UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): September 14, 2009 (September 9, 2009)
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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001-11331 |
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43-1698480 |
(State or other jurisdiction |
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(Commission |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) |
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File Number) |
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Identification No.) |
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7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, |
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66210 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: 913-661-1500
Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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333-06693 |
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43-1742520 |
(State or other jurisdiction |
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(Commission |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) |
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File Number) |
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Identification No.) |
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7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, |
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66210 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: 913-661-1500
Ferrellgas, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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000-50182 |
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43-1698481 |
(State or other jurisdiction |
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(Commission |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) |
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File Number) |
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Identification No.) |
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7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, |
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66210 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: 913-661-1500
Ferrellgas Finance Corp.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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000-50183 |
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14-1866671 |
(State or other jurisdiction |
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(Commission |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) |
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File Number) |
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Identification No.) |
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7500 College Blvd., Suite 1000, Overland Park, |
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66210 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: 913-661-1500
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
The information included in Item 2.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
Offering
On September 9, 2009, Ferrellgas, L.P. (Ferrellgas) and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (Ferrellgas Finance and together with Ferrellgas, collectively, the Issuers) agreed to offer for sale $300 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers 9.125% senior unsecured notes due 2017 (the 2017 Notes) in a private transaction that is not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to a purchase agreement among themselves and the initial purchasers named therein. The offering closed on September 14, 2009. The Issuers intend to use the net proceeds from the offering of the 2017 Notes to prepay their outstanding $82 million of 7.24% Senior Notes, Series D, due August 1, 2010 and its $70 million of 7.42% Senior Notes, Series E, due August 1, 2013 and to reduce outstanding indebtedness under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
Indenture
The 2017 Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated September 14, 2009 among the Issuers and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Indenture). The 2017 Notes will mature on October 1, 2017, and interest on the 2017 Notes is payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing on April 1, 2010. The 2017 Notes will be the Issuers general unsecured senior obligations. The 2017 Notes will be effectively junior to all of the Issuers future senior secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt, and will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and obligations of any of the Issuers subsidiaries.
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the issuance and sale of the 2017 Notes, the Issuers entered into a Registration Rights Agreement dated September 14, 2009 (the Registration Rights Agreement) with the initial purchasers named therein. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers will (1) use their reasonable best efforts to consummate an exchange offer within 300 days from September 14, 2009 by filing a registration statement; and (2) if required, have a shelf registration statement declared effective with the SEC with respect to resales of the 2017 Notes. If the Issuers fail to satisfy these obligations on a timely basis, the issuers will be required to pay additional interest to holders of the 2017 Notes.
The descriptions set forth above in Item 2.03 are qualified in their entirety by the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, which are filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On Monday, September 28, 2009, Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. will report earnings for its fiscal 2009 year ended July 31, 2009. Steve Wambold, Chief Operating Officer and President, will conduct a live teleconference on the Internet at http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=62055. The live webcast of the teleconference will begin at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On September 14, 2009, the Issuers issued a press release announcing the closing of the offering of the 2017 Notes. A copy of the press release is filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit Number Description
4.1 Indenture dated September 14, 2009, among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
4.2 Registration Rights Agreement dated September 14, 2009, among Ferrellgas, L.P., Ferrellgas Finance Corp. and the initial purchasers named therein.
99.1 Press Release of the Issuers dated September 14, 2009.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. |
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September 14, 2009 |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., the general partner |
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Ferrellgas Partners Finance Corp. |
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September 14, 2009 |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director |
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Ferrellgas, L.P. |
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September 14, 2009 |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of Ferrellgas, Inc., the general partner |
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Ferrellgas Finance Corp. |
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September 14, 2009 |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director |
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Exhibit 4.1
EXECUTION VERSION
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
9.125% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2017
INDENTURE
Dated as of September 14, 2009
U.S. Bank National Association
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*
Trust Indenture |
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Indenture Section |
310(a)(1) |
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7.10 |
(a)(2) |
7.10 |
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(a)(3) |
N.A. |
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(a)(4) |
N.A. |
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(a)(5) |
7.10 |
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(b) |
7.10 |
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(c) |
N.A. |
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311(a) |
7.11 |
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(b) |
7.11 |
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(c) |
N.A. |
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312(a) |
2.05 |
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(b) |
11.03 |
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(c) |
11.03 |
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313(a) |
7.06 |
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(b)(1) |
N.A. |
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(b)(2) |
7.06; 7.07 |
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(c) |
7.06; 11.02 |
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(d) |
7.06 |
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314(a) |
4.03;11.02; 11.05 |
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(b) |
N.A. |
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(c)(1) |
11.04 |
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(c)(2) |
11.04 |
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(c)(3) |
N.A. |
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(d) |
N.A. |
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(e) |
11.05 |
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(f) |
N.A. |
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315(a) |
7.01 |
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(b) |
7.05, 11.02 |
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(c) |
7.01 |
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(d) |
7.01 |
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(e) |
6.11 |
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316(a) (last sentence) |
2.09 |
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(a)(1)(A) |
6.05 |
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(a)(1)(B) |
6.04 |
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(a)(2) |
N.A. |
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(b) |
6.07 |
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(c) |
2.12 |
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317(a)(1) |
6.08 |
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(a)(2) |
6.09 |
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(b) |
2.04 |
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318(a) |
11.01 |
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(b) |
N.A. |
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(c) |
11.01 |
N.A. means not applicable.
* This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page |
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ARTICLE 1. |
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DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION |
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BY REFERENCE |
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Section 1.01 |
Definitions |
1 |
Section 1.02 |
Other Definitions |
26 |
Section 1.03 |
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act |
26 |
Section 1.04 |
Rules of Construction |
27 |
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ARTICLE 2. |
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THE NOTES |
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Section 2.01 |
Form and Dating |
27 |
Section 2.02 |
Execution and Authentication |
28 |
Section 2.03 |
Registrar and Paying Agent |
28 |
Section 2.04 |
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust |
29 |
Section 2.05 |
Holder Lists |
29 |
Section 2.06 |
Transfer and Exchange |
29 |
Section 2.07 |
Replacement Notes |
43 |
Section 2.08 |
Outstanding Notes |
43 |
Section 2.09 |
Treasury Notes |
44 |
Section 2.10 |
Temporary Notes |
44 |
Section 2.11 |
Cancellation |
44 |
Section 2.12 |
Defaulted Interest |
44 |
Section 2.13 |
CUSIP Numbers |
45 |
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ARTICLE 3. |
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REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT |
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Section 3.01 |
Notices to Trustee |
45 |
Section 3.02 |
Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased |
45 |
Section 3.03 |
Notice of Redemption |
46 |
Section 3.04 |
Effect of Notice of Redemption |
47 |
Section 3.05 |
Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price |
47 |
Section 3.06 |
Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part |
47 |
Section 3.07 |
Optional Redemption |
47 |
Section 3.08 |
Mandatory Redemption |
48 |
Section 3.09 |
Offer to Purchase by Application of Excess Proceeds |
48 |
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ARTICLE 4. |
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COVENANTS |
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Section 4.01 |
Payment of Notes |
50 |
Section 4.02 |
Maintenance of Office or Agency |
50 |
Section 4.03 |
Reports |
51 |
Section 4.04 |
Compliance Certificate |
51 |
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Section 4.05 |
Taxes |
52 |
Section 4.06 |
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws |
52 |
Section 4.07 |
Restricted Payments |
52 |
Section 4.08 |
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries |
54 |
Section 4.09 |
Incurrence of Indebtedness |
55 |
Section 4.10 |
Asset Sales |
57 |
Section 4.11 |
Transactions with Affiliates |
59 |
Section 4.12 |
Liens |
60 |
Section 4.13 |
Corporate Existence |
60 |
Section 4.14 |
Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control |
60 |
Section 4.15 |
Limitation on Finance Corp. |
62 |
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ARTICLE 5. |
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SUCCESSORS |
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Section 5.01 |
Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets |
