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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(6)(3)
Registration No. 333-235687
PROSPECTUS
$400,000,000
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
GLP FINANCE CORP.
Offer to Exchange
Up To $400,000,000 of
7.00% Senior Notes due 2027
That Have Not Been Registered Under
The Securities Act of 1933
For
Up To $400,000,000 of
7.00% Senior Notes due 2027
That Have Been Registered Under
The Securities Act of 1933
Terms of the New 7.00% Senior Notes due 2027 Offered in the Exchange Offer:
- •
- The terms of the new notes are identical to the terms of the old notes that were issued on July 31, 2019, except that the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and will not contain restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest.
Terms of the Exchange Offer:
- •
- We are offering to exchange up to $400,000,000 of our old notes for new notes with materially identical terms that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and are freely tradable.
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- We will exchange all old notes that you validly tender and do not validly withdraw before the exchange offer expires for an equal principal amount of new notes.
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- The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 10, 2020 unless extended.
- •
- Tenders of old notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.
- •
- The exchange of old notes for new notes will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
You should carefully consider the risks set forth under "Risk Factors" beginning on page 9 of this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider before participating in the exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is January 10, 2020.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In making your decision about participating in the exchange offer, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. If you receive any unauthorized information, you must not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities or soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference herein, is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus or the date of such incorporated documents, as the case may be.
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| | |
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | | ii |
Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation by Reference | | v |
Prospectus Summary | | 1 |
Risk Factors | | 9 |
The Exchange Offer | | 17 |
Use of Proceeds | | 24 |
Description of Notes | | 25 |
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences | | 71 |
Plan of Distribution | | 72 |
Legal Matters | | 74 |
Experts | | 74 |
Letter of Transmittal | | 75 |
This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about Global Partners LP that is not included or delivered with this prospectus. Such information is available without charge to holders of old notes upon written or oral request made to Global Partners LP, Attention: Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 9161, 800 South St., Waltham, Massachusetts 02454; telephone number: (781) 894 8800. To obtain timely delivery of any requested information, holders of old notes must make any request no later than five business days prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "may," "believe," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "continue," "will likely result" or other similar expressions. In addition, any statement made by our management concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions by us, are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Although we believe these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, statements made regarding future results are subject to a number of assumptions, uncertainties and risks, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause future results to be materially different from the results stated or implied in this document. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things:
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- A significant decrease in price or demand for the products we sell or a significant decrease in demand for our logistics activities could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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- We depend upon marine, pipeline, rail and truck transportation services for a substantial portion of our logistics activities in transporting the products we sell. Implementation of regulations and directives that adversely impact the market for transporting these products by rail or otherwise could adversely affect those activities. In addition, a disruption in these transportation services could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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- We have contractual obligations for certain transportation assets such as railcars, barges and pipelines. A decline in demand for (i) the products we sell, or (ii) our logistics activities, which has resulted and could continue to result in a decrease in the utilization of our transportation assets, could negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
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- We may not be able to fully implement or capitalize upon planned growth projects.
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- Erosion of the value of major gasoline brands could adversely affect our gasoline sales and customer traffic.
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- Our gasoline sales could be significantly reduced by a reduction in demand due to higher prices and to new technologies and alternative fuel sources, such as electric, hybrid, battery powered, hydrogen or other alternative fuel-powered motor vehicles. Changing consumer preferences or driving habits could lead to new forms of fueling destinations or potentially fewer customer visits to our sites and decreases in sales. Any of these outcomes could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations.
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- Physical effects from climate change and impacts to areas prone to sea level rise or other extreme weather events could have the potential to adversely affect our assets and operations.
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- Changes in government usage mandates and tax credits could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol, which could negatively impact our sales.
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- Our petroleum and related products sales, logistics activities and results of operations have been and could continue to be adversely affected by, among other things, changes in the petroleum products market structure, product differentials and volatility (or lack thereof), implementation of regulations that adversely impact the market for transporting petroleum and related products by rail and other modes of transportation, severe weather conditions, significant changes in prices and interruptions in transportation services and other necessary services and equipment, such as railcars, barges, trucks, loading equipment and qualified drivers.
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- Our risk management policies cannot eliminate all commodity risk, basis risk or the impact of unfavorable market conditions which can adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, noncompliance with our risk management policies could result in significant financial losses.
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- Our results of operations are affected by the overall forward market for the products we sell, and pricing volatility may adversely impact our results.
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- Our businesses could be affected by a range of issues, such as changes in commodity prices, energy conservation, competition, the global economic climate, movement of products between foreign locales and within the United States, changes in refiner demand, weekly and monthly refinery output levels, changes in local, domestic and worldwide inventory levels, changes in health, safety and environmental regulations, including, without limitation, those related to climate change, failure to obtain renewal permits on terms favorable to us, seasonality, supply, weather and logistics disruptions and other factors and uncertainties inherent in the transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of refined products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil.
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- Increases and/or decreases in the prices of the products we sell could adversely impact the amount of availability for borrowing working capital under our credit agreement, which credit agreement has borrowing base limitations and advance rates.
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- Warmer weather conditions could adversely affect our home heating oil and residual oil sales. Our sales of home heating oil and residual oil continue to be reduced by conversions to natural gas and utilization of propane and/or natural gas (instead of heating oil) as primary fuel sources.
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- We are exposed to trade credit risk and risk associated with our trade credit support in the ordinary course of our businesses.
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- The condition of credit markets may adversely affect our liquidity.
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- Our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior notes contain operating and financial covenants, and our credit agreement contains borrowing base requirements. A failure to comply with the operating and financial covenants in our credit agreement, the indentures and any future financing agreements could impact our access to bank loans and other sources of financing as well as our ability to pursue our business activities.
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- A significant increase in interest rates could adversely affect our results of operations and our ability to service our indebtedness.
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- Our gasoline station and convenience store business could expose us to an increase in consumer litigation and result in an unfavorable outcome or settlement of one or more lawsuits where insurance proceeds are insufficient or otherwise unavailable.
