents, together with any other filings and agreements required by the Security Documents

 

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to create or perfect the security interests for the benefit of the Notes Collateral Agent, the Trustee and the Holders in the Collateral of such Subsidiary, if applicable.

 

(b)    Each Note Guarantee shall be released in accordance with Section 10.06.

 

Section 4.10    Change of Control Triggering Event.

 

(a)    If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Company has previously exercised its right to redeem the Notes in whole in accordance with Article 3 of this Indenture, or has defeased or satisfied and discharged such Notes in accordance with Article 8 or Article 12 respectively of this Indenture, the Holders will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of the Holders’ Notes pursuant to the offer described in this Section 4.10 (the “Change of Control Offer”).

 

(b)    In a Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to, but excluding, the date of purchase subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date (the “Change of Control Payment”).

 

(c)    Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control, but after the public announcement of an impending Change of Control, the Company will send a notice to Holders of the Notes, which notice will:

 

(1)    describe the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 15 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

(2)    if such notice is sent prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice;

 

(3)    state that Notes must be tendered in integral multiples of $1,000 (subject to clause (7) below), and any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and will continue  to accrue interest;

 

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

 

(5)    state that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to any Change  of Control Offer shall be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” attached to such Note completed, the Paying Agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day  preceding the Change of Control Payment Date; provided, however, Global Notes shall be  purchased in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC;

 

(6)    state that Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their  election if the Company, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, receives at the  address specified in the notice, not later than the expiration of the Change of Control Offer, a  facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the  

 

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Notes the Holder tendered for purchase and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its  tendered Notes and its election to have such Note purchased; provided, however, Global Notes  shall be withdrawn in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC; and

 

(7)    state that Holders whose Notes were purchased only in part will be issued  new Notes equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (the unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in  excess thereof).  

 

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

 

(1)    accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes (in integral multiples of  $1,000) properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; provided that if, following the  repurchase of a portion of a Note, the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately  after such repurchase would be less than $2,000, then the portion of such Note so repurchased shall be  reduced so that the remaining principal amount of such Note outstanding immediately after such repurchase is $2,000;

 

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

 

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

 

(e)    The Paying Agent will promptly mail (or otherwise deliver in accordance with  the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary) to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of  Control Payment for the Notes.

 

(f)     If the Change of Control Payment Date is on or after a Record Date and on or  before the related Interest Payment Date, any accrued and unpaid interest to the Change of Control  Payment Date will be paid on the Change of Control Payment Date to the Person in whose name a Note  is registered at the close of business on such Record Date before the related Interest Payment Date.

 

(g)    The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if (i) a third party (1) makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and (2) purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer, or (ii) a notice of redemption has been given in accordance with Section 3.07.

 

(h)    The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of this Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such conflict.

 

(i)     Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.10, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.10 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06.

 

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Section 4.11    Limitation of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

 

The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transactions of any Principal Property unless:

 

(a)    such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction occurs within 12 months from the date of the acquisition of the Principal Property subject thereto or the date of the completion of the construction or commencement of full operations of such Principal Property (whichever is later);

 

(b)    such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction involves a lease for a term of not more than three years;

 

(c)    such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is between the Company and a Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(d)    the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled pursuant to the covenant described under Section 4.08 (other than the clause referring to Sale and Lease-Back Transactions not otherwise prohibited by this Indenture) without equally and ratably securing the Notes, to incur Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the Principal Property involved in such transaction in an amount at least equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; or

 

(e)    the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, within 12 months after the effective date of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, applies or causes to be applied an amount not less than the Attributable Debt from such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction to (1) the prepayment, repayment, redemption, reduction or retirement (other than any mandatory prepayment, mandatory repayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund payment or payment at maturity) of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness that is subordinate to the Notes or Indebtedness to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) or (2) expenditures for the acquisition, construction, development or expansion of Principal Property used or to be used in the ordinary course of business of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 5.01    Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets.

 

(a)    The Company will not merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Company is the surviving Person), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis), taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

(1)    the Company is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

 

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(2)    the Successor Company, if other than the Company, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under this Indenture, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, in each case, pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent;

 

(3)    each Guarantor (unless it is the other party to the transactions described in this Section 5.01(a), in which case Section 5.01(c)(1) shall apply) shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Note Guarantee shall apply to such Successor Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; and

 

(4)    to the extent any assets of the Person which is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Successor Company are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, the Successor Company will take such action as may be required by this Indenture and the Security Documents to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture,  any of the Security Documents, or the Intercreditor Agreement and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by this Indenture and the Security Documents, subject to Permitted Liens.

 

(b)    The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, as applicable, and the Company will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes, except in case of a lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable. Section 5.01(a) shall not apply to:

 

(1)    a merger of the Company with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction in the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia; or

 

(2)    any consolidation or merger of (i) the Company into a Guarantor, (ii) a Guarantor into the Company or (iii) a Subsidiary of the Company into the Company; or

 

(3)    any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of property, rights or assets (i) by the Company to a Guarantor, (ii) by a Guarantor to the Company, or (iii) by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company.

 

(c)    Subject to Section 10.06 governing release of a Note Guarantee upon the sale, disposition or transfer of Capital Stock of a Guarantor, no Guarantor will, and the Company will not permit a Guarantor to, merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company or a Guarantor is the surviving Person), or 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 any Person unless:

 

(1)    (i) such Guarantor is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor or the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Guarantor”);

 

(ii)    the Successor Guarantor, if other than such Guarantor, expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under this Indenture, such Guarantor’s

 

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related Note Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent; or

 

(iii)     to the extent any assets of the Guarantor which is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into the Successor Guarantor are assets of the type which would constitute Collateral under the Security Documents, the Successor Guarantor will take such action as may be required by this Indenture and the Security Documents to cause such property and assets to be made subject to the Lien of the Security Documents in the manner and to the extent required in this Indenture and any of the Security Documents and shall take all reasonably necessary action so that such Lien is perfected to the extent required by the Security Documents.

 

(d)    The Successor Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under this Indenture, such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents and such Guarantor will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under this Indenture and such Guarantor’s Note Guarantee, except in case of a lease of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Guarantor.

 

(e)    Notwithstanding Section 5.01(c), any Guarantor may (i) merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into, wind up into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to another Guarantor or the Company, (ii) merge, consolidate or amalgamate with or into an Affiliate of the Company solely for the purpose of reincorporating or reorganizing such Guarantor in the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof or (iii) convert into a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity organized or existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of such Guarantor or a jurisdiction in the United States, in each case, without regard to the requirements set forth in Section 5.01(c).

 

Section 5.02    Successor Entity Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation, merger, wind up, sale, assignment, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or a Guarantor in accordance with Section 5.01, the Company and a Guarantor, as the case may be, will be released from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes or its Note Guarantee, as the case may be, and the Successor Company and the Successor Guarantor, as the case may be, will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company or a Guarantor, as the case may be, under this Indenture, the Notes and such Note Guarantee; provided that, in the case of a lease of all or substantially all its assets, the Company will not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes and a Guarantor will not be released from its obligations under its Note Guarantee.

 

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Section 6.01    Events of Default.

 

(a)    Each of the following events is an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes under this Indenture:

 

(1)    default in the payment of any installment of interest upon the Notes, as and when the interest shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

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(2)    default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

 

(3)    the Company or any Guarantor fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to the Notes (other than those described in clauses (1) and (2) above) contained in this Indenture or the Notes for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure shall have been received from the Trustee or from the Holders (with a copy to the Trustee) of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes;

 

(4)    (i) the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A)      commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;  

 

(B)      consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer  or consent seeking an arrangement of debt, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or relief under applicable Bankruptcy Law;

 

(C)      consents to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator  or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its  property;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(A)   is for relief against the Company in a proceeding in which the Company is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(B)   appoints a receiver, interim receiver, receiver and manager, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company; or

 

(C)   orders the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,

 

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

 

(5)    any Note Guarantee of any Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect (in each case, other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or such Note Guarantee) or any such Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note Guarantee (other than by reason of the satisfaction in full of all obligations under this Indenture and discharge of this Indenture or the release of such Note Guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture); or

 

(6)    other than by reason of the satisfaction in full of all obligations under this Indenture and discharge of this Indenture or the release of such Collateral in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Security Documents and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this Indenture and the Security Documents:

 

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(A)      in the case of any security interest with respect to Collateral covering a material portion of the Collateral such security interest under the Security Documents shall, at any time, cease to be a valid and perfected security interest (perfected to the extent required by or having the priority required by such Security Documents and this Indenture) or shall be declared invalid or unenforceable, which default continues for 30 days, except to the extent that any such default results from the failure of the Notes Collateral Agent (or its bailee pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement) to maintain possession of certificates, promissory notes or other instruments actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under the Security Documents; or

 

(B)      the Company or any Guarantor shall assert, in any pleading in any court of competent jurisdiction, that any security interest under any Security Document is invalid or unenforceable.