62 |
Section 5.02 |
Successor Corporation Substituted |
63 |
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ARTICLE 6. |
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DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
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Section 6.01 |
Events of Default |
63 |
Section 6.02 |
Acceleration |
65 |
Section 6.03 |
Other Remedies |
65 |
Section 6.04 |
Waiver of Past Defaults |
66 |
Section 6.05 |
Control by Majority |
66 |
Section 6.06 |
Limitation on Suits |
66 |
Section 6.07 |
Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment |
67 |
Section 6.08 |
Collection Suit by Trustee |
67 |
Section 6.09 |
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
67 |
Section 6.10 |
Priorities |
67 |
Section 6.11 |
Undertaking for Costs |
68 |
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ARTICLE 7. |
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TRUSTEE |
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Section 7.01 |
Duties of Trustee |
68 |
Section 7.02 |
Rights of Trustee |
69 |
Section 7.03 |
Individual Rights of Trustee |
71 |
Section 7.04 |
Trustees Disclaimer |
71 |
Section 7.05 |
Notice of Defaults |
71 |
Section 7.06 |
Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes |
71 |
Section 7.07 |
Compensation and Indemnity |
71 |
Section 7.08 |
Replacement of Trustee |
72 |
Section 7.09 |
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. |
73 |
Section 7.10 |
Eligibility; Disqualification |
73 |
Section 7.11 |
Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuers |
74 |
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ARTICLE 8. |
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LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE |
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Section 8.01 |
Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance |
74 |
Section 8.02 |
Legal Defeasance and Discharge |
74 |
Section 8.03 |
Covenant Defeasance |
75 |
Section 8.04 |
Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance |
75 |
Section 8.05 |
Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions |
76 |
Section 8.06 |
Repayment to the Issuers |
77 |
Section 8.07 |
Reinstatement |
77 |
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ARTICLE 9. |
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AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER |
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Section 9.01 |
Without Consent of Holders of Notes |
77 |
Section 9.02 |
With Consent of Holders of Notes |
78 |
Section 9.03 |
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act |
79 |
Section 9.04 |
Revocation and Effect of Consents |
79 |
Section 9.05 |
Notation on or Exchange of Notes |
80 |
Section 9.06 |
Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. |
80 |
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ARTICLE 10. |
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SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE |
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Section 10.01 |
Satisfaction and Discharge |
80 |
Section 10.02 |
Application of Trust Money |
81 |
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ARTICLE 11. |
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MISCELLANEOUS |
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Section 11.01 |
Trust Indenture Act Controls |
82 |
Section 11.02 |
Notices |
82 |
Section 11.03 |
Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes |
83 |
Section 11.04 |
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent |
83 |
Section 11.05 |
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion |
83 |
Section 11.06 |
Rules by Trustee and Agents |
84 |
Section 11.07 |
Non-Recourse |
84 |
Section 11.08 |
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders |
84 |
Section 11.09 |
Governing Law |
84 |
Section 11.10 |
Successors |
84 |
Section 11.11 |
Severability |
85 |
Section 11.12 |
Counterpart Originals |
85 |
Section 11.13 |
Table of Contents, Headings, etc. |
85 |
Section 11.14 |
Force Majeure |
85 |
Section 11.15 |
U.S.A. Patriot Act |
85 |
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EXHIBITS |
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Exhibit A1 |
FORM OF NOTE |
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Exhibit A2 |
FORM OF REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE |
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Exhibit B |
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER |
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Exhibit C |
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE |
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Exhibit D |
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR |
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This INDENTURE dated as of September 14, 2009 among Ferrellgas, L.P., a Delaware limited liability partnership (the Company), Ferrellgas Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (Finance Corp., and together with the Company, the Issuers), and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee).
The Issuers and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders (as defined below) of the 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017 (the Notes):
144A Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold in reliance on Rule 144A.
Accounts Receivable Securitization means a financing arrangement involving the transfer or sale of accounts receivable of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business through one or more SPEs, the terms of which arrangement do not impose (a) any recourse or repurchase obligations upon the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries or any Affiliate of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than any such SPE) except to the extent of the breach of a representation or warranty by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection therewith or (b) any negative pledge or Lien on any accounts receivable not actually transferred to any such SPE in connection with such arrangement.
Additional Notes means additional notes (other than the Initial Notes and the Exchange Notes) issued from time to time under this Indenture in accordance with Sections 2.02 and 4.09 hereof, as part of the same series as the Initial Notes.
Affiliate of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, control, as used with respect to any Person, will mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting securities of a Person shall be deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with will have correlative meanings.
Agent means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.
1
Applicable Procedures means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of, or for beneficial interests in, any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.
Asset Acquisition means the following (in all cases, including assets acquired through a Flow-Through Acquisition):
Asset Sale means either of the following, whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions:
Notwithstanding the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset Sale:
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Available Cash as to any quarter means:
3
provided, however, that Available Cash attributable to any Restricted Subsidiary of the Partnership will be excluded to the extent dividends or distributions of Available Cash by the Restricted Subsidiary are not at the date of determination permitted by the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or other regulation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) disbursements (including, without limitation, contributions to a Subsidiary or disbursements on behalf of a Subsidiary) made or reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of any quarter but on or before the date on which any Restricted Payment requiring a determination of Available Cash for such quarter is made shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, with respect to such quarter if the General Partner so determines, and (y) Available Cash shall not include any cash receipts or reductions in reserves or take into account any disbursements made or reserves established in each case after the date of liquidation of the Partnership. Taxes paid by the Partnership on behalf of, or amounts withheld with respect to, all or less than all of the partners shall not be considered cash disbursements of the Partnership that reduce Available Cash, but the payment or withholding thereof shall be deemed to be a distribution of Available Cash to the partners. Alternatively, in the discretion of the General Partner, such taxes (if pertaining to all partners) may be considered to be cash disbursements of the Partnership which reduce Available Cash, but the payment or withholding thereof shall not be deemed to be a distribution of Available Cash to such partners.
Bankruptcy Law means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
Beneficial Owner has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular Person (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such Person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such Person has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms Beneficially Owns and Beneficially Owned have a corresponding meaning.
Board of Directors means:
4
Borrowing Base means, as of any date, an amount equal to:
in each case, calculated on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
Business Day means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
Capital Stock means of any Person any capital stock, partnership interest, membership interest, or equity interest of any kind.
Change of Control means
Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, the sum of, without duplication, the amounts for the period, taken as single accounting, of:
5
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, the ratio of (y) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges of the Person for the four full fiscal quarters immediately preceding the date of the transaction (the Transaction Date) giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (the Four Quarter Period), to (z) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Fixed Charges of the Person for the Four Quarter Period. In addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, for purposes of this definition, Consolidated Cash Flow Available for Fixed Charges and Consolidated Fixed Charges shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis for the period of the calculation to, without duplication:
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Furthermore, subject to the following paragraph, in calculating Consolidated Fixed Charges for purposes of determining the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
Consolidated Fixed Charges means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of, without duplication:
Consolidated Income Tax Expense means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Consolidated Interest Expense means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, for any period, without duplication, the sum of:
7
Consolidated Net Income means the net income of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and as adjusted to exclude:
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means as of any date of determination, the Total Assets of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries as would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP as of that date less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet, after deducting the following amounts: (a) all current liabilities reflected in such balance sheet, and (b) all goodwill, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discounts and expenses and other like intangibles reflected in such balance sheet.
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Consolidated Non-Cash Charges means, with respect to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for any period, the aggregate (1) depreciation, (2) amortization, (3) non-cash employee compensation expenses of the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, and (4) any non-cash charges resulting from writedowns of non-current assets, in each case which reduces the Consolidated Net Income of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries for the period, as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 11.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Issuers.
Credit Agreement means that Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 22, 2005, among the Partnership, the General Partner, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, and the other financial institutions party thereto as heretofore amended (as amended, the Existing Credit Agreement), as the Existing Credit Agreement may be amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.
Credit Facilities means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the facilities evidenced by the Credit Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, or indentures, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
Custodian means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Notes in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
Default means any event that is, or after notice or with the passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Definitive Note means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto.
Depositary means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
Designation Amount means, with respect to the designation of a Restricted Subsidiary or a newly acquired or formed Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, an amount equal to the sum of:
9
Equity Offering means a public offering or private placement of partnership interests (other than interests that are mandatorily redeemable) of:
A private placement of partnership interests will not be deemed an Equity Offering unless net proceeds of at least $20 million are received.