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- Congress has given the Food and Drug Administration broad authority to regulate tobacco and nicotine products, and the Food and Drug Administration has enacted numerous regulations restricting the sale of such products. These governmental actions, as well as national, state and local campaigns to discourage smoking, tax increases, and imposition of regulations restricting the sale of e-cigarettes and vapor products, have and could result in reduced consumption levels, higher costs which we may not be able to pass on to our customers, and reduced overall customer traffic. Also, increasing regulations related to and restricting the sale of vapor products and e-cigarettes may offset some of the gains we have experienced from selling these types of products. These factors could materially affect the sale of this product mix which in turn could have a negative effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
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- Our businesses could expose us to litigation and result in an unfavorable outcome or settlement of one or more lawsuits where insurance proceeds are insufficient or otherwise unavailable.
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- Adverse developments in the areas where we conduct our businesses could have a material adverse effect on such businesses.
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- A serious disruption to our information technology systems could significantly limit our ability to manage and operate our businesses efficiently.
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- We are exposed to performance risk in our supply chain.
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- Our businesses are subject to federal, state and municipal environmental and non-environmental regulations which could have a material adverse effect on such businesses.
When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading "Risk Factors" included elsewhere in this prospectus, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and, to the extent applicable, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
All forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference and all subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, in the case of forward-looking statements contained in any document incorporated by reference, the date of such document, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these statements to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance therewith, file reports and other information with the SEC. Such material may be accessed electronically by means of the SEC's home page on the Internet (www.sec.gov). We also make available free of charge on our website, athttp://www.globalp.com, all materials that we file electronically with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such information with the SEC.
The following documents filed by us with the SEC are incorporated by reference into and made part of this prospectus:
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- our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed on March 8, 2019;
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- our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019, filed onMay 9, 2019,August 8, 2019 andNovember 7, 2019, respectively; and
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- our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed onFebruary 5, 2019,April 23, 2019,July 22, 2019,July 25, 2019 andJuly 31, 2019 (excluding any information furnished under Item 2.02 or 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K).
We are also incorporating by reference all documents filed with the SEC by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to completion or termination of the exchange offer described in this prospectus (except for information "furnished" on a Current Report on Form 8-K). Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document, which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement.
You may request a copy of these filings and all other information subsequently incorporated by reference into this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following:
Global Partners LP
Attention: Office of the General Counsel
P.O. Box 9161, 800 South St.
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454
telephone number: (781) 894-8800
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein. It does not contain all of the information that you should consider before participating in the exchange offer. You should carefully read the entire prospectus, as well as the information to which we refer you and the information incorporated by reference for a more complete understanding of our business and this exchange offering. Please read "Risk Factors" on page 9 of this prospectus as well as the risk factors included in ourAnnual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (our "2018 Annual Report") and our subsequent periodic filings with the SEC, incorporated by reference herein, for more information about important factors that you should consider before participating in the exchange offer.
Unless otherwise noted or indicated by the context, in this prospectus, the terms "Global," "we," "our," "us," "the partnership" or like terms refer either to Global Partners LP or to Global Partners LP and its operating subsidiaries, collectively as the context requires. References in this prospectus to "our general partner" refer to Global GP LLC. References to "Finance Corp." refer to the co-issuer of the notes, GLP Finance Corp., our wholly owned subsidiary for the purpose of being a co-issuer or guarantor of some of our indebtedness, including the notes and our credit facilities. The partnership has the following subsidiaries: Global Operating LLC ("Global Operating" or our "operating company"), Global Companies LLC ("Global Companies"), Glen Hes Corp. ("Glen Hes"), Global Montello Group Corp. ("GMG"), Chelsea Sandwich LLC ("Chelsea Sandwich"), Global Energy Marketing LLC ("GEM"), Alliance Energy LLC ("Alliance"), Bursaw Oil LLC ("Bursaw"), Finance Corp., Cascade Kelly Holdings, LLC ("Cascade Kelly"), Global Partners Energy Canada ULC ("Global Canada"), Warren Equities, Inc. ("Warren"), Warex Terminals Corporation ("Warex"), Drake Petroleum Company, Inc. ("Drake"), Puritan Oil Company, Inc. ("Puritan Oil"), Maryland Oil Company, Inc. ("Maryland Oil") and our 60% owned subsidiary, Basin Transload, LLC ("Basin Transload"). The partnership has 16 operating subsidiaries: Global Companies, its subsidiary, Glen Hes, Global Canada, GMG, its subsidiary Warren, Warren's subsidiaries Warex, Drake, Puritan Oil and Maryland Oil, Chelsea Sandwich, GEM, Alliance, its subsidiary Bursaw, Cascade Kelly, and Basin Transload, which we refer to collectively as our "operating subsidiaries." The operating companies (other than Basin Transload) are wholly owned by Global Operating, a wholly owned subsidiary of the partnership.
In this prospectus, we refer to the notes to be issued in the exchange offer as the "new notes" and the notes that were issued on July 31, 2019 as the "old notes." We refer to the new notes and the old notes collectively as the "notes."
About Global Partners LP
We are a master limited partnership formed in March 2005. We own, control or have access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products and renewable fuels in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (collectively, the "Northeast"). We are one of the region's largest independent owners, suppliers and operators of gasoline stations and convenience stores. As of September 30, 2019, we had a portfolio of 1,566 owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, including 295 directly operated convenience stores, primarily in the Northeast. We are also one of the largest distributors of gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers in the New England states and New York. We engage in the purchasing, selling, gathering, blending, storing and logistics of transporting petroleum and related products, including gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol), distillates (such as home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane and in the transportation of petroleum products and renewable fuels by rail from the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada.
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Collectively, we sold approximately $3.1 billion and $9.4 billion of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively. In addition, we had other revenues of approximately $0.1 billion and $0.3 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively, from convenience store sales at our directly operated stores, rental income from dealer leased and commissioned agent leased gasoline stations and from cobranding arrangements, and sundries.
We base our pricing on spot prices, fixed prices or indexed prices and routinely use the New York Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Intercontinental Exchange or other counterparties to hedge the risk inherent in buying and selling commodities. Through the use of regulated exchanges or derivatives, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between purchased volumes and sales volumes or future delivery obligations.
We purchase refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane primarily from domestic and foreign refiners and ethanol producers, crude oil producers, major and independent oil companies and trading companies. We operate our businesses under three segments: (i) Wholesale, (ii) Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations and (iii) Commercial.