 

Section 6.02    Acceleration.

 

(a)    If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (4) of Section 6.01(a)) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by written notice to the Company, specifying the Event of Default, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Upon such declaration, such principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.  

 

(b)       In case an Event of Default arising under clause (4) of Section 6.01(a) occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.

 

(c)   At any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Company and the Trustee may rescind and annul such acceleration if (1) such rescission occurs prior to a judgment or decree for payment of money that has been obtained by the Trustee and (2) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived.

 

Section 6.03    Other Remedies.

 

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

 

The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent 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, the Notes Collateral Agent 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.

 

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Section 6.04    Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Subject to Section 9.02(f), the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all Holders waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder, except:

 

(1)    a continuing Default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note held by a non-consenting Holder (including in connection with a Change of Control Offer); and

 

(2)    a Default with respect to a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Holder affected,

 

provided that, subject to Section 6.02, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration.  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05    Control by Majority.

 

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agreement and Section 6.06, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent; provided that (i) such proceeding or exercise is not in conflict with any law, this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may take any other action deemed proper by it that is not inconsistent with directions from the Holders and (iii) neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent need to take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the Holders not involved in the proceeding (it being understood that neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent has any duty to determine whether any direction is prejudicial to any Holder). The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

Section 6.06    Limitation on Suits.

 

Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, the Security Agreement and Section 6.07, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture, any Security Document or the Notes unless, in the case of the Notes and this Indenture:

 

(1)    such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default with respect to the Notes is continuing;

 

(2)    the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have requested in writing that the Trustee pursue the remedy;

 

(3)    the Holders have offered, and if requested, provided, the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any cost, expense and liability; and

 

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

 

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A Holder of the Notes may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of the Notes or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of the Notes (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are prejudicial to such Holders of the Notes).

 

Section 6.07    Rights of Holders to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on its Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note (including in connection with a Change of Control Offer), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.08    Collection Suit by Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company and any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount of principal, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes, together with 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 or Notes Collateral Agent and their respective agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09    Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or any Holder of Notes has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture or any Security Document and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders of Notes shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders of Notes shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

 

Section 6.10    Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy are, to the extent permitted by law, cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.11    Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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Section 6.12    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee may file 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, the Notes Collateral Agent and their 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, including the Guarantors), its creditors or its property and is entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims.  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, the Notes Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under Section 7.07.  To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent under Section 7.07 out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.13    Priorities.

 

If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6 or after an Event of Default, or if the Notes Collateral Agent collects any money or other property pursuant to any Security Document, the Notes Collateral Agent shall deliver such money or property to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall pay out such money or property in the following order, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement:

 

(1)    to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

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

 

(3)    to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, including a Guarantor, if applicable.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.13.  Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this Section 6.13, the Trustee  shall, at the Company’s cost and expense, cause notice of such record date and payment date to be given to the Company and to each Holder in the manner set forth in Section 13.01.

 

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Section 6.14    Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.  This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

 

Section 7.01    Duties of Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

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

 

(b)    With respect to the Trustee, except during the continuance of an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and at all times with respect to the Notes Collateral Agent:

 

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

 

(2)    in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent 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 the Notes Collateral Agent and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture.  However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(c)    Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent may be relieved from liabilities for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

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

 

(2)    the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved by a final order in a court

 

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of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(3)    neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.

 

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

 

(e)    Subject to this Article 7, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Note Guarantees at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless such Holders have offered, and if requested, provided, to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

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

 

Section 7.02    Rights of Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

(a)    The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may conclusively rely upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person.  The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, in their discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall determine in good faith to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

(b)    Before the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both subject to the other provisions of this Indenture.  The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.  The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may consult with counsel of their selection and the written or verbal 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 and the Notes Collateral Agent may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

 

(d)    The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent 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, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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

 

(f)     None of the provisions of this Indenture, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement shall require the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers.

 

(g)    The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be deemed to have notice or knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, from the Company or by the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, and such notice references the existence of a Default or Event of Default, the Notes and this Indenture.

 

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

 

(i)     The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, including, without limitation, its right to be compensated, reimbursed and indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in each of its capacities hereunder and under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder or thereunder.

 

(j)     The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any Person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

(k)    The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of their powers and duties hereunder.

 

(l)     The permissive rights or powers of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee or  the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

(m)      The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to pursue any action that is not in accordance with applicable law.

 

Section 7.03    Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or any Agent 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 or such Agent.  The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest (as such term is defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended), it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.

 

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Section 7.04    Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes or the Note Guarantees, and 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 in the Offering Memorandum or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication on the Notes. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be bound to ascertain or inquire as to the performance, observance, or breach of any covenants, conditions, representations, warranties or agreements on the part of the Company or the Guarantors. Under no circumstances shall the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent be liable in its individual capacity for the obligations evidenced by the Notes or the Note Guarantees. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to pursue any action that is not in accordance with applicable law. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if any Change of Control, or any other event has occurred or if a Change of Control Offer is required to be made, or notify the Holders of any such event. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no obligation to independently determine or verify if any event has occurred or notify the Holders of any event dependent upon the rating of the Notes, or if the rating on the Notes has been changed, suspended or withdrawn by any Rating Agency.

 

Section 7.05    Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default with respect to the Notes occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will mail (or otherwise transmit in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of DTC) to each Holder of such Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after written notice of it is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee.  Except in the case of an Event of Default specified in clauses (1) or (2) of Section 6.01(a), the Trustee may withhold from the Holders of such Notes notice of any continuing Default if the Trustee determines in good faith that withholding the notice is not opposed to the interest of the Holders of such Notes (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are prejudicial to such Holders of the Notes).

 

Section 7.06    Compensation and Indemnity.

 

(a)    The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall pay to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time.  The Trustee’s and the Notes Collateral Agent’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Company shall reimburse the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent 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 and the Notes Collateral Agent’s agents and counsel.

 

(b)    The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent for, and hold each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent and any predecessor harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and court costs) incurred by them in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder and under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture,  the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement against the Company or any Guarantor (including this Section

 

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7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or any Guarantor, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder).  The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder.  The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent through the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s, as applicable, own willful misconduct or gross negligence as finally adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction. All indemnifications and releases from liability granted hereunder to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall extend to its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, custodians, successors and assigns.

 

(c)    The obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.  To secure the Company’s and the Guarantors’ payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest and premium, if any, on particular Notes.  Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

(d)    When the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(6) 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.  “Trustee” and “Notes Collateral Agent” for purposes of this Section 7.07 shall include any predecessor Trustee and the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each predecessor Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Collateral Agent, and each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder; provided, however, that the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent hereunder.

 

Section 7.07    Replacement of Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent.

 

(a)    A resignation or removal of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent and appointment of a successor Trustee or a successor Notes Collateral Agent shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s or successor Notes Collateral Agent’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.  The Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may resign with respect to the Notes in writing at any time by giving 30 days’ prior notice of such resignation to the Company 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 or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes by so notifying the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Notes and the Company in writing.  The Company may remove the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Notes if:

 

(1)    In the case of the Trustee, the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

(2)    the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(3)    a receiver or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, or its property; or

 

(4)    the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent becomes incapable of acting.

 

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(b)    If the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent resigns or is removed with respect to the Notes or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, with respect to the Notes.  Within one year after the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent to replace it with another successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent appointed by the Company.

 

(c)    If a successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Notes does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Company’s expense) or the retiring Notes Collateral Agent (at the Company’s expense), 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 or successor Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be.

 

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

 

(e)    A successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall become effective, and the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Notes for which it is acting as Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent under this Indenture. The successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders of the Notes. The retiring Trustee or retiring Notes Collateral Agent shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee or Notes Collateral Agent to the successor Trustee or the successor Notes Collateral Agent; provided that all sums owing to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder have been paid and such transfer shall be subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee and retiring Notes Collateral Agent.

 

(f)     As used in this Section 7.08, the term “Trustee” shall also include each Agent.

 

Section 7.08    Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor corporation or national banking association without any further act shall be the successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent, subject to Section 7.10.

 

Section 7.09    Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States 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.

 

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Section 7.10    Trustee as Collateral Agent.

 

References to the Trustee in Sections 7.01(f), 7.02, 7.03, 7.04, 7.07, 7.08 and 7.09 shall include the Trustee in its role as Registrar, Custodian, Paying Agent, Registrar or any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.02(d).

 

Section 7.11    Limitation on Duty in Respect of Collateral.

 

Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the custody thereof, neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall have any duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee or as to preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. Neither the Notes Collateral Agent nor the Trustee shall be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. Each of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as applicable, accords its own property and neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable or responsible for any loss or diminution in the value of any of the Collateral, by reason of the act or omission of any carrier, forwarding agency or other agent or bailee selected by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent in accordance with Section 7.02(c).