Euroclear means Euroclear Bank, S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Notes means the Notes issued in the Exchange Offer, if any, pursuant to Section 2.06(f) hereof.
Exchange Offer has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
Ferrellgas Partners means Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.
Flow-Through Acquisition means an acquisition by the General Partner or its parent from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the General Partner, its parent or the Partnership, of property (real or personal), assets or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of the Person owning such assets) in a permitted line of business, which is promptly sold, transferred or contributed by the General Partner or its parent to the Partnership or one of its Subsidiaries.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, in each case, which are in effect on the date of this Indenture.
General Partner means Ferrellgas, Inc.
Global Notes means, individually and collectively, each of the Restricted Global Notes and the Unrestricted Global Notes deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of
10
the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto and that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, issued in accordance with Section 2.01, 2.06(b)(3), 2.06(b)(4), 2.06(d)(2) or 2.06(g)(2) hereof.
Global Note Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(2), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this Indenture.
Government Securities means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.
Growth Related Capital Expenditures means, with respect to any Person, all capital expenditures by such Person made to improve or enhance the existing capital assets or to increase the customer base of such Person or to acquire or construct new capital assets (but excluding capital expenditures made to maintain, up to the level thereof that existed at the time of such expenditure, the operating capacity of the capital assets of such Person as such assets existed at the time of such expenditure).
Holder means a Person in whose name a Note is registered.
IAI Global Note means a Global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee that will be issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes sold to Institutional Accredited Investors.
Indebtedness means, as applied to any Person, without duplication:
11
For purposes hereof, the maximum fixed repurchase price of any Redeemable Capital Stock which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be calculated in accordance with the terms of the Redeemable Capital Stock as if it were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined pursuant to this Indenture and if the price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of the Redeemable Capital Stock, the fair market value shall be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the issuer of the Redeemable Capital Stock. For purposes hereof, the term Indebtedness shall not include (x) accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest or any other similar incurrence by the Partnership or its Restricted Subsidiaries related to Indebtedness otherwise permitted in this Indenture, (y) Indebtedness under any hedging arrangement which provides for the right or obligation to purchase, sell or deliver any currency, commodity or security at a future date for a specified price entered into to protect such Person from fluctuations in prices or rates, including currencies, interest rates, commodity prices, and securities prices, including without limitation indebtedness under any interest rate or commodity price swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement or any forward sales arrangements, calls, options, swaps, or other similar transactions or any combination thereof, including, or (z) any Accounts Receivable Securitization.
Indenture means this Indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
Indirect Participant means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.
Initial Notes means the first $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes issued under this Indenture on the date hereof.
Initial Purchasers means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC and SG Americas Securities, LLC.
Interim Capital Transactions means (1) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of Indebtedness and sales of debt securities (other than for working capital purposes and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary course of business) by the Partnership, (2) sales of Capital Stock of the Partnership by the Partnership and (3) sales or other voluntary or
12
involuntary dispositions of any assets of the Partnership (other than (x) sales or other dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (y) sales or other dispositions of other current assets including, without limitation, receivables and accounts and (z) sales or other dispositions of assets as a part of normal retirements or replacements), in each case prior to the commencement of the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership.
Investment means as applied to any Person:
The amount classified as Investments made during any period will be the aggregate cost to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries of all the Investments made during the period, determined in accordance with GAAP, but without regard to unrealized increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs, of the Investments and without regard to the existence of any undistributed earnings or accrued interest with respect thereto accrued after the respective dates on which the Investments were made, less any net return of capital realized during the period upon the sale, repayment or other liquidation of the Investments, determined in accordance with GAAP, but without regard to any amounts received during the period as earnings (in the form of dividends not constituting a return of capital, interest or otherwise) on the Investments or as loans from any Person in whom the Investments have been made.
Legal Holiday means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain closed. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation, assignment for security or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. A Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset which such Person has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement.
Net Amount of Unrestricted Investment means, without duplication, the sum of:
13
Net Proceeds means, with respect to any asset sale or sale of Capital Stock, the proceeds therefrom in the form of cash or cash equivalents including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of cash or cash equivalents, except to the extent that the deferred payment obligations are financed or sold with recourse to the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, net of:
Notes has the meaning assigned to it in the preamble to this Indenture. The Initial Notes, the Additional Notes and the Exchange Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, and unless the context otherwise requires, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes, any Additional Notes and the Exchange Notes.
Officer means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
Officers Certificate means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuers by two Officers of the Issuers, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer
14
or the principal accounting officer of the Issuers, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof.
Opinion of Counsel means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 11.05 hereof. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuers, any Subsidiary of the Issuers or the Trustee.
Participant means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.
Partnership means Ferrellgas, L.P., without its consolidated subsidiaries.
Permitted Investments means any of the following:
15
16
Permitted Liens means any of the following:
17
18
(i) to finance the making of expenditures for the improvement or repair (to the extent the improvements and repairs may be capitalized on the books of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP) of, or additions including additions by way of acquisitions of businesses and related assets to, the assets and property of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(ii) by assumption in connection with additions including additions by way of acquisition or capital contributions of businesses and related assets to the property and assets of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
provided, that, in the case of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with clauses (i) and (ii) above, the principal amount of the Indebtedness does not exceed the lesser of the cost to the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the additional property or assets and the fair market value of the additional property or assets at the time of the acquisition thereof, as determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner;
19
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means Indebtedness incurred by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary to substantially and concurrently (excluding any notice period on redemptions) repay, refund, renew, replace, extend or refinance, in whole or in part, any Permitted Indebtedness of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary or any other Indebtedness incurred by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 4.09, to the extent:
20
provided, however, that Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include Indebtedness incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary to repay, refund, renew, replace, extend or refinance Indebtedness of the Partnership.
Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.
Preferred Stock, as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated), which is preferred as to the payment of distributions, dividends, or upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over shares or units of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person; provided, that any limited partnership interest of the Partnership will not be considered Preferred Stock.
Principal means James E. Ferrell.
Private Placement Legend means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(g)(1) hereof to be placed on all Notes issued under this Indenture except where otherwise permitted by the provisions of this Indenture.
QIB means a qualified institutional buyer as defined in Rule 144A.
Redeemable Capital Stock means any shares of any class or series of Capital Stock, that, either by the terms thereof, by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or by contract or otherwise, is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed prior to the stated maturity of the principal of the Notes or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to the stated maturity of the principal of the Notes, or is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to the stated maturity of the principal of the Notes.
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 14, 2009, among the Ferrellgas, L.P., Finance Corp. and the Initial Purchasers, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
Regulation S means Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act.
Regulation S Global Note means a Regulation S Temporary Global Note or Regulation S Permanent Global Note, as appropriate.
Regulation S Permanent Global Note means a permanent Global Note in the form of Exhibit A1 hereto bearing the Global Note Legend and the Private Placement Legend and deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Regulation S Temporary Global Note upon expiration of the Restricted Period.
Regulation S Temporary Global Note means a temporary Global Note in the form of Exhibit A2 hereto deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, issued in a denomination equal to the outstanding principal amount of the Notes initially sold in reliance on Rule 903 of Regulation S.
21
Related Party means any of the following:
Responsible Officer, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
Restricted Period means the 40-day distribution compliance period as defined in Regulation S.
Restricted Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of the Partnership, which, as of the date of determination, is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Partnership.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.
Rule 144A means Rule 144A promulgated under the Securities Act.
Rule 903 means Rule 903 promulgated under the Securities Act.
Rule 904 means Rule 904 promulgated under the Securities Act.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Shelf Registration Statement means the Shelf Registration Statement as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement.
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Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that would be a significant subsidiary as defined in Article 1, Rule 102 of Regulation SX, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the date of this Indenture.
SPE means any special purpose Unrestricted Subsidiary established in connection with any Accounts Receivable Securitization.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any specified Person:
Termination Capital Transactions means any sale, transfer or other disposition of property of the Partnership occurring upon or incident to the liquidation and winding up of the Partnership.
TIA means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date on which this Indenture is qualified under the TIA, except as provided in Section 9.03 hereof.
Total Assets means, as of any date of determination, the consolidated total assets of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries as would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and the Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP as of that date.