Global GP LLC, our general partner, manages our operations and activities and employs our personnel, except for most of our gasoline station and convenience store employees who are employed by GMG.
About GLP Finance Corp.
Finance Corp. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in January 2007. Finance Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global, was incorporated for the sole purpose of being a co-issuer of certain of our indebtedness, including the notes. Finance Corp. has no material assets or liabilities other than as may be incidental to its activities as co-issuer of our indebtedness.
Principal Executive Offices
Our principal executive offices are located at P.O. Box 9161, 800 South Street, Suite 500, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161, and our telephone number is (781) 894-8800. Our website is located athttp://www.globalp.com. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus. You should rely only on information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus when making a decision as to whether or not to tender your notes.
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The Exchange Offer
On July 31, 2019, we completed a private offering of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of the old notes. As part of this private offering, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the old notes in which we agreed, among other things, to deliver this prospectus to you and to use our commercially reasonable efforts to complete the exchange offer no later than 420 days following the closing of the private offering. The following is a summary of the exchange offer.
| | |
Old Notes | | On July 31, 2019, we issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.00% senior notes due 2027. |
New Notes | | The terms of the new notes are identical to the terms of the old notes, except that the new notes are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and will not have restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. The new notes offered hereby, together with any old notes that remain outstanding after the completion of the exchange offer, will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. The new notes will have a CUSIP number different from that of any old notes that remain outstanding after the completion of the exchange offer. |
Exchange Offer | | We are offering to exchange up to $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of new notes for an equal amount of the old notes to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement that we entered into when we issued the old notes in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act. |
Expiration Date | | The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 10, 2020, unless we decide to extend it. |
Conditions to the Exchange Offer | | The registration rights agreement does not require us to accept old notes for exchange if the exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder of the old notes, would violate any applicable law or interpretation of the staff of the SEC. The exchange offer is not conditioned on a minimum aggregate principal amount of old notes being tendered. Please read "The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer" for more information about the conditions to the exchange offer. |
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Procedures for Tendering Old Notes | | To participate in the exchange offer, you must follow the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, for tendering notes held in book-entry form. These procedures for using DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, require that (i) the exchange agent receive, prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer, a computer generated message known as an "agent's message" that is transmitted through ATOP, and (ii) DTC confirms that: |
| | • DTC has received your instructions to exchange your notes; and |
| | • you agree to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal. |
| | For more information on tendering your old notes, please refer to the section in this prospectus entitled "Exchange Offer—Terms of the Exchange Offer," "—Procedures for Tendering," and "Description of Notes—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form." |
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures | | None. |
Withdrawal of Tenders | | You may withdraw your tender of old notes at any time prior to the expiration date. To withdraw, you must submit a notice of withdrawal to the exchange agent using ATOP procedures before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer. Please refer to the section in this prospectus entitled "The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders." |
Acceptance of Old Notes and Delivery of New Notes | | If you fulfill all conditions required for proper acceptance of old notes, we will accept any and all old notes that you properly tender in the exchange offer on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. We will return any old notes that we do not accept for exchange to you without expense promptly after the expiration date and acceptance of the old notes for exchange. Please refer to the section in this prospectus entitled "The Exchange Offer—Terms of the Exchange Offer." |
Fees and Expenses | | We will bear expenses related to the exchange offer. Please refer to the section in this prospectus entitled "The Exchange Offer—Fees and Expenses." |
Use of Proceeds | | The issuance of the new notes will not provide us with any new proceeds. We are making this exchange offer solely to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement. |
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Consequences of Failure to Exchange Old Notes | | If you do not exchange your old notes in this exchange offer, you will no longer be able to require us to register the old notes under the Securities Act, except in limited circumstances provided under the registration rights agreement. In addition, you will not be able to resell, offer to resell or otherwise transfer the old notes unless we have registered the old notes under the Securities Act, or unless you resell, offer to resell or otherwise transfer them under an exemption from the registration requirements of, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act. |
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations | | The exchange of old notes for new notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences." |
Exchange Agent | | We have appointed Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as the exchange agent for the exchange offer. You should direct questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or the letters of transmittal to the exchange agent as follows: |
| | Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas c/o DB Services Americas, Inc. Attention: Reorg. Department 5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200 Jacksonville, Florida 32256 |
| | For telephone assistance, please call (877) 843-9767. |
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Terms of the New Notes
The new notes will be identical to the old notes, except that the new notes are registered under the Securities Act and will not have restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. The new notes will evidence the same debt as the old notes, and the same indenture will govern the new notes and the old notes. The following summary contains basic information about the new notes and is not intended to be complete. It does not contain all the information that is important to you. For a more complete understanding of the new notes, please refer to the section of this prospectus entitled "Description of Notes."
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Issuers | | Global and Finance Corp. |
Securities Offered | | $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers' 7.00% senior notes due 2027. |
Maturity | | August 1, 2027. |
Interest Payment Dates | | August 1 and February 1 of each year. |
Subsidiary Guarantors | | The new notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by all of our existing subsidiaries (other than the co-issuer and Basin Transload) and by our future subsidiaries that are borrowers or guarantors under our credit facilities or that guarantee our indebtedness or indebtedness of any other guarantor. |
Ranking | | The new notes and the guarantees thereof will be the general unsecured senior obligations of the issuers and the guarantors, will rank equally in right of payment with all of the issuers' and the guarantors' existing and future senior indebtedness, will be effectively subordinated to all of the issuers' and the guarantors' secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness and will rank senior in right of payment to all of the issuers' and the guarantors' future subordinated indebtedness. |
| | In addition, the new notes will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities and obligations (including trade payables but excluding intercompany liabilities) of each of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2019, the total liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries were approximately $292,000, including trade payables. Such non-guarantor subsidiaries represented less than 1.0% of our total consolidated assets as of September 30, 2019 and represented less than 1.0% of our total consolidated revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018. |
| | See "Description of Notes—Subsidiary Guarantees." |
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Optional Redemption | | At any time (which may be more than once) prior August 1, 2022, we may, at our option, also redeem up to 35% of the outstanding notes in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 107.000%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. We may also redeem any of the notes at any time on or after August 1, 2022, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices described under "Description of Notes—Optional Redemption," plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. In addition, we may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to August 1, 2022 at a redemption price equal to par plus an applicable make whole premium described under "Description of Notes—Optional Redemption," together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. |
Change of Control; Asset Sales | | If Global experiences specific change of control triggering events, Global will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price of at least 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued but unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase date. See "Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event." |
| | If Global or any of its restricted subsidiaries sell assets under certain circumstances and does not use the proceeds for certain specified purposes, Global will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes and certain other pari passu indebtedness on a pro rata basis with the unused net proceeds therefrom. The purchase price of the notes will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the purchase date. See "Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales." |
Certain Covenants | | The indenture governing the notes restricts our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: |
| | • incur certain additional indebtedness and issue preferred securities; |
| | • make certain dividends, distributions, investments and other restricted payments; |
| | • sell certain assets; |
| | • agree to any restrictions on the ability of restricted subsidiaries to make payments to Global; |
| | • create certain liens; |
| | • merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of Global's assets; and |
| | • enter into certain transactions with affiliates. |
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| | These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications described under the heading "Description of Notes—Certain Covenants." |
| | At any time when both S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. assign the notes an investment grade rating and no default under the indenture exists, we and our restricted subsidiaries will not be subject to many of the foregoing covenants. |
Risk Factors
See "Risk Factors" and the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider carefully before participating in the exchange offer.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth under Item 1A of our 2018 Annual Report, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before participating in the exchange offer. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, and your investment in the notes, could be negatively affected. The risks and uncertainties described below and in the documents incorporated herein by reference are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently see as immaterial, may also negatively affect us and your investment in the notes.