 

The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be responsible (i) for the existence, genuineness or value of any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, (ii) for the validity or sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment contained therein, (iii) for the validity of the title of the Company to the Collateral, or (iv) for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral, in each case, except with respect to stock certificates, stock powers or other possessory collateral delivered to the Notes Collateral Agent to the extent required under the Security Documents. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall have no duty to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms of this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents by the Company, any Guarantor, or the Bank Agent.

 

ARTICLE 8

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 8.01    Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

Section 8.02    Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

(a)    Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to this Indenture, all outstanding Notes and Note Guarantees on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid

 

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and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) through (4) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture, including that of the Guarantors (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same with respect to such Notes), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(1)    the rights of Holders of such Notes to receive payments in respect of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when such payments are due, solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Indenture referred to in Section 8.04;

 

(2)    the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for Note payments held in trust;

 

(3)    the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(4)    this Section 8.02.

 

(b)    Following the Company’s exercise of its Legal Defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

 

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

 

Section 8.03    Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and the Guarantors shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.06, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10 and 4.11 with respect to the outstanding Notes, and the Guarantors shall be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all Note Guarantees, on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 are satisfied (“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 this Indenture and 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 6.01, 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 8.01 of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04, an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(3) (only with respect to covenants that are released as a result of such Covenant Defeasance), Section 6.01(a)(5) and Section 6.01(a)(6), in each case, shall not constitute an Event of Default.

 

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Section 8.04    Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

(a)    The following shall be the conditions to the exercise of either the Legal Defeasance option under Section 8.02 or the Covenant Defeasance option under Section 8.03 with respect to the Notes:

 

(1)    the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest due on the outstanding Notes on the stated maturity thereof 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;

 

(2)    in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

 

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

 

(B)      since the Issue Date, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

 

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

 

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

 

(4)    no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a result of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or material instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;

 

(5)    the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company, any Guarantor or others;

 

(6)    the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions),

 

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each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with; and

 

(7)    the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be (which instructions may be contained in the Officer’s Certificate referred to in clause (6) above).

 

(b)    If the Company effects covenant defeasance with respect to the Notes and the funds deposited with the Trustee to effect Covenant Defeasance are insufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes when due, then the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors under this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees and the Security Documents will be revived and no such defeasance will be deemed to have occurred.

 

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

 

(a)    Subject to Section 8.06, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 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 or a Guarantor acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  

 

(b)    The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 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 Notes.

 

(c)    Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized accounting firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance of the Notes.

 

Section 8.06    Repayment to the Company.

 

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter 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.

 

Section 8.07    Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, 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

 

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the Company’s and the Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture, the Notes, the Security Documents and the Note Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03, as the case may be; provided that, if the Company makes any payment of principal, 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 9.01    Without Consent of Holders.

 

(a)       Notwithstanding Section 9.02, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, without the consent of any Holders, may amend or supplement the Notes,  this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)    fix any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency under this Indenture, the Notes, any Note Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Agreement;

 

(2)    evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company or any Guarantor and the assumption by such party of the obligations of the Company or such Guarantor pursuant to the successor obligor provisions of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Security Documents or the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

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

 

(4)    add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders;

 

(5)    add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of the Notes set forth in this Indenture;

 

(6)    change anything that does not materially and adversely affect the interests of the Holders;

 

(7)    add any additional Events of Default;

 

(8)    provide for the appointment of a successor Trustee or successor Notes Collateral Agent with respect to the Notes;

 

(9)    to add Note Guarantees with respect to the Notes or to release any Guarantor from its Note Guarantee if at the time of such release such Guarantor is not otherwise required to be a Guarantor;

 

(10)    to add Collateral with respect to the Notes;

 

(11)    to conform the text of this Indenture, the Notes, any Note Guarantee, the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document to any provision of the “Description of New HNI Notes” section of the Offering Memorandum;

 

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(12)    to make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes; provided, however, that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law and (b) such amendment does not adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes;

 

(13)    in the case of any Security Document, to include therein any legend required to be set forth therein pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement or to modify any such legend as required by the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(14)    to release Collateral from the Lien securing the Notes when permitted or required by the Security Documents, this Indenture or the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(15)    to amend, waive, modify or vary the Security Documents pursuant to Section 2.10(d) of the Intercreditor Agreement; or

 

(16)    to enter into any intercreditor agreement having substantially similar terms with respect to the Holders as those set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement, taken as a whole, or any joinder thereto; or with respect to the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, as provided therein (including to add or replace the parties secured thereunder).

 

(b)    Upon the request of the Company, and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of the documents described in Sections 9.05 and 13.02, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent  shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture and any amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document 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 and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or any amendment to the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this  Indenture or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to Section 9.01(a)(9) may be executed by the Company, the Guarantor providing (or being released from) such Note Guarantee, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

Section 9.02    With Consent of Holders.

 

(a)    Except as provided in Section 9.01 and this Section 9.02(e) and Section 9.02(f), with respect to the Notes, the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may amend or supplement this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of or tender offer for, the Notes) and, subject to Section 6.04 and Section 6.07, any existing Default or Event of Default with respect to such Notes (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on such Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture, the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes).  Section 2.08 and Section 2.09 shall determine which Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02.

 

(b)    Upon the request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of the consent of the Holders as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent of the documents

 

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described in Section 9.05 and Section 13.02, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall join with the Company and the Guarantors in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver or amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document unless such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver or amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document directly affects the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver or amendment or supplement to the Intercreditor Agreement or any Security Document.

 

(c)    The consent of the Holders is not necessary under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver.  It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment or supplement or waiver. A consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender.

 

(d)    After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Company will give to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver.  However, the failure of the Company to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of any such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

(e)    Without the consent of each affected Holder, an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(1)    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any such Note;

 

(2)    reduce the principal amount of, or the rate of interest on, any such Note;

 

(3)    reduce any premium, if any, or redemption price payable upon the redemption or repurchase of any such Note;

 

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

 

(5)    change any place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any such Note is payable;

 

(6)    amend the contractual right expressly set forth in this Indenture or any Note of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Note on or after the stated maturity or redemption date of any such Note;

 

(7)    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required to approve any such modification or amendment or for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or of certain Defaults;

 

(8)    modify any of the provisions in this Indenture regarding the waiver of past Defaults and the waiver of certain covenants by the Holders of each such Note affected thereby, except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture may not be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Note affected thereby; or

 

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(9)    modify any of the above provisions.

 

(f)     Notwithstanding Section 9.02(a) and Section 9.02(e), without the consent of the Holders of at least 66⅔% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), no amendment or waiver may make any change in any Security Document, the Intercreditor Agreement or the provisions in this Indenture dealing with Collateral or application of trust proceeds of the Collateral in any manner, taken as a whole, materially adverse to the Holders or otherwise release all or substantially all of the Liens on any of the Collateral which secure the Obligations in respect of the Notes.

 

Section 9.03    Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

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

 

(b)    The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date pursuant to Section 1.04 for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.04    Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

(a)    The Trustee may (but is not obligated to) place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated.  The Company in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

(b)    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 9.05    Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment, supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent.  In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 13.02, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and any Guarantor party thereto, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof.

 

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ARTICLE 10

GUARANTEES

 

Section 10.01    Guarantee.

 

(a)    Subject to this Article 10, each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Holder and to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent and their respective successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, that: (1) the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be promptly paid in full when due, whether at stated maturity thereof, by acceleration, redemption or otherwise, and interest on the overdue principal and interest on the Notes, if any, if lawful, and all other Obligations of the Company to the Holders or the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent hereunder or under the Notes shall be promptly paid in full or performed, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; and (2) in case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any Notes or any of such other obligations, that same shall 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 collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligations”.  Failing payment by the Company when due of any amount so guaranteed or any performance so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Guarantors shall be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately.  Each Guarantor agrees that this is a guarantee of payment and not a guarantee of collection.

 

(b)    To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Guarantors hereby agree that their obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against 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.  To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Note Guarantee shall not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes and this Indenture, or pursuant to Section 10.06.

 

(c)    Each of the Guarantors also agrees, jointly and severally, to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.

 

(d)    If any Holder, the Notes Collateral Agent or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, the Guarantors or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or the Guarantors, any amount paid either to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or such Holder, this Note Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.

 

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

 

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become due and payable by the Guarantors for the purpose of this Note Guarantee.  The Guarantors shall have the right to seek contribution from any non-paying Guarantor so long as the exercise of such right does not impair the rights of the Holders under the Note Guarantees.

 

(f)     Each Note Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Company for liquidation or reorganization, should the Company become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Company’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Notes are, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee on the Notes or the Note Guarantees, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made.  In the event that any payment or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Notes shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

(g)    In case any provision of any Note Guarantee 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.