Trustee means the party named as such in the preamble to this Indenture until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
Unrestricted Global Note means a permanent global Note substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto that bears the Global Note Legend and that has the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached thereto, and that is deposited with or on behalf of and registered in the name of the Depositary.
Unrestricted Definitive Note means one or more Definitive Notes.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means (a) Ferrellgas Receivables, LLC, (b) Uni-Asia, Ltd., (c) Ferrellgas Real Estate, Inc., (d) Blue Rhino Canada, Inc., and (e) any other Person (other than Finance Corp.) that is designated as such by the General Partner; provided, that no portion of the Indebtedness of such Person:
23
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary may guarantee or agree to provide funds for the payment or maintenance of, or otherwise become liable with respect to Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only to the extent that the Partnership or a Restricted Subsidiary would be permitted to:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary may be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary if the Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, holds Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary.
U.S. Person means a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902(k) under the Securities Act.
Voting Stock of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Stated Maturity means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
provided, however, that with respect to any revolving Indebtedness, the foregoing calculation of Weighted Average Life to Stated Maturity shall be determined based upon the total available
24
commitments and the required reductions of commitments in lieu of the outstanding principal amount and the required payments of principal, respectively.
25
|
|
Defined in |
Term |
|
Section |
Affiliate Transaction |
|
4.11 |
Asset Sale Offer |
|
3.09 |
Authentication Order |
|
2.02 |
Change of Control Offer |
|
4.14 |
Change of Control Payment |
|
4.14 |
Change of Control Payment Date |
|
4.14 |
Covenant Defeasance |
|
8.03 |
DTC |
|
2.03 |
Event of Default |
|
6.01 |
Excess Proceeds |
|
4.10 |
Existing Credit Agreement |
|
1.01 |
incur |
|
4.09 |
Issuers |
|
Preamble |
Legal Defeasance |
|
8.02 |
Offer Amount |
|
3.09 |
Offer Period |
|
3.09 |
Paying Agent |
|
2.03 |
Permitted Indebtedness |
|
4.09 |
Purchase Date |
|
3.09 |
Registrar |
|
2.03 |
Restricted Payments |
|
4.07 |
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
indenture securities means the Notes;
indenture security Holder means a Holder of a Note;
indenture to be qualified means this Indenture;
indenture trustee or institutional trustee means the Trustee; and
obligor on the Notes means the Issuers and any successor obligor upon the Notes.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
26
Unless the context otherwise requires:
The terms and provisions contained in the Notes will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and the Issuers and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of this Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture shall govern and be controlling.
27
An Officer must sign the Notes for the Issuers by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note will nevertheless be valid.
A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the manual or facsimile signature of the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
On the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall, upon a written order of the Issuers signed by an Officer (an Authentication Order), authenticate the Initial Notes for original issue up to $300,000,000 in aggregate principal amount and, upon delivery of any Authentication Order at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate Additional Notes for original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuers to authenticate Notes. An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuers.
The Issuers will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (Registrar) and an office or agency where Notes may be presented for payment (Paying Agent). The Registrar will keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange. The Issuers 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 Issuers may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Issuers will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Issuers fail to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Issuers initially appoint The Depository Trust Company (DTC) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.
The Issuers initially appoint the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.
28
The Issuers will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuers 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 Issuers at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Partnership or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuers, the Trustee will serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.
The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuers will furnish to the Trustee at least seven Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Issuers shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).
29
Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a), however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b), (c) or (f) hereof.
(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or
(B) both:
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(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above;
provided that in no event shall Definitive Notes be issued upon the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note prior to (A) the expiration of the Restricted Period and (B) the receipt by the Registrar of any certificates required pursuant to Rule 903 under the Securities Act.
Upon consummation of an Exchange Offer, if any, by the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.06(f) hereof, the requirements of this Section 2.06(b)(2) shall be deemed to have been satisfied upon receipt by the Registrar of the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal delivered by the Holder of such beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.
31
(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(a) thereof; or
(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (D) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
32
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuers shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of
33
such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.06(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(b) thereof; or
(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
34
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
35
the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of clause (A) above, the appropriate Restricted Global Note, in the case of clause (B) above, the 144A Global Note, in the case of clause (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note, and in all other cases, the IAI Global Note.
36
(i) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(c) thereof; or
(ii) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.06(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to subparagraphs (2)(B), (2)(D) or (3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuers will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
37
(i) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit C hereto, including the certifications in item (1)(d) thereof; or
(ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in
38
the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (D), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Restricted Global Notes to be reduced accordingly, and the Issuers will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Unrestricted Definitive Notes in the appropriate principal amount.
39
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE, NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, 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 THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE), EXCEPT THAT THE NOTES MAY BE TRANSFERRED (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ENDORSED THEREON 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 AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THE NOTES AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUERS THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (1) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (F) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (2) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF A HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
40
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (DTC), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.
41
THIS NOTE WAS ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT UNDER SECTION 1272, 1273 AND 1275 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. YOU MAY CONTACT THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF FERRELLGAS, L.P., 7500 COLLEGE BOULEVARD, SUITE 1000, OVERLAND PARK, KS 66210, WHO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE ISSUE PRICE, THE AMOUNT OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, THE ISSUE DATE, AND THE YIELD TO MATURITY OF THE NOTE.
42
All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Issuers and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuers will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustees requirements are met. An indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuers to protect the Issuers, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuers may charge for their expenses in replacing a Note.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuers and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.
The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuers or an Affiliate of the Issuers holds the Note; however, Notes held by the Issuers or a Subsidiary of the Issuers shall not be deemed to be outstanding for purposes of Section 2.08 hereof.
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If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuers, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuers, or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuers, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned will be so disregarded.
Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuers may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes will be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuers consider appropriate for temporary Notes and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuers will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.
Holders of temporary Notes will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
The Issuers at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will dispose of such canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). The Issuers may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that they have paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
If the Issuers default in a payment of interest on the Notes, they will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Issuers will notify the Trustee in writing
44
of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment. The Issuers will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date, provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuers (or, upon the written request of the Issuers, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers) will mail or cause to be mailed to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.
The Issuers in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuers will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
If the Issuers elect to redeem Notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of Section 3.07 hereof, they must furnish to the Trustee, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers Certificate setting forth:
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Notes for redemption or purchase as follows:
45
In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.
The Trustee will promptly notify the Issuers in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Notes and portions of Notes selected will be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.
Subject to the provisions of Section 3.09 hereof, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Issuers will mail or cause to be mailed, by first class mail, a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Notes or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 10 of this Indenture.
The notice will identify the Notes to be redeemed (including CUSIP number(s)) and will state:
46
At the Issuers request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Issuers name and at their expense; provided, however, that the Issuers have delivered to the Trustee, at least 45 days prior to the redemption date, an Officers Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
Once notice of redemption is mailed in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional.
One Business Day prior to or prior to 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the redemption or purchase price date, the Issuers will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Issuers any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Issuers in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.
If the Issuers comply with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or the portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase. If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Note called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuers to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuers will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuers a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered.
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Year |
|
Percentage |
|
2013 |
|
104.563 |
% |
2014 |
|
102.281 |
% |
2015 and thereafter |
|
100.000 |
% |
The Issuers are not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes. The Issuers may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.
In the event that, pursuant to Section 4.10 hereof, the Issuers are required to commence an offer to all Holders to purchase Notes (an Asset Sale Offer), they will follow the procedures specified below.
The Asset Sale Offer shall be made to all Holders and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales and assets. The Asset Sale Offer will remain open for a period of at least 20 Business Days following its commencement and not more than 30 Business Days, except to the extent that a longer period is required by applicable law (the Offer Period). No later than three Business Days after the termination of the Offer Period (the Purchase Date), the Issuers will apply all Excess Proceeds (the Offer Amount) to the purchase of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness (on a pro rata basis, if applicable) or, if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes and other Indebtedness tendered in response to the Asset Sale Offer. Payment for any Notes so purchased will be made in the same manner as interest payments are made.
If the Purchase Date is on or after an interest record date and on or before the related interest payment date, any accrued and unpaid interest will be paid to the Person in whose name a Note is registered at the close of business on such record date, and no additional interest will be payable to Holders who tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer.