Risks Related to the New Notes
If you do not properly tender your old notes, you will continue to hold unregistered old notes and your ability to transfer old notes will remain restricted and may be adversely affected.
We will only issue new notes in exchange for old notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes, and you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender your old notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent is required to tell you of any defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of old notes.
If you do not exchange your old notes for new notes pursuant to the exchange offer, the old notes you hold will continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions. In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not plan to register old notes under the Securities Act unless our registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the old notes requires us to do so. Further, if you continue to hold any old notes after the exchange offer is consummated, you may have trouble selling them because there will be fewer of these notes outstanding.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service our debt obligations, including our obligations under the notes.
Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness, including the notes, will depend on our financial and operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. We may be unable to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, including the notes.
If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, or to sell assets, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including the notes. These alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. Our credit agreement may restrict our ability to dispose of assets, to use the proceeds from any disposition of assets and to refinance our indebtedness. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain the proceeds that we could realize from them and these proceeds may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due.
In addition, provisions under the bankruptcy code or general principles of equity including the automatic stay, avoidance of preferential transfers by a trustee or a debtor-in-possession, limitations of collectability of unmatured interest or attorneys' fees and forced restructuring of the notes could impair the ability of the noteholders to enforce their contractual rights.
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We have a substantial amount of indebtedness which could adversely affect our financial position and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations, including our obligations under the notes.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. We may also incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. Our substantial indebtedness may:
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- make it more difficult for us or render us unable to satisfy our financial obligations, including making scheduled principal and interest payments on the notes and our other indebtedness;
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- limit our ability to borrow additional funds for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general business purposes;
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- require us to use a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make debt service payments, which will reduce funds available for other business purposes;
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- limit our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in our business and industry;
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- place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our less leveraged competitors;
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- increase our vulnerability to the impact of adverse economic and industry conditions; and
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- increase our cost of borrowing.
Our ability to satisfy our financial obligations and commitments depends on our future operating performance and on economic, financial, competitive and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We cannot provide assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow or that future financings will be available to provide sufficient proceeds to meet these obligations. The inability to meet our financial obligations and commitments will impede the successful execution of our business strategy and the maintenance of our economic viability.
Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may still be able to incur substantially more indebtedness. This could exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness.
We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indenture governing the notes limit, but do not prohibit, us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness. If we incur any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the notes and the guarantees, the holders of that indebtedness will be entitled to share ratably with the holders the notes and the guarantees in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up of us. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to you. If new indebtedness is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we and our subsidiaries now face could intensify.
Unless restricted by our debt agreements, we distribute all of our available cash to our unitholders and we are not required to accumulate cash for the purpose of meeting our future obligations to our noteholders, which may limit the cash available to service the notes.
Subject to the limitations on restricted payments contained in the indenture governing the notes and the agreements governing any other indebtedness, we distribute all of our "available cash" each quarter to our unitholders. Available cash is defined in our partnership agreement, and it generally means, for each fiscal quarter: all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the date of determination of available cash for the quarter, less the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of our business, (ii) comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements or (iii) provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters. As a result, we do not expect to accumulate significant amounts of cash. Depending on the timing and amount of our cash distributions,
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these distributions could significantly reduce the cash available to us in subsequent periods to make payments on the notes.
Claims of noteholders are structurally subordinated to claims of creditors of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the notes.
All of our existing subsidiaries (other than Finance Corp. and Basin Transload) currently guarantee the notes; however, the guarantees are subject to release under certain circumstances. Further, the notes will not be guaranteed by our subsidiaries that we designate as "unrestricted" in accordance with the terms of the indenture, and may not be guaranteed by certain of our future subsidiaries. Accordingly, claims of holders of the notes are structurally subordinated to the claims of creditors of these non-guarantor subsidiaries, including trade creditors and tort claimants. All obligations of our non-guarantor subsidiaries will have to be satisfied before any of the assets of these subsidiaries would be available for distribution, upon a liquidation or otherwise, to us or a guarantor of the notes. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, bankruptcy or similar proceeding of the business of a subsidiary that is not a guarantor, creditors of that subsidiary would generally have the right to be paid in full before any distribution is made to us or the holders of the notes. In any of these events, we may not have sufficient assets to pay amounts due on the notes with respect to the assets of that subsidiary. As of September 30, 2019, the total liabilities of our non-guarantor subsidiaries were approximately $292,000, including trade payables. Such non-guarantor subsidiaries represented less than 1.0% of our total consolidated assets as of September 30, 2019 and represented less than 1.0% of our total consolidated revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2018.
Payment of principal and interest on the notes is effectively junior to our senior secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing that debt. Further, the guarantees of the notes are effectively subordinated to all our guarantors' existing and future secured indebtedness.