 

(h)    Each payment to be made by a Guarantor in respect of its Note Guarantee shall be made without set-off, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any kind or nature.

 

Section 10.02    Limitation on Guarantor Liability.

 

Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of Notes, each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the Note Guarantee of such Guarantor not constitute a fraudulent conveyance or a fraudulent transfer for purposes of Bankruptcy Law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar federal or state law to the extent applicable to any Note Guarantee.  To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Trustee, the  Notes Collateral Agent, the Holders and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Guarantor shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to such maximum amount and all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Guarantor that are relevant under such laws and after giving effect to any collections from, rights to receive contribution from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under this Article 10, result in the obligations of such Guarantor under its Note Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law.  Each Guarantor that makes a payment under its Note Guarantee will be entitled upon payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations under this Indenture to a contribution from each other Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Guarantor’s pro rata portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Guarantors at the time of such payment, determined in accordance with GAAP, subject to limitations on fraudulent conveyance under applicable law.

 

Section 10.03    Execution and Delivery.

 

(a)    To evidence its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01, each Guarantor hereby agrees that this Indenture shall be executed on behalf of such Guarantor by an Officer or person holding an equivalent title.

 

(b)    Each Guarantor hereby agrees that its Note Guarantee set forth in Section 10.01 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the absence of the endorsement of any notation of such Note Guarantee on the Notes.

 

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(c)    If an Officer whose signature is on this Indenture no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note Guarantees shall be valid nevertheless.

 

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

 

(e)    If required by Section 4.09, the Company shall cause any newly created or acquired Subsidiary to comply with the provisions of Section 4.09 and this Article 10, to the extent applicable.

 

Section 10.04    Subrogation.

 

Each Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of Holders against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by any Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.01; provided that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantor shall be entitled to enforce or receive any payments arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts then due and payable by the Company under this Indenture or the Notes shall have been paid in full.

 

Section 10.05    Benefits Acknowledged.

 

Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Indenture and that the guarantee and waivers made by it pursuant to its Note Guarantee are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

 

Section 10.06    Release of Note Guarantees.

 

(a)    Each Note Guarantee by a Guarantor shall provide by its terms that its Obligations under this Indenture and such Note Guarantee shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged and be of no future force and effect upon:

 

(1)    any sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition (by merger, consolidation, amalgamation, dividend, distribution or otherwise) of (i) the Capital Stock of such Guarantor, after which such Guarantor is no longer a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of such Guarantor to a Person other than a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company, in each case, if such sale, exchange, transfer or other disposition is not prohibited by the applicable provisions of this Indenture;

 

(2)    the release or discharge of the guarantee by, or direct obligation of, such Guarantor with respect to the Senior Credit Facilities, as issuer under, or its guarantee of, all other Material Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, and the release or discharge of any other guarantee or direct obligation that resulted in the creation of such Note Guarantee, except (i) a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee or direct obligation or (ii) the termination of the Senior Credit Facilities and/or such Material Indebtedness; provided that, in each case, the Collateral securing such Notes Guarantee (if such Note Guarantee is then secured) is also released in accordance with Section 11.08(a)(4) (it being understood that in the event that any released Guarantor would be required thereafter to provide a Note Guarantee in accordance with Section 4.09, such previously released Guarantor will again provide a Note Guarantee);

 

(3)    the Company exercising the legal defeasance option or covenant defeasance option with respect to the Notes in accordance with Article 8 or the Company’s obligations under this Indenture being discharged in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

 

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(4)    the merger, amalgamation or consolidation of any Guarantor with and into the Company or another Guarantor that is the surviving Person in such merger, amalgamation or consolidation, or upon the liquidation or dissolution of a Guarantor;

 

(5)    if such Guarantor was not required to create a Note Guarantee but did so at its option, upon the request of such Guarantor of a release at any time (if such Guarantor would not then otherwise be required to Guarantee the Notes pursuant to this Indenture); or

 

(6)    upon payment in full of principal of, accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any, on all Notes then outstanding.

 

(b)    At the request of the Company, and upon delivery to the Trustee of an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions provided for in this Indenture to the release of such Guarantor have been complied with and that execution by the Trustee of an appropriate instrument acknowledging the release of such Guarantor from its Note Guarantee is permitted by this Indenture, the Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate instrument acknowledging the automatic release of such Guarantor from its Note Guarantee (it being understood that the failure to obtain any such instrument shall not impair any automatic release pursuant to Section 10.06(a)).

 

ARTICLE 11

COLLATERAL

 

Section 11.01    Collateral.

 

(a)    The due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and the Note Guarantees when and as the same shall be due and payable, whether on an Interest Payment Date, at maturity, by acceleration, repurchase, redemption or otherwise, interest on the overdue principal of and interest (to the extent permitted by law), if any, on such Notes and the Note Guarantees and performance of all other obligations under this Indenture, including, without limitation, the obligations of the Company set forth in Section 7.07, and the Notes, the Note Guarantees, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, shall be secured by a Lien on the Collateral on an equal basis with the other First Lien Indebtedness (subject to Permitted Liens), as provided in this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement to which the Company and the Guarantors, as the case may be, shall be or shall have become parties on the Issue Date and will be secured by all of the Collateral pledged pursuant to the Security Documents delivered as required or permitted by this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company hereby appoints U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association as the initial Notes Collateral Agent and the Notes Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver this Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company and the Guarantors hereby agree that the Notes Collateral Agent shall hold the Collateral in trust for the benefit of itself, all of the Holders of the Notes and the Trustee, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b)    Each Holder, by its acceptance of any Notes and the Note Guarantees, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement (including, without limitation, the provisions providing for foreclosure and release of Collateral and the automatic amendments, supplements, consents, waivers and other modifications thereto without the consent of the Holders) as the same may be in effect or may be amended, restated, supplemented, waived or modified from time to time in accordance with their terms and this Indenture and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement in accordance therewith.

 

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(c)    The Trustee and each Holder, by accepting the Notes and the Note Guarantees, acknowledge that, as more fully set forth in the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral as now or hereafter constituted shall be held for the benefit of all the Holders of the Notes, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee, and that the Lien of this Indenture and the Security Documents in respect of the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes is subject to and qualified and limited in all respects by the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement and actions that may be taken thereunder.

 

Section 11.02    Maintenance of Collateral.

 

The Company and the Guarantors shall (a) maintain the Collateral that is material to the conduct of their respective businesses in good, safe and insurable operating order, condition and repair (except for ordinary wear and tear); (b) pay all material real estate and other taxes on such Collateral (except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or in the aggregate would not be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect) and (c) maintain in full force and effect all material permits and insurance coverages customary for companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating and similarly situated.

 

Section 11.03    Impairment of Collateral.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any senior Liens and to the provisions governing the release of Collateral as described under Section 11.08, the Company and the Guarantors will not take or knowingly take any action which action or omission would or could reasonably be expected to have the result of materially impairing the security interest with respect to the Collateral for the benefit of the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders of the Notes, unless such action or failure to take action is otherwise permitted by this Indenture, Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents.

 

Section 11.04    Further Assurances.

 

Subject to the requirements, limitations and qualifications set forth in this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents, the Company and the Guarantors shall, at their sole expense, execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents as are necessary or that the Notes Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request, to create, better assure, preserve, protect, defend and perfect the security interest and the rights and remedies created under the Security Documents for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee (subject to Permitted Liens). Such security interests and Liens will be created under the Security Documents and, to the extent necessary, other security agreements and other instruments and documents.

 

Section 11.05    After-Acquired Collateral.

 

From and after the Issue Date, if the Company or any Guarantor acquires any property or asset constituting Collateral, it must within 60 days (as such period may be extended by the Bank Agent) of the date of acquisition of any such property or asset, execute and deliver such security instruments and financing statements as are required under this Indenture, the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents to vest in the Notes Collateral Agent a perfected security interest, subject to Permitted Liens, with the priority set forth in the Intercreditor Agreement upon such property or asset as security for the Notes, the Note Guarantees and as may be necessary to have such property or asset added to the Collateral and thereupon all provisions of this Indenture relating to the Collateral shall be deemed to relate to such after-acquired Collateral to the same extent and with the same force and effect.