Upon the commencement of an Asset Sale Offer, the Issuers will send, by first class mail, a notice to the Trustee and each of the Holders, with a copy to the Trustee. The notice will contain all instructions and materials necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer. The notice, which will govern the terms of the Asset Sale Offer, will state:
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On or before the Purchase Date, the Issuers will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment, on a pro rata basis to the extent necessary, the Offer Amount of Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Asset Sale Offer, or if less than the Offer Amount has been tendered, all Notes tendered, and will deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that such Notes or portions thereof were accepted for payment by the Issuers in accordance with the terms of this Section 3.09. The Issuers, the Depositary or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, will promptly (but in any case not later than five days after the Purchase Date) mail or deliver to each tendering Holder an amount equal to the purchase price of the Notes tendered by such Holder and accepted by the Issuers for purchase, and the Issuers will promptly issue a new Note, and the Trustee,
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upon written request from the Issuers will authenticate and mail or deliver such new Note to such Holder, in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. Any Note not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Issuers to the Holder thereof. The Issuers will publicly announce the results of the Asset Sale Offer on the Purchase Date.
Other than as specifically provided in this Section 3.09, any purchase pursuant to this Section 3.09 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 hereof.
The Issuers will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuers or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Issuers in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
The Issuers will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to 1% per annum in excess of the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; they will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
The Issuers will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuers in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Issuers fail to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Issuers may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Issuers of their obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York for such purposes. The Issuers will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Issuers hereby designate the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuers in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.
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In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, the Issuers will file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above with the SEC for public availability within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and regulations (unless the SEC will not accept such a filing) and make such information available to investors who request it in writing. The Issuers will promptly furnish to Holders of Notes notices of (a) any Payment Default under any instrument evidencing Indebtedness for borrowed money, and (b) any acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity. The Issuers will at all times comply with TIA § 314(a).
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The Issuers will pay, and will cause each of their Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.
The Issuers covenant (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) that they will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuers (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
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unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
53
In computing the amount of Restricted Payments in Section 4.07(a) above, the Restricted Payments permitted by clause (1) of this paragraph (b) will be included and the Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2) and (3) of this paragraph (b) will not be included.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets proposed to be transferred by the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any assets that are required to be valued by this Section 4.07 will be determined in good faith by an authorized financial officer of the General Partner on the date of the Restricted Payment of the assets proposed to be transferred.
All such restrictions and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (5) above being collectively referred to as Payment Restrictions.
54
55
56
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.09, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (13) above or is entitled to be incurred in compliance with the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio pursuant to Section 4.09(a) above, the Partnership, may, in its sole discretion, classify (or later reclassify) in whole or in part such items of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this Section 4.09, and such item of Indebtedness or a portion thereof may be classified (or later reclassified) in whole or in part as having been incurred under more than one of the applicable clauses of Permitted Indebtedness or in compliance with the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio set forth in Section 4.09(a) above.
The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, complete an Asset Sale unless:
57
For purposes of determining the amount of cash received in an Asset Sale, each of the following shall be deemed to be cash:
Furthermore, the 75% limitation will not apply to any Asset Sale in which the cash portion of the consideration received is equal to or greater than the after-tax proceeds would have been had the Asset Sale complied with the 75% limitation.
If the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries receives Net Proceeds exceeding $20 million from one or more Asset Sales in any fiscal year, then within 365 days after the date the aggregate amount of Net Proceeds exceeds $20 million, the Partnership must apply the amount of such Net Proceeds either:
Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary may temporarily reduce borrowings under the Credit Facilities or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by this Indenture.
Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided above will be considered Excess Proceeds. When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $20 million, within 15 days thereof, the Issuers will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of Notes and all holders of other Indebtedness outstanding that is pari passu with the Notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in this Indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets in accordance with Section 3.09 hereof to purchase for cash the maximum principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered in response to the Issuers purchase offer is less than the Excess
58
Proceeds, the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary may use such deficiency for general business purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on pro rata basis in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of Notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
The Issuers will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.10 of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under those provisions of this Indenture by virtue of such conflict.
59
The Partnership will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur any Liens or other encumbrance, unless the Lien is a Permitted Lien or the Notes are directly secured equally and ratably with the obligation or liability secured by such Lien.
Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Partnership shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect:
60
The Issuers 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 in Control. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of Sections 3.09 or 4.14 of this Indenture, the Issuers will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached their obligations under Section 3.09 or this Section 4.14 by virtue of such conflict.
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The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each Holder of Notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $2,000 in excess thereof. The Issuers will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
In addition to the restrictions set forth under Section 4.09 hereof, Finance Corp. will not incur any Indebtedness unless:
Finance Corp. will not engage in any business not related, directly or indirectly, to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Partnership.
The Partnership shall not consolidate or merge with or into, 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 another entity unless:
62
This Section 5.01 will not apply to a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of assets between or among the Partnership and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. Finance Corp. will not consolidate or merge with or into, whether or not it is the surviving entity, 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, another entity except under conditions similar to those described in the paragraph above.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or Finance Corp. in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable), and may exercise every right and power of the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, herein; provided, however, that Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Notes except in the case of a sale of all of assets of the Partnership or Finance Corp., as applicable, in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.01 hereof.
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
63
64
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.
In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01 hereof, with respect to the Partnership, Finance Corp. or any Significant Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the applicable series of Notes then outstanding may declare all the Notes of that series to be due and payable immediately.
Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of a series of Notes issued under this Indenture and then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of all of the Holders of that series rescind an acceleration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default (except nonpayment of principal, interest or premium that has become due solely because of the acceleration) have been cured or waived.
If an Event of Default by reason of any action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Issuers with the willful intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Issuers would have had to pay if the Issuers then had elected to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, then, upon acceleration of the Notes, an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable, to the extent permitted by law, anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
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Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of a series of Notes issued under this Indenture and then outstanding by notice to the Trustee for those Notes may on behalf of the Holders of the Notes of that series waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Notes; provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate 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.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee of that series of Notes or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes or that may subject the Trustee to personal liability.
A Holder of a Note may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Notes only if:
A Holder of a Note may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuers for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuers (or any other obligor upon the Notes), their creditors or their property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
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First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Issuers or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.10.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.
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(i) In no event shall the Trustee 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 has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(j) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(k) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.
(l) The Trustee may request that the Issuers deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
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The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuers or any Affiliate of the Issuers with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.
The Trustee will not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuers use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuers or upon the Issuers direction under any provision of this Indenture, it will not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if the Trustee determines in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.
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If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.
There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
This Indenture will always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).
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The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
The Issuers may, at the option of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, on the Issuers behalf, and the Board of Directors of Finance Corp., and at any time, elect to have Section 8.02 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8. The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have Section 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Notes upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuers will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, Legal Defeasance). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuers will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Notes, which will thereafter be deemed to be outstanding only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Notes and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuers, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
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Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuers may exercise their option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuers will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from each of their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.07, 4.08, 4.09, 4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.14 and 4.15 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, Covenant Defeasance), and the Notes will thereafter be deemed not outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Notes, the Issuers may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Notes will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Issuers exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03 hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Section 6.01(3) hereof will not constitute an Event of Default.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof:
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Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the Trustee) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuers or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Issuers will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.
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Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Issuers from time to time upon the written request of the Issuers any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuers, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuers on their request or (if then held by the Issuers) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Issuers for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuers as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, shall at the expense of the Issuers cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuers.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuers obligations under this Indenture and the Notes will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Issuers make any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuers will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Issuers and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Notes without the consent of any Holder of a Note to:
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Upon the request of the Partnership accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuers in the execution of any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuers and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture (including, without limitation, Sections 3.09, 4.10 and 4.14 hereof) and the Notes with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) may be waived for all Holders of Notes of a series and its consequences under this Indenture with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that series of Notes (including Additional Notes, if any) issued under this Indenture and then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Notes), by notice to the Trustee. Section 2.08 hereof shall determine which Notes are considered to be outstanding for purposes of this Section 9.02.