Holders of the notes have claims that are effectively junior to claims of our secured creditors, and the subsidiary guarantees are effectively junior to the claims of our secured creditors as well as the secured creditors of our subsidiary guarantors, in each case to the extent of the value of the assets securing such claims. As of September 30, 2019, we and our subsidiaries had approximately $449.9 million in aggregate principal amount of total secured indebtedness outstanding, $68.7 million in letters of credit outstanding and approximately $781.4 million of additional borrowing capacity under our credit agreement.
Holders of our secured obligations, including obligations under our credit agreement, have claims that are prior to claims of the holders of the notes with respect to the assets securing those obligations. Our credit agreement is secured by substantially all of our assets. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution, reorganization, bankruptcy or any similar proceeding, our assets and those of our guarantor subsidiaries will be available to pay obligations on the notes and the guarantees only after holders of our senior secured indebtedness have been paid the value of the assets securing such debt. Holders of the notes and our 7.00% senior notes due 2023 (the "2023 Senior Notes") will participate ratably with all holders of our unsecured indebtedness that is deemed to be of the same class as the notes, and potentially with all of our other general creditors, based upon the respective amounts owed to each holder or creditor, in our remaining assets. In that event, because the notes are not secured by any of our assets, it is possible that our remaining assets might be insufficient to satisfy your claims in full. In addition, the terms of the notes allow us to secure significant amounts of additional debt secured by our assets, all of which would be effectively senior to the notes.
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Our ability to repay our indebtedness, including the notes, is dependent on the cash flow generated by our operating subsidiaries.
Our operating subsidiaries own substantially all of our assets and conduct all of our operations. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness, including the notes, the 2023 Senior Notes and our credit agreement, will be dependent on the generation of cash flow by the operating subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to the issuer, directly or indirectly, by dividend, debt repayment or otherwise. All of our existing operating subsidiaries other than Basin Transload currently guarantee our obligations under the notes. The operating subsidiaries may not be able to or may not be permitted to, make distributions to enable us to make payments in respect of our indebtedness, including the notes. Each operating subsidiary is a distinct legal entity and, under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from the operating subsidiaries. While the indenture governing the notes limits the ability of the operating subsidiaries to incur consensual encumbrances or restrictions on their ability to pay dividends or make other intercompany payments to us, those limitations are subject to waiver and certain qualifications and exceptions.
A subsidiary guarantee could be voided if it constitutes a fraudulent transfer under U.S. bankruptcy or similar state law, which would prevent the holders of the notes from relying on that subsidiary to satisfy claims.
Under U.S. bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee can be voided, or claims under the guarantee may be subordinated to all other debts of that guarantor if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee or, in some states, when payments become due under the guarantee, received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the incurrence of the guarantee and:
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- was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such incurrence;
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- was engaged in a business or transaction for which the guarantor's remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or
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- intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay those debts as they mature.
A guarantee may also be voided, without regard to these factors, if a court finds that the guarantor entered into the guarantee with the actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud its creditors. A court would likely find that a guarantor did not receive reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for its guarantee if the guarantor did not substantially benefit directly or indirectly from the issuance of the guarantees. If a court were to void a guarantee, you would no longer have a claim against the guarantor. Sufficient funds to repay the notes may not be available from other sources, including the remaining guarantors, if any. In addition, the court might direct you to repay any amounts that you already received from the subsidiary guarantor.
The measures of insolvency for purposes of fraudulent transfer laws vary depending upon the governing law. Generally, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:
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- the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, were greater than the fair saleable value of all its assets;
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- the present fair saleable value of its assets is less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or
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- it could not pay its debts as they become due.
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We cannot be sure as to the standards that a court would use to determine whether or not a guarantor was solvent at the relevant time, or, regardless of the standard that the court uses, that the issuance of the guarantees of the notes would not be voided or subordinated to the guarantor's other debt.
Each subsidiary guarantee contains a provision intended to limit the guarantor's liability to the maximum amount that it could incur without causing the incurrence of obligations under its subsidiary guarantee to be a fraudulent transfer. This provision may not be effective to protect the subsidiary guarantees from being voided under fraudulent transfer law.
Upon a change of control triggering event, we may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indenture governing the notes, which would violate the terms of the notes.
Upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event, as defined in the indenture governing the notes, holders of the notes will have the right to require us to purchase all or any part of the notes at a price equal to at least 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase. We may not have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy all of our obligations under the notes in the event of a change in control. Further, we are contractually restricted under the terms of our credit agreement from repurchasing all of the notes tendered upon a change of control. Accordingly, we may be unable to satisfy our obligations to purchase the notes unless we are able to refinance or obtain waivers under our credit agreement. Our failure to purchase the notes as required under the indenture would result in a default under the indenture and a cross-default under our credit agreement, which could have material adverse consequences for us and the holders of the notes. In addition, our credit agreement provides that a change of control is a default that permits lenders to accelerate the maturity of borrowings under it. See "Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event."
Investors may not be able to determine when a change of control triggering event giving rise to their right to have the notes repurchased by Global has occurred following a sale of "substantially all" of our assets.
A change of control triggering event, as defined in the indenture governing the notes, will trigger the right of holders of the notes to require Global to repurchase all outstanding notes. The definition of change of control triggering event includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease or transfer of "all or substantially all" of our assets. There is no precisely established definition of the phrase "substantially all" under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require Global to repurchase their notes as a result of a sale, lease or transfer of less than all of Global's assets to another individual, group or entity may be uncertain.
Covenants in our debt agreements restrict our business in many ways.
Our credit agreement, the agreements governing our other indebtedness and the indenture governing the notes contain various covenants that limit our and our restricted subsidiaries' ability to, among other things:
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- incur or assume liens or additional debt or provide guarantees in respect of obligations of other persons;
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- issue redeemable stock and preferred stock;
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- pay dividends or distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock;
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- prepay, redeem or repurchase certain debt;
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- make loans, investments and capital expenditures;
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- enter into agreements that restrict distributions from our subsidiaries;
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- sell assets and capital stock of our subsidiaries;
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- enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions or transactions with affiliates; and
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- consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of our assets to, another person.
In addition, our credit agreement requires us to comply with specified financial ratios and covenants.