 

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Section 11.06    Authorization of Actions to be Taken by the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent Under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(a)    Subject to the provisions of Article 7 of this Indenture and the provisions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, each of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may (but shall in no event be required to), in its sole discretion and without the consent of the Holders, on behalf of the Holders, take all actions it deems necessary or appropriate in order to (i) enforce any of its rights or any of the rights of the Holders under the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) collect and receive any and all amounts payable in respect of the Collateral in respect of the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors hereunder and thereunder. Subject to the provisions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall have the power, but not the obligation, to institute and to maintain such suits and proceedings as it may deem expedient to prevent any impairment of the Collateral by any acts that may be unlawful or in violation of the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement or this Indenture, and such suits and proceedings as the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent may deem expedient to preserve or protect its interest and the interests of the Holders in the Collateral (including the power to institute and maintain suits or proceedings to restrain the enforcement of or compliance with any legislative or other governmental enactment, rule or order that may be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid if the enforcement of, or compliance with, such enactment, rule or order would impair the security interest hereunder or be prejudicial to the interests of the Holders or the Trustee).  Nothing in this Section 11.06(a) shall be considered to impose any such duty or obligation to act on the part of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent.

 

(b)    The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent make no representation as to and shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness, value or effectiveness with respect to any Collateral, actions taken by the Company or any other person with respect to perfection of Liens or security interests in the Collateral, the legality, effectiveness or sufficiency of any Security Document, for any act or omission of the Bank Agent or collateral agent of any other First Lien Indebtedness, or for the creation, perfection, priority, sufficiency or protection of any Liens securing the Notes and Notes Obligations. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be responsible for filing any financing statement or amendment or continuation statement or recording any document or instrument in any public office at any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the perfection of any Lien or security interest in the Collateral. The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable or responsible for the failure of the Company or any other person to effect or maintain insurance on the Collateral as provided in this Indenture or any Security Document, nor shall they be responsible for any loss by reason of want or insufficiency in insurance or by reason of the failure of any insurer in which the insurance is carried to pay the full amount of any loss against which it may have insured the Company, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent or any other person. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall have any duty to invest any funds that may be on deposit with it under this Indenture or any other Security Document, except as may be specifically provided for in this Indenture. It is understood and agreed that prior to the discharge of the Credit Agreement Obligations, to the extent that the Bank Agent is satisfied with or agrees to any deliveries or documents required to be provided in respect of any matters relating to the Collateral or makes any determination in respect of any matters relating to the Collateral (including, without limitation, extensions of time or waivers for the creation and perfection of security interests in, or the obtaining of insurance, legal opinions or other deliverables with respect to, particular assets (including in connection with assets acquired, or Subsidiaries formed or acquired, after the Issue Date)), such deliveries and/or documents and the judgment of the Bank Agent in respect of any such matters under the Senior Credit Facilities shall be deemed satisfactory for all purposes under this Indenture and the Security Documents and satisfy all applicable requirements thereof. As a result, certain security interests or perfection actions may not be in place or may not have been taken by the Issue Date.

 

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Section 11.07    Documents and Intercreditor Agreement.

 

The provisions in this Indenture relating to Collateral are subject to the provisions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement. The Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent acknowledge and agree to be bound by the provisions of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Section 11.08    Release of Collateral.

 

(a)    The Company and the Guarantors will be entitled to the releases of property and other assets constituting the Collateral from the Liens securing the Notes and the Note Guarantees in respect thereof, and such Liens shall be automatically released without further action on the part of any person under any one or more of the following circumstances:

 

(1)    in whole or in part, as applicable, as to all or any portion of property subject to such Liens which have been taken away by eminent domain, condemnation or other similar circumstances;

 

(2)    in the case of a Guarantor that is released from its Note Guarantee pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, upon the release from such Note Guarantee;

 

(3)    with respect to any Collateral that becomes an “Excluded Asset,” upon it becoming an Excluded Asset;

 

(4)    to the extent the Liens on the Collateral securing obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities are released by the Bank Agent (other than (i) any release by, or as result of, payment of the obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities or (ii) the termination of the Senior Credit Facilities), upon release of such Liens;

 

(5)    in connection with any enforcement action taken by the Controlling Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement; or

 

(6)    as permitted in accordance with Article 9.

 

(b)    The Liens on the Collateral securing the Notes and related Note Guarantees also will be automatically terminated and released (i) upon payment in full of the principal of, together with accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes and all other Obligations under this Indenture, the related Note Guarantees and the Security Documents that are due and payable at or prior to the time such principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, are paid, (ii) upon a legal defeasance or covenant defeasance under this Indenture pursuant to Article 8 or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article 12 or (iii) pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement and the Security Documents.

 

(c)    With respect to any release of Collateral, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate and an  Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture and the Security  Documents, if any, to such release have been met and that the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent is  authorized and permitted under this Indenture to execute and deliver the documents requested by the  Company in connection with such release, and any necessary or proper instruments of termination, satisfaction or release prepared by the Company, the Trustee shall, or shall cause the Notes Collateral  Agent to, execute, deliver or acknowledge (at the Company’s expense) such instruments or releases, and  authorize the filing of UCC financing statement amendments or termination statements as applicable, to  evidence the release of any Collateral permitted to be released pursuant to this Indenture or the Security  Documents. Neither the Trustee nor the Notes Collateral Agent shall be liable for any such release  undertaken in reliance

 

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upon any such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel, and notwithstanding  any term hereof or in any Security Document to the contrary, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent  shall not be under any obligation to release any such Lien or security interest, or execute and deliver any  such instrument of release, satisfaction or termination, unless and until it receives such Officer’s  Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

 

(d)    The release of any Collateral from the terms of the Security Documents shall not  be deemed to impair the security under this Indenture in contravention of the provisions hereof if and to  the extent such Collateral is released pursuant to this Indenture or upon termination of this Indenture. The Trustee and each of the Holders each acknowledge and direct the Trustee and the Notes Collateral  Agent that a release of Collateral or a Lien in accordance with the terms of any Security Document and  this Article 11 will not be deemed for any purpose to be an impairment of the Lien on the Collateral in  contravention of the terms of this Indenture.

 

ARTICLE 12

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 12.01    Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

(a)    This Indenture will be discharged, and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes, when either:

 

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

 

(2)    (A) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable whether at the stated maturity or on a redemption date as a result of making or sending a notice of redemption or will become due and payable, or will be called for redemption, within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the outstanding Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

 

(B)      the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums then due and payable by the Company under this Indenture; and

 

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

 

(b)    In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.  Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (2) of Section 12.01(a), the provisions of Section 12.02 and Section 8.06 shall survive.

 

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Section 12.02    Application of Trust Money.

 

(a)    Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

(b)    If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 12.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture, such Notes and the Note Guarantees shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.01; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 13.01    Notices.

 

(a)    Any notice or communication to the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent is duly given if in writing and (1) delivered in person, (2) mailed by first-class mail (certified or registered, return receipt requested), postage prepaid, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or (3) sent by facsimile or electronic transmission, to its address:

 

if to the Company or any Guarantor:

 

c/o HNI Corporation
600 East Second Street
Muscatine, IA 52761
Confirmation No: (563) 506-9783
Attention: Jack Herring

 

with a copy to:

 

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Confirmation No: (212) 450-4000
Attention: Hillary A. Coleman

 

if to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent:

 

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
333 Commerce Street, Suite 900
Nashville, TN 37201
Confirmation No.: (615) 251-0733
Attention: HNI Corporation Notes Administrator

 

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The Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, by like notice, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

(b)    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; on the first date of which publication is made, if by publication; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if mailed by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; when receipt acknowledged, if sent by facsimile or electronic transmission; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

 

(c)    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 Note Register or by such other delivery system as the Trustee agrees to accept.  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.

 

(d)    Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

(e)    Notwithstanding any other provision herein, where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to any Holder of an interest in a Global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Note (or its designee), according to the Applicable Procedures of such Depositary, if any, prescribed for the giving of such notice.

 

(f)     The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent agree to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured facsimile or electronic transmission; provided, however, that (1) the party providing such written notice, instructions or directions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in a timely manner, and (2) such originally executed notice, instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such notice, instructions or directions.  The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s or the Notes Collateral Agent’s reliance upon and compliance with such notice, instructions or directions notwithstanding such notice, instructions or directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent notice, instructions or directions.

 

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

 

(h)    If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 13.02    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Company or any Guarantor to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent to take any action under this Indenture, the Company or such Guarantor, as the case

 

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may be, shall furnish to the Trustee or, if such action relates to a Security Document or an Intercreditor Agreement, the Notes Collateral Agent:

 

(1)    an Officer’s Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.03 stating that, in the opinion of the signer(s), all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with); and

 

(2)    an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 13.03 stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with); provided that no Opinion of Counsel pursuant to this Section shall be required in connection with the issuance of Initial Notes on the Issue Date.

 

Section 13.03    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 Section 4.07) shall include:

 

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

 

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

 

(3)    a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and

 

(4)    a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 13.04    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 13.05    No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees, Members, Partners and Stockholders.

 

No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor (other than the Company in respect of the Notes and each Guarantor in respect of its Note Guarantee) under the Notes, the Note Guarantees 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 issuance of the Notes.