Upon the request of the Partnership accompanied by a resolution of its Board of Directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental Indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 9.06 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Issuers in the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture unless such amended or supplemental Indenture directly affects the Trustees own rights, duties
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or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
It is not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it is sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuers will mail to the Holders of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. Any failure of the Issuers to mail such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental Indenture or waiver. Subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for Notes) may waive any existing default or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes. However, without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Notes will be set forth in an amended or supplemental Indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
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 Holders Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder of a Note or
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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.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated. The Issuers in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental Indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Partnership may not sign an amendment or supplemental Indenture until the Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture, the Trustee shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued hereunder, when:
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In addition, the Issuers must deliver an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 8.06 will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 10.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.01 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 Issuers acting as their own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 10.01 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 Issuers obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 10.01; provided that if the Issuers has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of their obligations, the Issuers 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.
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If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties will control.
Any notice or communication by the Issuers or the Trustee to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or mailed by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others address:
If to the Issuers:
Ferrellgas, L.P.
7500 College Boulevard
Suite 1000
Overland Park, KS 66210
Telecopier No.: (913) 661-1537
Attention: Ryan VanWinkle
With a copy to:
Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Telecopier No.: (212) 938-3819
Attention: Robin J. Miles, Esq.
If to the Trustee:
U.S. Bank National Association
100 Wall Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10005
Telecopier No.: (212) 809-5459
Attention: Corporate Trust Services
The Issuers or the Trustee, by notice to the others may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when received, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
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Any notice or communication to a Holder will be mailed by first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication will also be so mailed to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Issuers mails a notice or communication to Holders, they will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuers, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Upon any request or application by the Issuers to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Issuers shall furnish to the Trustee:
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must include:
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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.
The obligations of the Issuers under this Indenture are non-recourse to Ferrellgas Partners and its Affiliates, other than the Issuers and the General Partner, and are payable only out of the Issuers cash flow and assets and the cash flow and assets of the General Partner. The Trustee agrees, and each Holder of a Note, by accepting a Note, agrees in this Indenture that Ferrellgas Partners and its other Affiliates will not be liable for any of the Issuers obligations under this Indenture or the Notes.
No limited partner of the Partnership or director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the General Partner, Finance Corp., as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers under the Notes or this Indenture or any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such waiver is against public policy.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
All agreements of the Issuers in this Indenture and the Notes will bind their successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors.
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In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions will not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
[Signatures on following page]
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SIGNATURES
Dated as of September 14, 2009
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Very truly yours, |
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FERRELLGAS, L.P. |
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By: Ferrellgas, Inc., its General Partner |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, |
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as Trustee |
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By: |
/s/ Thomas E. Tabor |
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Name: Thomas E. Tabor |
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Title: Vice President |
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EXHIBIT A1
[Face of Note]
CUSIP
9.125% Senior Notes due 2017
No. |
$ |
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns,
the principal sum of
Dollars on October 1, 2017.
Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1
Record Dates: March 15 and September 15
Dated: |
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FERRELLGAS, L.P. |
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By: Ferrellgas, Inc., its General Partner |
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By: |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture: |
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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
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as Trustee |
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
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A1-1
[Back of Note]
9.125% Senior Notes due 2017
[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
[Insert Private Placement Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
A1-2
Year |
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Percentage |
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2013 |
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104.563 |
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2014 |
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102.281 |
% |
2015 and thereafter |
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100.000 |
% |
The Issuers will not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
A1-3
A1-4
A1-5
A1-6
The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
Ferrellgas, L.P.
7500 College Boulevard
Suite 1000
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
Attention: Investor Relations
(913) 661-1537
A1-7
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: |
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(Insert assignees legal name)
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(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) |
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(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint
to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date: |
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Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*: |
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* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A1-8
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
o Section 4.10 |
o Section 4.14 |
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$
Date: |
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Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
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Tax Identification No.: |
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Signature Guarantee*: |
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* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A1-9
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*
The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global Note or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange |
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Amount
of decrease in |
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of increase in |
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Principal
Amount |
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Signature
of authorized |
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* This schedule should be included only if the Note is issued in global form.
A1-10
EXHIBIT A2
[Face of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
CUSIP
9.125% Senior Notes due 2017
No. |
$ |
FERRELLGAS, L.P.
FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP.
promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns,
the principal sum of
Dollars on October 1, 2017.
Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1
Record Dates: March 15 and September 15
Dated: |
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FERRELLGAS, L.P. |
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By: Ferrellgas, Inc., its General Partner |
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By: |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. |
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By: |
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Name: J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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This is one of the Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture: |
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U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
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as Trustee |
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
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A2-1
[Back of Regulation S Temporary Global Note]
9.125% Senior Notes due 2017
THE RIGHTS ATTACHING TO THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE, AND THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING ITS EXCHANGE FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES, ARE AS SPECIFIED IN THE INDENTURE (AS DEFINED HEREIN). NEITHER THE HOLDER NOR THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THIS REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE PAYMENT OF INTEREST HEREON.
THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06 OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUERS.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (DTC), TO THE ISSUERS OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
THIS NOTE HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS NOTE, NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, 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 THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS NOTE, BY ITS
A2-2
ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES NOT TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS ONE YEAR AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS NOTE (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS NOTE) (THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE), EXCEPT THAT THE NOTES MAY BE TRANSFERRED (A) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE NOTES ENDORSED THEREON 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 AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR (AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF REGULATION D UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISHES THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE TRANSFER OF THE NOTES AND, IF SUCH TRANSFER IS IN RESPECT OF AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOTES LESS THAN $250,000, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE ISSUERS THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANYS AND THE TRUSTEES RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (1) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) PRIOR TO THE END OF THE 40-DAY DISTRIBUTION COMPLIANCE PERIOD WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (F) PRIOR TO THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (2) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THIS NOTE IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE. THIS LEGEND WILL BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF A HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE.
Capitalized terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.
A2-3
Until this Regulation S Temporary Global Note is exchanged for one or more Regulation S Permanent Global Notes, the Holder hereof shall not be entitled to receive payments of interest hereon; until so exchanged in full, this Regulation S Temporary Global Note shall in all other respects be entitled to the same benefits as other Notes under the Indenture.
A2-4
Year |
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Percentage |
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2013 |
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104.563 |
% |
2014 |
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102.281 |
% |
2015 and thereafter |
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100.000 |
% |
The Issuers will not be required to make mandatory redemption payments with respect to the Notes.
A2-5
A2-6
A2-7
The Issuers will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
Ferrellgas, L.P.
7500 College Boulevard
A2-8
Suite 1000
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
Attention: Investor Relations
(913) 661-1537
A2-9
ASSIGNMENT FORM
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
(I) or (we) assign and transfer this Note to: |
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(Insert assignees legal name)
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(Insert assignees soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.) |
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(Print or type assignees name, address and zip code)
and irrevocably appoint
to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuers. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date: |
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Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee*: |
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* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A2-10
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or 4.14 of the Indenture, check the appropriate box below:
o Section 4.10 |
o Section 4.14 |
If you want to elect to have only part of the Note purchased by the Issuers pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 4.14 of the Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:
$
Date: |
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Your Signature: |
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(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this Note) |
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Tax Identification No.: |
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Signature Guarantee*: |
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* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).
A2-11
SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE REGULATION S TEMPORARY GLOBAL NOTE
The following exchanges of a part of this Regulation S Temporary Global Note for an interest in another Global Note, or exchanges of a part of another other Restricted Global Note for an interest in this Regulation S Temporary Global Note, have been made:
Date of Exchange |
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Amount
of decrease in |
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Amount
of increase in |
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Principal
Amount |
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Signature
of authorized |
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A2-12
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
Ferrellgas, L.P.