These restrictions, together with those in the indenture governing the notes, may also limit our ability to obtain future financings to withstand a future downturn in our business or the economy in general, or to otherwise conduct necessary corporate activities. We may also be prevented from taking advantage of business opportunities that arise because of the limitations that the restrictive covenants under the indenture governing the notes and our credit agreement impose on us.
A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under our credit agreement, the indenture governing the notes and the agreements governing any other indebtedness. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under our credit agreement, the lenders or holders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under our credit agreement to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. If we were unable to repay those amounts due under our credit agreement, the lenders could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. Our obligations under the credit agreement are secured by substantially all of our assets and the assets of our operating company and operating subsidiaries. If the lenders under our credit agreement accelerate the repayment of borrowings, we may not have sufficient assets to repay our credit agreement and our other indebtedness, including the notes. Any new financing we could obtain may not be on terms acceptable to us. Our borrowings under our credit agreement are, and are expected to continue to be, at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income would decrease.
Many of the covenants contained in the indenture will be suspended if the notes are rated investment grade by both S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
Many of the covenants contained in the indenture will be suspended if the notes are rated investment grade by S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing. These covenants, however, will be restored if the notes are later rated below investment grade. These covenants restrict, among other things, our ability to pay distributions on our common units, incur debt and enter into certain other transactions. Suspension of these covenants would allow us to engage in certain transactions that would not be permitted while these covenants were in force, and these transactions would not constitute an event of default if these covenants are subsequently reinstated. See "Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—Covenant Suspension."
Changes in our credit ratings or the debt market may adversely affect the market price of the notes.
The price for the notes will depend on a number of factors, including:
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- the time remaining to the maturity of the notes;
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- our credit ratings with major credit rating agencies;
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- the prevailing interest rates being paid by other companies similar to us;
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- our financial condition, operating performance and future prospects; and
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- the overall condition of the financial markets and global and domestic economies.
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The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future. Such fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the market price of the notes. In addition, credit rating agencies continually review their ratings for the companies that they follow, including us. The credit rating agencies also evaluate the industries in which we operate and may change their credit rating based on their overall view of our industry. A negative change in our rating could have an adverse effect on the price of the notes or make it more difficult or expensive for us to obtain additional debt refinancing. If any credit rating initially assigned to the notes is subsequently lowered or withdrawn for any reason, holders of the notes may not be able to resell their notes without a substantial discount.
Our credit agreement and the 2023 Senior Notes will mature prior to the maturity of the notes, which may adversely affect our ability to make payments under the notes.
Our credit agreement matures in April 2022 and the 2023 Senior Notes mature in June 2023, each of which precedes the maturity of the notes. While we expect to repay or otherwise refinance this indebtedness, we may not be able to do so in every instance, and any refinancing may not be available on commercially reasonable terms. The financial terms or covenants of any new credit agreement and/or other indebtedness may not be the same or as favorable as those under our existing indebtedness.
Our ability to complete a refinancing of our other indebtedness is subject to a number of conditions beyond our control. For example, if a disruption in the financial markets were to occur at the time that we intended to refinance this indebtedness, we might be restricted in our ability to access the financial markets. If we are unable to refinance this indebtedness, our alternatives would consist of negotiating an extension of our credit agreement or 2023 Senior Notes with the lenders or holders, as applicable, and seeking or raising new capital. If we were unsuccessful, the lenders under our credit agreement or holders of our 2023 Senior Notes, as applicable, could demand repayment of the indebtedness owed to them on the relevant maturity date. As a result, our ability to pay the principal of and interest on the notes would be adversely affected.
Your ability to sell the new notes may be limited by the absence of a trading market.
The new notes will constitute a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Although the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act, they will not be listed on any securities exchange. We cannot assure you that any market for the new notes will develop, or if one does develop, that it will be liquid. If the new notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit rating, our operating performance and financial condition and other factors. As a result, we cannot ensure you that you will be able to sell any of the new notes at a particular time, at attractive prices, or at all.
In addition, the market for non-investment-grade debt securities has historically been subject to disruptions that have caused price volatility independent of the operating and financial performance of the issuers of these securities. It is possible that the market for the new notes will be subject to these kinds of disruptions. Accordingly, declines in the liquidity and market price of the new notes may occur independent of our operating and financial performance. A liquid market for the new notes is not certain to develop.
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If the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, it (and some states) may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustments directly from us, in which case our cash available for payment of principal and interest on the notes and other indebtedness could be substantially reduced.
Pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, if the IRS makes an audit adjustment to our income tax return, it (and some states) may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from us. To the extent possible under the new rules, our general partner may elect to either pay the taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly to the IRS or, if we are eligible, issue a revised information statement to each common unitholder and former common unitholder with respect to an audited and adjusted return. Although our general partner may elect to have our common unitholders and former common unitholders take such audit adjustment into account and pay any resulting taxes (including applicable penalties or interest) in accordance with their interests in us during the tax year under audit, there can be no assurance that such election will be practical, permissible or effective in all circumstances. If, as a result of any such audit adjustment, we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest, our cash available for payment of principal and interest on the notes and other indebtedness could be substantially reduced.
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and not being subject to a material amount of entity-level taxation. If the IRS were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, or we become subject to entity level taxation for state tax purposes, our cash available for payment of principal and interest on the notes and other indebtedness could be substantially reduced.
Despite the fact that we are organized as a limited partnership under Delaware law, we would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless we satisfy a "qualifying income" requirement. Based upon our current operations and current Treasury Regulations, we believe we satisfy the qualifying income requirement. However, no ruling has been or will be requested regarding our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Failing to meet the qualifying income requirement or a change in current law could cause us to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation as an entity.
If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for payment of principal and interest on the notes and other indebtedness could be substantially reduced.
At the state level, several states have been evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. We currently own assets and conduct business in several states that impose a margin or franchise tax. In the future, we may expand our operations. Imposition of a similar tax on us in other jurisdictions that we may expand to could substantially reduce our cash available for payment of principal and interest on the notes and other indebtedness.