 

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Section 13.06    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

(a)    THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES AND ANY NOTE GUARANTEE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

(b)    The Company and each of the Guarantors hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby.  The Company and each of the Guarantors waive any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts.  Each of the Company and each of the Guarantors agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which Company and each Guarantor, as applicable, is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

 

Section 13.07    Waiver of Jury Trial.

 

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

 

Section 13.08    Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, labor dispute, disease, epidemic or pandemic, quarantine, national emergency and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services, communications system failure, malware or ransomware or other funds transfer systems or other unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile, telex system or other wire or communication facility, or unavailability of any securities clearing system; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 13.09    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

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

 

Section 13.10    Successors.

 

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors.  All agreements of the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent in this Indenture shall bind their respective successors.  All agreements of each Guarantor in this Indenture shall bind its successors, except as otherwise provided in Section 10.06.

 

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Section 13.11    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 13.12    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. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. This Indenture shall be valid, binding, and enforceable against a party when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means  of (i) an original manual signature; (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or (iii) any other electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National  Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or any other relevant  electronic signatures law, including any relevant provisions of the UCC (collectively, “Signature Law”),  in each case to the extent applicable. Each faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other  electronic signature, shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon,  and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other  electronic signature, of any other party and shall have no duty to investigate, confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument. For the avoidance of doubt, original manual signatures shall be used for execution or  indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or  intended character of the writings

 

Section 13.13    Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

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

 

Section 13.14    Facsimile and PDF Delivery of Signature Pages.

 

The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or portable document format (“PDF”) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes and shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by such means.  The Company and the Guarantors each agree to assume all risks arising out of its use of digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, including the risk of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

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Section 13.15    U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.

 

Section 13.16    Payments Due on Non-Business Days.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, redemption date or repurchase date or the stated maturity of the Notes shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Notes) payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, redemption date or repurchase date, or at the stated maturity of the Notes, provided that no interest will accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date, repurchase date or stated maturity, as the case may be.

 

[signatures on following page]

 

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  HNI Corporation
   
   
  By: /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:  Jack Herring
    Title:    Treasurer and Vice President, Finance

 

  HNI HOLDINGS, INC.
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

  HNI WORKPLACE FURNISHINGS LLC
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

  HEARTH & HOME TECHNOLOGIES LLC
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

  THE HON COMPANY LLC
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

  ALLSTEEL LLC
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

[Signature page to Indenture]

 

 

 

  KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL INC.
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

  KIMBALL FURNITURE GROUP, LLC
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

  KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL BRANDS, INC.
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

  KIMBALL HOSPITALITY, INC.
   
   
  By:  /s/ Jack Herring
    Name:   Jack Herring
    Title:     Treasurer

 

[Signature page to Indenture]

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent 

   
   
  By: /s/ Wally Jones
    Name:  Wally Jones
    Title:    Vice President

 

[Signature page to Indenture]

 

 

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL NOTES AND
ADDITIONAL NOTES

 

Section 1.1    Definitions.

 

(a)    Capitalized Terms.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Appendix A have the meanings given to them in this Indenture.  The following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any matter at any time involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Note, Euroclear or Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

 

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

“Distribution Compliance Period,” with respect to any Note, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Note is first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Company to the Trustee, and (b) the date of issuance with respect to such Note or any predecessor of such Note.

 

Euroclear” means Euroclear Bank S.A./N.Y., as operator of Euroclear systems Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

IAI” means an institution that is an “accredited investor” as described in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and is not a QIB.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Unrestricted Global Note” means any Note in global form that does not bear or is not required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

U.S. person” means a “U.S. person” as defined in Regulation S.

 

(b)    Other Definitions.

 

Term: Defined in
Section
:
   
Agent Members 2.1(c)
Definitive Notes Legend 2.2(e)

 

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Term: Defined in
Section
:
   
ERISA Legend 2.2(e)
Global Note 2.1(b)
Global Notes Legend 2.2(e)
IAI Global Note 2.1(b)
Regulation S Global Note 2.1(b)
Regulation S Notes 2.1(a)
Restricted Notes Legend 2.2(e)
Rule 144A Global Note 2.1(b)
Rule 144A Notes 2.1(a)

 

Section 2.1    Form and Dating

 

(a)    The Initial Notes issued on the date hereof shall be (i) offered and sold by the Company to the initial purchasers thereof and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A (“Rule 144A Notes”) and (2) Persons other than U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S (“Regulation S Notes”).  Additional Notes may also be considered to be Rule 144A Notes or Regulation S Notes, as applicable.

 

(b)    Global Notes.  Rule 144A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in definitive, fully registered form, numbered RA-1 upward (collectively, the “Rule 144A Global Note”) and Regulation S Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more global Notes, numbered RS-1 upward (collectively, the “Regulation S Global Note”), in each case without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and Restricted Notes Legend, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture.  One or more global Notes in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons and bearing the Global Notes Legend and the Restricted Notes Legend, numbered RIAI-1 upward (collectively, the “IAI Global Note”) shall also be issued, deposited with the Custodian, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as provided in this Indenture to accommodate transfers of beneficial interests in the Notes to IAIs subsequent to the initial distribution to the extent permitted by the applicable procedures of the Depositary.  The Rule 144A Global Note, the IAI Global Note, the Regulation S Global Note and any Unrestricted Global Note are each referred to herein as a “Global Note” and are collectively referred to herein as “Global Notes.”  Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of 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 applicable, 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 Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 of this Indenture and Section 2.2(c) of this Appendix A.

 

(c)    Book-Entry Provisions.  This Section 2.1(c) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.

 

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(c) and Section 2.02 of this Indenture and pursuant to an order of the Company signed by one Officer of the

 

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Company, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Trustee as Custodian.

 

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

 

(d)    Definitive Notes.  Except as provided in Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 of this Appendix A, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes shall not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Notes.

 

Section 2.2    Transfer and Exchange.  

 

(a)    Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.  When Definitive Notes are presented to the Registrar with a request:

 

(i)     to register the transfer of such Definitive Notes; or

 

(ii)    to exchange such Definitive Notes for an equal principal amount of Definitive Notes of other authorized denominations,

 

the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange:

 

(1)    shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

(2)    in the case of Transfer Restricted Notes, they are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of this Appendix A or otherwise in accordance with the Restricted Notes Legend, and are accompanied by a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto.

 

(b)    Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Note for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Note.  A Definitive Note may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Note except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below.  Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Note, duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar, together with:

 

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(i)     a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto; and

 

(ii)    written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Note to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented by the Global Note, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,

 

the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Note and cause, or direct the Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented by the Global Note to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Note to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Note equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Note so canceled.  If the applicable Global Note is not then outstanding, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new applicable Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(c)    Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.  

 

(i)     The transfer and exchange of Global Notes or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 2.2(d) of this Appendix A, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor.  A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Note shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in such Global Note, or another Global Note and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the applicable Global Note and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Note being transferred.  

 

(ii)    If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Note to a beneficial interest in another Global Note, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Note to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of the Global Note from which such interest is being transferred.

 

(iii)     Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix A (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.3 of this Appendix A), a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole and not in part if the transfer is 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.

 

(d)    Restrictions on Transfer of Global Notes; Voluntary Exchange of Interests in Transfer Restricted Global Notes for Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes.  

 

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(i)     Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through another Transfer Restricted Global Note shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and only upon receipt by the Trustee of a certification from the transferor in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers and, as applicable, delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as may be requested pursuant thereto.  In addition, in the case of a transfer of a beneficial interest in either a Regulation S Global Note or a Rule 144A Global Note for an interest in an IAI Global Note, the transferee must furnish a signed letter substantially in the form of Exhibit B to the Trustee.  

 

(ii)    Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, (A) the Regulation S Global Note shall be a temporary global security for purposes of Rules 903 and 904 under the Securities Act, whether or not designated as such on the face of such Note, and (B) interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be held through Euroclear or Clearstream. During the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note may only be sold, pledged or transferred through Euroclear or Clearstream in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, the Restricted Notes Legend on such Regulation S Global Note and any applicable securities laws of any state of the U.S.  Prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note shall be made only in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the Restricted Notes Legend and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor of the beneficial interest in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for exchange or registration of transfers.  Such written certification shall no longer be required after the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period.  Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Note shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of this Indenture.

 

(iii)     Upon the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, beneficial interests in the Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note upon certification in the form provided on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A for an exchange from a Regulation S Global Note to an Unrestricted Global Note.  

 

(iv)      Beneficial interests in a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Rule 144A Global Note or an IAI Global Note may be exchanged for beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and/or upon delivery of such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.  

 

(v)    If no Unrestricted Global Note is outstanding at the time of a transfer contemplated by the preceding clauses (iii) and (iv), the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon an Authentication Order, a new Unrestricted Global Note in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(e)    Legends.