7500 College Boulevard
Suite 1000
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
Attention: Investor Relations
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
100 Wall Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10005
Re: 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2009 (the Indenture), among Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (together, the Issuers), as Issuers, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
, (the Transferor) owns and proposes to transfer the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $ in such Note[s] or interests (the Transfer), to (the Transferee), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. o Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the beneficial interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the beneficial interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the 144A Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
2. o Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Temporary Global Note, the Regulation S Permanent Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant
B-1
to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a Person in the United States and (x) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (y) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States, (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act and (iv) if the proposed transfer is being made prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person (other than an Initial Purchaser). Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on Transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Regulation S Permanent Global Note, the Regulation S Temporary Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
3. o Check and complete if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in the IAI Global Note or a Restricted Definitive Note pursuant to any provision of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A or Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in Restricted Global Notes and Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States, and accordingly the Transferor hereby further certifies that (check one):
(a) o such Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act;
or
(b) o such Transfer is being effected to the Issuers or a subsidiary thereof;
or
(c) o such Transfer is being effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act;
or
(d) o such Transfer is being effected to an Institutional Accredited Investor and pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144A, Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904, and the Transferor hereby further certifies that it has not engaged in any general solicitation within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act and the Transfer complies with the transfer restrictions applicable to beneficial interests in a Restricted Global Note or Restricted Definitive Notes and the requirements of the exemption claimed, which certification is
B-2
supported by (1) a certificate executed by the Transferee in the form of Exhibit D to the Indenture and (2) if such Transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel provided by the Transferor or the Transferee (a copy of which the Transferor has attached to this certification), to the effect that such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the IAI Global Note and/or the Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
4. o Check if Transferee will take delivery of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or of an Unrestricted Definitive Note.
(a) o Check if Transfer is pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(b) o Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Regulation S. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes, on Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
(c) o Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144, Rule 903 or Rule 904 and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Global Notes or Restricted Definitive Notes and in the Indenture.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.
B-3
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[Insert Name of Transferor] |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Dated: |
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B-4
ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following:
[CHECK ONE OF (a) OR (b)]
o a beneficial interest in the:
(i) o 144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(ii) o Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(iii) o IAI Global Note (CUSIP ); or
(b) o a Restricted Definitive Note.
2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a) o a beneficial interest in the:
(i) o 144A Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(ii) o Regulation S Global Note (CUSIP ), or
(iii) o IAI Global Note (CUSIP ); or
(iv) o Unrestricted Global Note (CUSIP ); or
(b) o a Restricted Definitive Note; or
(c) o an Unrestricted Definitive Note,
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
B-5
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF EXCHANGE
Ferrellgas, L.P.
7500 College Boulevard
Suite 1000
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
Attention: Investor Relations
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
100 Wall Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10005
Re: 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2009 (the Indenture), among Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (together, the Issuers), as Issuers, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
, (the Owner) owns and proposes to exchange the Note[s] or interest in such Note[s] specified herein, in the principal amount of $ in such Note[s] or interests (the Exchange). In connection with the Exchange, the Owner hereby certifies that:
1. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Unrestricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note
(a) o Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note in an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(b) o Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby
C-1
certifies (i) the Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(c) o Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the beneficial interest is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
(d) o Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to Unrestricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Owners Exchange of a Restricted Definitive Note for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer, (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to Restricted Definitive Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, (iii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Private Placement Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act and (iv) the Unrestricted Definitive Note is being acquired in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States.
2. Exchange of Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes for Restricted Definitive Notes or Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes
(a) o Check if Exchange is from beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note to Restricted Definitive Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note for a Restricted Definitive Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies that the Restricted Definitive Note is being acquired for the Owners own account without transfer. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the Restricted Definitive Note issued will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the Restricted Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
(b) o Check if Exchange is from Restricted Definitive Note to beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note. In connection with the Exchange of the Owners Restricted Definitive Note for a beneficial interest in the [CHECK ONE] o 144A Global Note, o Regulation S Global Note, o IAI Global Note with an equal principal amount, the Owner hereby certifies (i) the beneficial interest is being acquired for the Owners own account without
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transfer and (ii) such Exchange has been effected in compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the Restricted Global Notes and pursuant to and in accordance with the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable blue sky securities laws of any state of the United States. Upon consummation of the proposed Exchange in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the beneficial interest issued will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Private Placement Legend printed on the relevant Restricted Global Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuers.
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EXHIBIT D
FORM OF CERTIFICATE FROM
ACQUIRING INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR
Ferrellgas, L.P.
7500 College Boulevard
Suite 1000
Overland Park, Kansas 66210
Attention: Investor Relations
U.S. Bank National Association
Corporate Trust Services
100 Wall Street, Suite 1600
New York, NY 10005
Re: 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2009 (the Indenture), among Ferrellgas, L.P. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. (together, the Issuers), as Issuers, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
In connection with our proposed purchase of $ aggregate principal amount of:
(a) o a beneficial interest in a Global Note, or
(b) o a Definitive Note,we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes or any interest therein is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the Indenture and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes or any interest therein except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes and any interest therein may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell the Notes or any interest therein, we will do so only (A) to the Issuers or any subsidiary thereof, (B) in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a qualified institutional buyer (as defined therein), (C) to an institutional accredited investor (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to you and to the Issuers a
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signed letter substantially in the form of this letter and, if such transfer is in respect of a principal amount of Notes, at the time of transfer of less than $250,000, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Issuers to the effect that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act, (D) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (E) pursuant to the provisions of Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or (F) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any Person purchasing the Definitive Note or beneficial interest in a Global Note from us in a transaction meeting the requirements of clauses (A) through (E) of this paragraph a notice advising such purchaser that resales thereof are restricted as stated herein.
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of the Notes or beneficial interest therein, we will be required to furnish to you and the Issuers such certifications, legal opinions and other information as you and the Issuers may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us will bear a legend to the foregoing effect.
4. We are an institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or its investment.
5. We are acquiring the Notes or beneficial interest therein purchased by us for our own account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional accredited investor) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion.
You and the Issuers are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
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D-2
Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
by and among
Ferrellgas, L.P.
Ferrellgas Finance Corp.
and
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
PNC Capital Markets LLC
SG Americas Securities, LLC
Dated as of September 14, 2009
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of September 14, 2009, by and among Ferrellgas, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the Company), Ferrellgas Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation (Finance Corp. and, together with the Company, the Issuers), and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Banc of America Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Fifth Third Securities, Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC and SG Americas Securities, LLC (collectively, the Initial Purchasers), each of whom has agreed to purchase the Issuers 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017 (the Securities) pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (as defined below).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated September 9, 2009 (the Purchase Agreement), among the Issuers and the Initial Purchasers (i) for the benefit of the Initial Purchasers and (ii) for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined below), including the Initial Purchasers. In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to purchase the Securities, the Issuers have agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the obligations of the Initial Purchasers set forth in Section 4(h) of the Purchase Agreement.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
Additional Interest Payment Date: With respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities, each Interest Payment Date.
Advice: As defined in the last paragraph of Section 6(c) hereof.
Agreement: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Broker-Dealer: Any broker or dealer registered under the Exchange Act.
Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or U.S. federal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies located in New York, New York are authorized or obligated to be closed.
Closing Date: The date of this Agreement.
Commission: The Securities and Exchange Commission.
Company: As defined in the preamble hereto.
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Consummate: A registered Exchange Offer shall be deemed Consummated for purposes of this Agreement upon the occurrence of (i) the filing and effectiveness under the Securities Act of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Securities to be issued in the Exchange Offer, (ii) the maintenance of such Registration Statement continuously effective and the keeping of the Exchange Offer open for a period not less than the minimum period required pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof, and (iii) the delivery by the Issuers to the Registrar under the Indenture of Exchange Securities in the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities that were tendered by Holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Exchange Act: The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Exchange Date: As defined in Section 3(b) hereto.
Exchange Offer: The registration by the Issuers under the Securities Act of the Exchange Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement pursuant to which the Issuers offer the Holders of all outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities the opportunity to exchange all such outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities held by such Holders for Exchange Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities tendered in such exchange offer by such Holders.
Exchange Offer Registration Statement: The Registration Statement relating to the Exchange Offer, including the related Prospectus.
Exempt Resales: The transactions in which the Initial Purchasers propose to sell the Transfer Restricted Securities to certain qualified institutional buyers, as such term is defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to certain non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Exchange Securities: The 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017, of the same series under the Indenture as the Transfer Restricted Securities, to be issued to Holders in exchange for Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
Finance Corp.: As defined in the preamble hereto.
FINRA: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.
Holders: As defined in Section 2(b) hereof.
Indemnified Holder: As defined in Section 8(a) hereof.
Indenture: The Indenture, dated as of September 14, 2009, by and among the Issuers and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the Trustee), pursuant to which the Securities are to be issued, as such Indenture is amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
Initial Purchasers: As defined in the preamble hereto.