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THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer
We sold the old notes on July 31, 2019 pursuant to the purchase agreement, dated as of July 24, 2019, by and among us, our subsidiary guarantors and the initial purchasers named therein. The old notes were subsequently offered by the initial purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
We sold the old notes in transactions that were exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the old notes are subject to transfer restrictions. In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes unless either they are registered under the Securities Act or the offer or sale is exempt from, or not subject to, registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
In connection with the sale of the old notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the old notes. In that agreement, we agreed to use our commercially reasonable efforts to file an exchange offer registration statement and consummate the exchange offer within 420 days after the date of issuance of the old notes. Now, to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement, we are offering holders of the old notes who are able to make certain representations described below the opportunity to exchange their old notes for the new notes in the exchange offer. The exchange offer will be open for a period of at least 20 business days. During the exchange offer period, we will exchange the new notes for all old notes properly surrendered and not withdrawn before the expiration date. The new notes will be registered under the Securities Act, and the transfer restrictions, registration rights and provisions for additional interest relating to the old notes will not apply to the new notes.
For each old note surrendered to us pursuant to the exchange offer, the holder of such old note will receive a new note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered old note. Interest on each new note will accrue from July 31, 2019, the date of issuance of the surrendered old note. The registration rights agreement also provides an agreement to include in the prospectus for the exchange offer certain information necessary to allow a broker-dealer who holds old notes that were acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other ordinary course trading activities (other than old notes acquired directly from us or one of our affiliates) to exchange such old notes pursuant to the exchange offer and to satisfy the prospectus delivery requirements in connection with resales of new notes received by such broker-dealer in the exchange offer. We agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the exchange offer registration statement for these purposes for a period ending 180 days from the last date on which the exchange offer is accepted.
The preceding agreement is needed because any broker-dealer who acquires old notes for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities is required to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. This prospectus covers the offer and sale of the new notes pursuant to the exchange offer and the resale of new notes received in the exchange offer by any broker-dealer who held old notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, other than old notes acquired directly from us or one of our affiliates.
Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that the new notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer would in general be freely tradable after the exchange offer without further registration under the Securities Act. However, any purchaser of old notes who is an "affiliate" of ours or who intends to participate in the exchange offer for the purpose of distributing the related new notes:
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- will not be able to rely on the interpretation of the staff of the SEC;
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- •
- will not be able to tender its old notes in the exchange offer; and
- •
- must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or transfer of the old notes unless such sale or transfer is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements.
In the event that applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC do not permit us to effect the exchange offer or if, for any other reason, we do not complete the exchange offer by the 420th day following the date of issuance of the old notes, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective a shelf registration statement relating to resales of the notes and to keep that shelf registration statement effective until the earlier of one year following the effective date of such shelf registration statement and such time as all notes covered by the shelf registration statement have been sold. We will, in the event of such a shelf registration, provide to each noteholder copies of a prospectus, notify each noteholder when the shelf registration statement has become effective, and take certain other actions to permit resales of the notes. A noteholder that sells notes under the shelf registration statement generally will be required to be named as a selling security holder in the related prospectus and to deliver a prospectus to purchasers, will be subject to certain of the civil liability provisions under the Securities Act in connection with those sales, and will be bound by the provisions of the registration rights agreement that are applicable to such a noteholder (including certain indemnification obligations).
If the exchange offer is not completed (or, if required, the shelf registration statement is not declared effective or does not automatically become effective) on or before the 420th day following the date of issuance of the notes, the annual interest rate borne by the notes will be increased by 1.0% per annum until the exchange offer is completed or the shelf registration statement is declared effective (or becomes automatically effective). All accrued additional interest will be paid by us and the guarantors on the next scheduled interest payment date in the same manner as other interest is paid on the notes. Following the time that the notes are registered, the accrual of additional interest will cease. The provisions for additional interest will be the only monetary remedy available to noteholders under the registration rights agreement.
Holders of the old notes will be required to make certain representations to us pursuant to the registration rights agreement (as described below) in order to participate in the exchange offer and will be required to deliver information to be used in connection with the shelf registration statement and to provide comments on the shelf registration statement within the time periods set forth in the registration rights agreement in order to have their old notes included in the shelf registration statement.
We are entitled to close the exchange offer 20 business days after its commencement as long as we have accepted all old notes validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the exchange offer and no brokers or dealers continue to hold any old notes.
This summary of the material provisions of the registration rights agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the registration rights agreement, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
Except as set forth above, after consummation of the exchange offer, holders of old notes that are the subject of the exchange offer will have no registration or exchange rights under the registration rights agreement. See "—Consequences of Failure to Exchange."
Terms of the Exchange Offer
Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept for exchange any old notes properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m.,
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New York City time, on the expiration date. We will issue new notes in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of old notes surrendered in the exchange offer. Old notes may be tendered only for new notes and only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of old notes being tendered for exchange.
As of the date of this prospectus, $400.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the old notes is outstanding. This prospectus and the letter of transmittal are being sent to all registered holders of old notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of old notes entitled to participate in the exchange offer.
We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the registration rights agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Old notes that the holders thereof do not tender for exchange in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest. These old notes will continue to be entitled to the rights and benefits such holders have under the indenture relating to the notes and the registration rights agreement.
We will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered old notes when we have given oral or written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent and complied with the applicable provisions of the registration rights agreement. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the new notes from us.
If you tender old notes in the exchange offer, you will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of old notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection with the exchange offer. It is important that you read the section "—Fees and Expenses" for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in connection with the exchange offer.
We will return any old notes that we do not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
Expiration Date
The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 10, 2020, unless, in our sole discretion, we extend it.
Extensions, Delays in Acceptance, Termination or Amendment
We expressly reserve the right, at any time or various times, to extend the period of time during which the exchange offer is open. We may delay acceptance of any old notes by giving oral or written notice of such extension to their holders at any time until the exchange offer expires or terminates. During any such extensions, all old notes previously tendered will remain subject to the exchange offer, and we may accept them for exchange.
In order to extend the exchange offer, we will notify the exchange agent orally or in writing of any extension. We will notify the registered holders of old notes of the extension by a press release issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
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Any such notice relating to the extension of the exchange offer will disclose the number of securities tendered as of the date of the notice, as required by Rule 14e-1(d) under the Exchange Act. We expressly reserve the right, at our sole discretion:
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- to delay accepting the old notes, provided that any such delay is done in a manner consistent with Rule 14e-1(c) of the Exchange Act;
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- to extend the exchange offer;
- •
- to terminate the exchange offer and not accept old notes not previously accepted if any of the conditions listed under "—Conditions to the Exchange Offer" are not satisfied or waived by us, by giving oral or written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent; or
- •
- to amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner.