 

(i)     Except as permitted by Section 2.2(d), this Section 2.2(e) and Section 2.2(i) of this Appendix A, each Note certificate evidencing the Global Notes and the Definitive

 

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Notes (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (each defined term in the legend being defined as such for purposes of the legend only) (“Restricted Notes Legend”):

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN), BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: SIX MONTHS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY),] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF, THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE OF THE ISSUANCE OF ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES AND THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY) WAS FIRST OFFERED TO PERSONS OTHER THAN DISTRIBUTORS (AS DEFINED IN RULE 902 OF REGULATION S) IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S,] ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS PURCHASING FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF ANOTHER INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $250,000 OF SECURITIES OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS

 

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SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]

 

Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Definitive Notes Legend”):

 

IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Each Global Note shall bear the following additional legend (“Global Notes Legend”):

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO DTC, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.

 

Each Note shall bear the following additional legend (“ERISA Legend”):

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY, THE HOLDER THEREOF (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (I) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF ANY (A) “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”) WHICH IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (B) A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY OR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION PROVISIONS OF TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”), OR (C) ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO CONSTITUTE THE ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (A) OR (B) PURSUANT TO ERISA OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW OR (II) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) BY SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT CONSTITUTE

 

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OR RESULT IN A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAW.

 

Each Note shall bear the following additional legend ("OID Legend"):

 

THIS NOTE MAY BE ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT FOR PURPOSES OF SECTION 1271 ET SEQ. OF THE UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. THE ISSUER AGREES TO PROVIDE TO THE HOLDER, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, THE ISSUE PRICE, AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, ISSUE DATE AND YIELD TO MATURITY WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTE. ANY SUCH WRITTEN REQUEST SHOULD BE SENT TO: HNI CORPORATION, 600 EAST SECOND STREET, MUSCATINE, IA 52761, CONFIRMATION NO: (563) 506-9783, ATTENTION: JACK HERRING

 

(ii)    Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Note that is a Definitive Note, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Note for a Definitive Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and the Definitive Notes Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Note if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange is in respect of a transfer made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse side of the Form of Note in Exhibit A) and provides such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee may reasonably request.

 

(iii)     Any Additional Notes sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

(f)     Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Note.  At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Depositary to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Registrar (if it is then the Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Registrar or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

 

(g)    Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Notes.

 

(i)     To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate, Definitive Notes and Global Notes at the Registrar’s request.

 

(ii)    No service charge shall be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange (other than pursuant to Section 2.07 of this Indenture), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.10, 3.06, 4.10, and 9.04 of this Indenture).

 

A-8

 

(iii)     Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(iv)      All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

 

(v)    In order to effect any transfer or exchange of an interest in any Transfer Restricted Note for an interest in a Note that does not bear the Restricted Notes Legend and has not been registered under the Securities Act, if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel, in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that no registration under the Securities Act is required in respect of such exchange or transfer or the re-sale of such interest by the beneficial holder thereof, shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar and the Trustee.

 

(h)    No Obligation of the Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

(iii)     (Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note.  Upon the Company’s satisfaction that the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, beneficial interests in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note may be exchanged into beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note without any action required by or on behalf of the Holder (the “Exchange”) at any time on or after the date that is the 366th calendar day after (i) with respect to any Note issued on the Issue Date, the later of (A) the

 

A-9

 

Issue Date and (B) the last date on which the Company or any Affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Note (or of any other Global Note with the same CUSIP number) or (ii) with respect to any Additional Note, if any, the later of (A) the issue date of such Additional Note and (B) the last date on which the Company or any Affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Note (or of any other Global Note with the same CUSIP number), or, in each case, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (the “Exchange Date”).  Upon the Company’s satisfaction that the Restricted Notes Legend shall no longer be required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act, the Company shall issue one or more Unrestricted Global Notes for such Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note and the Company shall provide an Officer’s Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that no registration under the Securities Act is required in respect of the Exchange or re-sales of beneficial interests in such Unrestricted Global Note that are beneficially owned by a holder of beneficial interests therein upon the Exchange.  The Company may request from Holders such information as it reasonably determines is required in order to be able to deliver such Officer’s Certificate.  Upon such exchange of beneficial interests pursuant to this Section 2.2(i), the aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes shall be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, to reflect the relevant increase or decrease in the principal amount of such Global Note resulting from the applicable exchange.  The Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note from which beneficial interests are transferred pursuant to an Exchange shall be canceled following the Exchange.

 

Section 2.3    Definitive Notes.

 

(a)    A Global Note deposited with the Depositary or with the Trustee as Custodian pursuant to Section 2.1 may be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of Definitive Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Note, in exchange for such Global Note, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A and (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Exchange Act and, in each case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or after the Company becomes aware of such cessation, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has received a request from the Depositary.  In addition, any Affiliate of the Company or any Guarantor that is a beneficial owner of all or part of a Global Note may have such Affiliate’s beneficial interest transferred to such Affiliate in the form of a Definitive Note by providing a written request to the Company and the Trustee and such Opinions of Counsel, certificates or other information as may be required by this Indenture or the Company or Trustee.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.3, no Regulation S Global Note may be exchanged for a Definitive Note until the end of the Distribution Compliance Period applicable to such Regulation S Global Note and receipt by the Trustee and the Company of any certificates required by either of them pursuant to Rule 903(b)(3)(ii)(B) under the Securities Act.

 

(b)    Any Global Note that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Trustee, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Note, an equal aggregate principal amount of Definitive Notes of authorized denominations.  Any portion of a Global Note transferred pursuant to this Section 2.3 shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct.  Any Definitive Note delivered in exchange for an interest in a Global Note that is a Transfer Restricted Note shall, except as otherwise provided by Section 2.2(e) of this Appendix A, bear the Restricted Notes Legend.

 

A-10

 

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

 

(d)    In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.3(a) of this Appendix A, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Definitive Notes in fully registered form without interest coupons.

 

A-11

 

EXHIBIT A-1

 

 

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

 

[Insert the Restricted Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

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

 

[Insert the Definitive Notes Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

[Insert the ERISA Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.]

 

[Insert the OID Legend, if applicable, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture.]

 

A-1-1

 

CUSIP [      ]

ISIN [      ]1

 

 

[RULE 144A][REGULATION S][GLOBAL] NOTE

 

5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

 

 

No. [R-__] [S-__] [Up to]2 [$______________]

 

HNI CORPORATION

 

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto]3 [of $_______ (_______ Dollars)]4 on January 18, 2029.

 

Interest Payment Dates: January 18 and July 18

 

Record Dates: January 1 and July 1

 

 

 

1Rule 144A Note CUSIP: 404251 AA8

Rule 144A Note ISIN: US404251AA81

Regulation S Note CUSIP: U4333T AA1

Regulation S Note ISIN: USU4333TAA17

Rule 144A Note CUSIP (R-2): 404251 AB6

Rule 144A Note ISIN (R-2): US404251AB64

Regulation S Note CUSIP (R-2): U4333TAB9

Regulation S Note ISIN (R-2): USU4333TAB99

 

2Include in Global Notes.

 

3Include in Global Notes

 

4Include in Definitive Notes

 

A-1

 

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

 

Dated:

 

  HNI CORPORATION
   
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

A-2

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

  U.S. Bank TRUST COMPANY, National Association, as Trustee
   
   
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

 

Dated:

 

A-3

 

[Reverse Side of Note]

5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2029

 

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

 

1.   INTEREST.  HNI Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at 5.125% per annum until but excluding maturity.  The Company shall pay interest semi-annually in arrears on January 18 and July 18 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from and including July 18, 2025; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be January 18, 2026.  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 the 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 (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful.  Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.   METHOD OF PAYMENT.  The Company shall pay interest on the Notes to the Persons who are registered holders of Notes at the close of business on January 1 or July 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding the related Interest Payment Date, even if such Notes are canceled after such Record Date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Indenture with respect to defaulted interest.  Principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest and premium, if any, may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their respective addresses set forth in the Note Register; provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds shall be required with respect to principal, premium, if any, and interest 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 at least five Business Days prior to the applicable payment date.  Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.   PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR.  Initially, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, the Trustee under the Indenture, shall act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders.  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 December 10, 2025 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Indenture”), among HNI Corporation, the Guarantors named therein, the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent.  This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Company designated as its 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2029.  The Company shall be entitled to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 4.08 of the Indenture.  The Notes and any Additional Notes issued under the Indenture shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture.  The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture.  The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms.  Any term used in this Note that is defined in the Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Indenture.  To the extent any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

A-4

 

5.   REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE.  The Notes are subject to optional redemption, and may be the subject of a Change of Control Offer, as further described in the Indenture.  The Company shall not be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

6.   DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE.  The Notes are in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The transfer of Notes may be registered and Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.  A holder may be required by the Indenture to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents to the Registrar and Trustee, and Holders shall be required to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Company need not exchange or register the transfer of any Note or portion of a Note selected for redemption or tendered for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer, except for the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed or repurchased in part.