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Initial Placement: The issuance and sale by the Issuers of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
Interest Payment Date: As defined in the Indenture and the Securities.
Person: An individual, partnership, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Prospectus: The prospectus included in a Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement and by all other amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference into such Prospectus.
Registration Default: As defined in Section 5 hereof.
Registration Statement: Any registration statement of either of the Issuers relating to (a) an offering of Exchange Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer or (b) the registration for resale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, which is filed pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, in each case, including the Prospectus included therein, all amendments and supplements thereto (including post-effective amendments) and all exhibits and material incorporated by reference therein.
Rule 144: Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.
Securities: As defined in the preamble hereto.
Securities Act: The Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Shelf Filing Deadline: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement: As defined in Section 4(a) hereof.
Transfer Restricted Securities: The Securities; provided that the Securities shall cease to be Transfer Restricted Securities on the earliest to occur of (i) the date on which a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities has become effective under the Securities Act and such Securities have been exchanged or disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement and (ii) the date on which such Securities cease to be outstanding.
Trust Indenture Act: The Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Underwritten Registration or Underwritten Offering: A registration in which securities of the Issuers are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.
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Each of the Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Section 6(c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Transfer Restricted Securities acquired by Broker-Dealers for their own accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period ending on the earlier of (i) 180 days from the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is declared effective and (ii) the date on which a Broker-Dealer is no longer required to deliver a prospectus in connection with market-making or other trading activities.
The Issuers shall provide sufficient copies of the latest version of such Prospectus to Broker-Dealers promptly upon request at any time during such 180-day (or shorter as provided in the foregoing sentence) period in order to facilitate such resales.
(x) cause to be filed a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, which may be an amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (in either event, the Shelf Registration Statement) on or prior to the 90th day after the date such obligation arises (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) (such date being the Shelf Filing Deadline), which Shelf Registration Statement shall provide for resales of all Transfer Restricted Securities the Holders of which shall have provided the information required pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof; and
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(y) use their reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission on or before the 90th day after the Shelf Filing Deadline (or if such 90th day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day).
Each of the Issuers shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the provisions of Sections 6(b) and (c) hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for resales of Transfer Restricted Securities by the Holders of such Securities entitled to the benefit of this Section 4(a), and to ensure that it conforms with the requirements of this Agreement, the Securities Act and the policies, rules and regulations of the Commission as announced from time to time, for a period of two years following the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (or shorter period that will terminate when all the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement).
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All obligations of the Issuers set forth in the preceding paragraph that are outstanding with respect to any Transfer Restricted Security at the time such security ceases to be a Transfer Restricted Security shall survive until such time as all such obligations with respect to such security shall have been satisfied in full.
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If at any time the representations and warranties of the Issuers contemplated in Section 6(c)(x)(A)(1) hereof cease to be true and correct, the Company or Finance Corp. shall so advise the Initial Purchasers and the underwriter(s), if any, and each selling Holder promptly and, if requested by such Persons, shall confirm such advice in writing;
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Each Holder agrees by acquisition of a Transfer Restricted Security that, upon receipt of any notice from the Issuers of the existence of any fact of the kind described in Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the applicable Registration Statement until such Holders receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof, or until it is advised in writing (the Advice) by the Issuers that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. If so directed by the Issuers, each Holder will deliver to the Issuers (at the Issuers expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that was current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Issuers shall give any such notice, the time period regarding the effectiveness of such Registration Statement set forth in Section 3 or 4 hereof, as applicable, shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 6(c)(iii)(D) hereof to and including the date when each selling Holder covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 6(c)(xvi) hereof or shall have received the Advice; provided, however, that no such extension shall be taken into account in determining whether additional interest is due pursuant to Section 5 hereof or the amount of such additional interest, it being agreed that the Issuers option to suspend use of a Registration Statement pursuant to this paragraph shall be treated as a Registration Default for purposes of Section 5 hereof.
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Each of the Issuers will, in any event, bear its internal expenses (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expenses of any annual audit and the fees and expenses of any Person, including special experts, retained by the Issuers.
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In case any action or proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation or proceeding) shall be brought or asserted against any of the Indemnified Holders with respect to which indemnity may be sought against the Issuers, such Indemnified Holder (or the Indemnified Holder controlled by such controlling person) shall promptly notify the Issuers in writing; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not relieve any of the Issuers of its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. Such Indemnified Holder shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action and the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be paid, as incurred, by the Issuers (regardless of whether it is ultimately determined that an Indemnified Holder is not entitled to indemnification hereunder). The Issuers shall not, in connection with any one such action or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or related actions or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for such Indemnified Holders. Any such separate firm (i) for any Initial Purchaser, its respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents and any control Persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and (ii) for any Holder, its respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by the majority in aggregate principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities. The Issuers shall be liable for any settlement of any such action or proceeding effected with the Issuers prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld unreasonably, and each of the Issuers agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Indemnified Holder from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of any settlement of any action effected with the written consent of the Issuers. The Issuers shall not, without the prior written consent of each Indemnified Holder, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action, claim, litigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Holder is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination (i) includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Holder from all liability arising out of such action, claim, litigation or proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement as to any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Holder.
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Each of the Issuers and each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(c) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, none of the Holders (and its related Indemnified Holders) shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discount received by such Holder with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities exceeds the amount of any damages which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
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alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8(c) are several in proportion to the respective principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities held by each of the Holders hereunder and not joint.
(d) The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to the Issuers or any Indemnified Holder at law or equity.
(e) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder or any Person controlling any Initial Purchaser or any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Issuers or the officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of or any Person controlling the Issuers, (iii) acceptance of any of the Exchange Securities and (iv) any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement.
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Ferrellgas, L.P.
7500 College Boulevard, Suite 1000
Liberty, MO 64068
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Facsimile: (913) 661-1537
Attention: Ryan VanWinkle
With a copy to:
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
1000 Louisiana, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas 77002
Facsimile: (713) 754-6625
Attention: David Ronn, Esq.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee at the address specified in the Indenture.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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FERRELLGAS, L.P. |
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By: Ferrellgas, Inc., its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer |
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FERRELLGAS FINANCE CORP. |
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By: |
/s/ J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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J. Ryan VanWinkle |
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Chief Financial Officer and Sole Director |
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The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written:
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES CORP.
FIFTH THIRD SECURITIES, INC.
PNC CAPITAL MARKETS LLC
SG AMERICAS SECURITIES, LLC
By: |
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. |
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By: |
/s/ Robert Mertensotto |
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Robert Mertensotto |
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Managing Director |
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Exhibit 99.1
Ferrellgas, LP. and Ferrellgas Finance Corp. Announce Closing of Private Placement of $300 million Senior Notes due 2017
OVERLAND PARK, Kan., September 14, 2009 Ferrellgas, L.P., the operating partnership of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP), and Ferrellgas Finance Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ferrellgas, L.P., today announced the closing of a private placement to eligible purchasers of $300 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.125% Senior Notes due 2017. Ferrellgas, L.P. will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $288.6 million, after deducting initial purchaser discounts and the estimated expenses of the offering. Ferrellgas, L.P. intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to prepay its outstanding $82,000,000 of 7.24% Senior Notes, Series D, due August 1, 2010, its $70,000,000 of 7.42% Senior Notes, Series E, due August 1, 2013 and to reduce outstanding indebtedness under its senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., serves approximately one million customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own more than 20 million common units of the partnership through an employee stock ownership plan. More information about the partnership can be found online at www.ferrellgas.com.
The offering has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act) or any state securities laws, and the notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent such registration, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The notes were offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and outside the United States only to non-U.S. persons under Regulation S. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.
This news release includes forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the issuers expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements include the issuers plans to use proceeds from a private placement of $300 million of senior notes. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the issuers, including market conditions, operational developments with respect to the issuers and other factors detailed in the issuers filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Contact:
Tom Colvin, Investor Relations, 913-661-1530
Jim Saladin, Media Relations, 913-661-1833
One Liberty Plaza · Liberty Missouri 64068-2970 · Telephone: 816-792-1600