 

7.   PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.  The registered Holder of a Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

8.   AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.  The Indenture, the Note Guarantees, the Notes, the Intercreditor Agreement or the Security Documents may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

9.   DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.  The Events of Default relating to the Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Indenture.  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights and obligations of the Company, the Guarantors, the Trustee, the Notes Collateral Agent and the Holders shall be as set forth in the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

 

10.   AUTHENTICATION.  This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

 

11.   GOVERNING LAW.  THIS NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

12.   CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP and ISIN numbers to be printed on the Notes, and the Trustee may use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

13.    SECURITY.  The Notes and the related Note Guarantees shall be secured by the Collateral on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture and the Security Documents.  The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, as the case may be, shall hold the Collateral in trust for the benefit of themselves and the Holders of the Notes, in each case pursuant to the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.  Each Holder of the Notes, by accepting this Note, consents and agrees to the terms of the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement (including the provisions providing for the foreclosure and release of Collateral) as the same may be in effect or may be amended from time to time in accordance with their terms and the Indenture and authorizes and directs the Notes Collateral Agent to enter into the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and to perform its obligations and exercise its rights thereunder in accordance therewith.

 

A-5

 

The Company shall furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture, the Security Documents and the Intercreditor Agreement.  Requests may be made to the Company at the following address:

 

c/o HNI Corporation
600 East Second Street
Muscatine, IA 52761
Confirmation No.: (563) 506-9783
Attention: Jack Herring

 

A-6

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

 

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to:  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(Insert assignee’s legal name)
 
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)
 
 
 
 
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Date:  ________________________

 

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

 

Signature Guarantee*:  ______________________________________

 

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

 

A-7

 

Exhibit A

 

 

CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFERS OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES

 

 

This certificate relates to $_________ principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable space) ____ book-entry or _____ definitive form by the undersigned.

 

The undersigned (check one box below):

 

has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver in exchange for its beneficial interest in a Global Note held by the Depositary a Note or Notes in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above) in accordance with the Indenture; or

 

has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note or Notes.

 

In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

 

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

 

(1)to the Company or subsidiary thereof; or

 

(2)to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or

 

(3)pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); or

 

(4)to a Person that the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”)) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer and to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A; or

 

(5)pursuant to offers and sales to non-U.S. persons that occur outside the United States within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act (and if the transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Distribution Compliance Period, the Notes shall be held immediately thereafter through Euroclear or Clearstream); or

 

(6)to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements; or

 

(7)pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or

 

(8)pursuant to another available exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

 

A-8

 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (5), (6), (7) or (8) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company or the Trustee has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

   
  Your Signature
   
Date: ___________________________  
  Signature of Signature Guarantor
   

 

 

TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.

 

Dated: ___________________________  
  NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer
   
Name:  
  Title:    

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:  __________________________________

 

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

 

A-9

 

TO BE COMPLETED IF THE HOLDER REQUIRES AN EXCHANGE FROM A
REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE TO AN UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL NOTE,
PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2(d)(iii) OF APPENDIX A TO THE INDENTURE5

 

The undersigned represents and warrants that either:

 

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a non-U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act); or

 

the undersigned is not a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and is a U.S. person (within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act) who purchased interests in the Notes pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements under the Securities Act; or

 

the undersigned is a dealer (as defined in the Securities Act) and the interest of the undersigned in this Note does not constitute the whole or a part of an unsold allotment to or subscription by such dealer for the Notes.

 

 

Dated: ___________________________  
  Your Signature

 

 

 

5Include only for Regulation S Global Notes.

 

A-10

 

Exhibit B

 

 

FORM OF
TRANSFEREE LETTER OF REPRESENTATION

 

This certificate is delivered to request a transfer of $[    ] principal amount of the 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) of HNI Corporation (the “Company”).

 

Upon transfer, the Notes would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows:

 

Name:_____________________________

 

Address:___________________________

 

Taxpayer ID Number:__________________

 

The undersigned represents and warrants to you that:

 

1.   We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor” at least $250,000 principal amount of the Notes, and we are acquiring the Notes not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act.  We 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 invest in or purchase securities similar to the Notes in the normal course of our business.  We, and any accounts for which we are acting, are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.

 

2.   We understand that the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act and, unless so registered, may not be sold except as permitted in the following sentence.  We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Notes to offer, sell or otherwise transfer such Notes prior to the date that is one year after the later of the date of original issue and the last date on which the Company or any affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto) (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) only (a) to the Company, (b) pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act, (c) in a transaction complying with the requirements of Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), to a person we reasonably believe is a qualified institutional buyer under Rule 144A (a “QIB”) that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of a QIB and to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (d) pursuant to offers and sales that occur outside the United States of America within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (e) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act that is purchasing for its own account or for the account of such an institutional “accredited investor,” in each case in a minimum principal amount of Notes of $250,000, or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, subject in each of the foregoing cases to any requirement of law that the disposition of our property or the property of such investor account or accounts be at all times within our or their control and in compliance with any applicable state securities laws.  The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the Resale Restriction Termination Date.  If any resale or other transfer of the Notes is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (e) above prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Company and the Trustee, which shall provide, among other things, that the transferee is an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and that it is acquiring such Notes for investment purposes and not for distribution in violation of the Securities Act.  Each purchaser acknowledges that the Company and the Trustee reserve the right prior to the offer,

 

A-11

 

sale or other transfer prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date of the Notes pursuant to clause (c), (d), (e) or (f) above to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certifications or other information satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee.

 

  TRANSFEREE: ____________________________
   
by: _____________________________________

 

A-12

 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

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

 

[   ] Section 4.10

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$__________________(integral multiples of $1,000,
provided that the unpurchased
portion must be in a minimum
principal amount of $2,000)

 

 

Dated: ___________________________  
  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note)
  Tax Identification No.: ___________________________

 

Signature Guarantee*:  __________________________________

 

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

 

A-13

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

 

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $__________.  The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of Exchange 

Amount of decrease
in Principal Amount of
this Global Note 

Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Note 

Principal Amount of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or increase 

Signature of
authorized
signatory  of
Trustee, Depositary
or Custodian 

         
         
         
         
         
         
         

 

 

*This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.

 

A-14

 

EXHIBIT B

 

 

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
TO BE DELIVERED BY SUBSEQUENT GUARANTORS

 

Supplemental Indenture (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of [__________] [__], 202[__], among __________________ (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of HNI Corporation, an Iowa corporation (the “Company”), the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Trustee”), and as the notes collateral agent (in such capacity, the “Notes Collateral Agent”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, each of the Company and the Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to below) has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent an indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December 10, 2025, providing for the issuance of $[__] aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”);

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall unconditionally Guarantee all of the Company’s Obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein and under the Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture without the consent of Holders.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders as follows:

 

1.   Capitalized Terms.  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2.   Guarantor.  The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby agrees to be a Guarantor under the Indenture and to be bound by the terms of the Indenture applicable to Guarantors, including Article 10 thereof.

 

3.   Governing Law.  THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

4.   Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY, THE TRUSTEE AND THE NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES, THE NOTE GUARANTEES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

5.   Counterparts.  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, portable document format (“PDF”) or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, PDF or other electronic

 

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means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes and shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. This Supplemental Indenture shall be valid,  binding, and enforceable against a party when executed and delivered by an authorized individual on behalf of the party by means of (i) an original manual signature; (ii) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or (iii) any other electronic signature permitted by the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and/or  any other relevant electronic signatures law, including any relevant provisions of the UCC (collectively, “Signature Law”), in each case to the extent applicable. Each faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual  signature, or other electronic signature, shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Each party hereto shall be entitled to  conclusively rely upon, and shall have no liability with respect to, any faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature, or other electronic signature, of any other party and shall have no duty to investigate,  confirm or otherwise verify the validity or authenticity thereof. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute one and the same instrument. For the avoidance of doubt, original  manual signatures shall be used for execution or indorsement of writings when required under the UCC or other Signature Law due to the character or intended character of the writings.  The Company and the Guarantying Subsidiary each agree to assume all risks arising out of its use of digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent, including the risk of the Trustee or the Notes Collateral Agent acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.

 

6.   Headings.  The headings of the Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

7.   The Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent.  The Trustee and the Notes Collateral Agent shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture, the Note Guarantee of the Guaranteeing Subsidiary or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Company and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary. All of the provisions contained in the Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, and duties of the Trustee and Notes Collateral Agent shall be applicable in respect of this Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like force and effect as though fully set forth herein.

 

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

 

  HNI CORPORATION
   
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:    

 

 

  [NAME OF GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
   
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:    

 

 

  U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee and as Notes Collateral Agent
   
   
  By:  
    Name:  
    Title:    

 

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