Following the commencement of the exchange offer, we anticipate that we would only delay accepting old notes tendered in the exchange offer due to an extension of the expiration date. We will follow any delay in acceptance, extension or termination as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice to the exchange agent.
Any such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice thereof to the registered holders of old notes. If we amend the exchange offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose such amendment by means of a prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will be distributed to the registered holders of the old notes. Depending upon the significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to the registered holders, we may extend the exchange offer. In the event of a material change in the exchange offer, including the waiver by us of a material condition, we will extend the exchange offer period, if necessary, so that at least five business days remain in the exchange offer period following notice of the material change.
If we delay accepting any old notes or terminate the exchange offer, we will promptly pay the consideration offered, or return any old notes deposited, pursuant to the exchange offer as required by Rule 14e-1(c).
Conditions to the Exchange Offer
We will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange any new notes for, any old notes if the exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder of old notes, would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. Similarly, we may terminate the exchange offer as provided in this prospectus before accepting old notes for exchange in the event of such a potential violation.
In addition, we will not be obligated to accept for exchange the old notes of any holder that has not made to us the representations described under "—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer," "—Procedures for Tendering" and "Plan of Distribution" and such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to allow us to use an appropriate form to register the issuance of the new notes under the Securities Act.
We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer, and to reject for exchange any old notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions to the exchange offer specified above. We will give prompt oral or written notice of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the holders of the old notes as promptly as practicable.
These conditions are for our sole benefit, and we may assert them or waive them in whole or in part at any time or at various times in our sole discretion prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.
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If we fail at any time to exercise any of these rights, this failure will not mean that we have waived our rights. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at any time or at various times prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.
In addition, we will not accept for exchange any old notes tendered, and will not issue new notes in exchange for any such old notes, if at such time any stop order has been threatened or is in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture relating to the notes under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").
Procedures for Tendering
In order to participate in the exchange offer, you must properly tender your old notes to the exchange agent as described below. We will only issue new notes in exchange for old notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes, and you should follow carefully the instructions on how to tender your old notes. It is your responsibility to properly tender your notes. We have the right to waive any defects. However, we are not required to waive defects and are not required to notify you of defects in your tender.
If you have any questions or need help in exchanging your notes, please call the exchange agent, whose address and phone number are set forth in "Prospectus Summary—The Exchange Offer—Exchange Agent."
All of the old notes were issued in book-entry form, and all of the old notes are currently represented by one or more global certificates held for the account of DTC. We have confirmed with DTC that the old notes may be tendered using the Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, instituted by DTC. The exchange agent will establish an account with DTC for purposes of the exchange offer promptly after the commencement of the exchange offer, and DTC participants may electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange offer by causing DTC to transfer their old notes to the exchange agent using the ATOP procedures. In connection with the transfer, DTC will send an "agent's message" to the exchange agent. The agent's message will state that DTC has received instructions from the participant to tender old notes and that the participant agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal.
By using the ATOP procedures to exchange old notes, you will not be required to deliver a letter of transmittal to the exchange agent. However, you will be bound by its terms just as if you had signed it.
There is no procedure for guaranteed late delivery of the notes.
Determinations under the Exchange Offer
We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt, acceptance of tendered old notes and withdrawal of tendered old notes. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any old notes not properly tendered or any old notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defect, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular old notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, all defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be cured within such time as we shall determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any old notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which
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the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, promptly following the expiration date of the exchange.
When We Will Issue New Notes
In all cases, we will issue new notes for old notes that we have accepted for exchange under the exchange offer only after the exchange agent timely receives:
- •
- a book-entry confirmation of such old notes into the exchange agent's account at DTC; and
- •
- a properly transmitted agent's message.
Return of Old Notes Not Accepted or Exchanged
If we do not accept any tendered old notes for exchange or if old notes are submitted for a greater principal amount than the holder desires to exchange, the unaccepted or non-exchanged old notes will be returned without expense to their tendering holder. Such non-exchanged old notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC. These actions will occur promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
Your Representations to Us
By agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things:
- •
- any new notes that you receive will be acquired in the ordinary course of your business;
- •
- you have no arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in the distribution of the new notes;
- •
- you are not our "affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act;
- •
- if you are a broker-dealer that will receive new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes, you acquired those notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and you will deliver a prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a prospectus) in connection with any resale of such new notes; and
- •
- if you are a broker-dealer that participates in the exchange offer with respect to old notes acquired for your own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with us or any of our "affiliates" to distribute the new notes.
Withdrawal of Tenders
Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may withdraw your tender at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. For a withdrawal to be effective, you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC's ATOP system. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with withdrawn old notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of DTC.
We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility and time of receipt of notice of withdrawal. Our determination shall be final and binding on all parties. We will deem any old notes so withdrawn not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer.
Any old notes that have been tendered for exchange but are not exchanged for any reason will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the old notes. This crediting will take place promptly
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after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer. You may retender properly withdrawn old notes by following the procedures described under "—Procedures for Tendering" above at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date of the exchange offer.
Fees and Expenses
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders. The principal solicitation is being made by electronic mail; however, we may make additional solicitation by facsimile, telephone, mail or in person by our officers and regular employees and those of our affiliates.
We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its related reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
We will pay the cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer. They include:
- •
- all registration and filing fees and expenses;
- •
- all fees and expenses of compliance with federal securities and state "blue sky" or securities laws;
- •
- accounting and legal fees, disbursements and printing, messenger and delivery services, and telephone costs; and
- •
- related fees and expenses.
Transfer Taxes
We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of old notes under the exchange offer. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of old notes under the exchange offer.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange
If you do not exchange new notes for your old notes under the exchange offer you will remain subject to the existing restrictions on transfer of the old notes. In general, you may not offer or sell the old notes unless the offer or sale is either registered under the Securities Act or exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the old notes under the Securities Act.
Accounting Treatment
We will record the new notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the old notes. This carrying value is the aggregate principal amount of the old notes less any bond discount, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with the exchange offer.
Other
Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.
We may in the future seek to acquire untendered old notes in open market or privately-negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any old notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered old notes.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
The exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement. We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the new notes in the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the new notes as contemplated by this prospectus, we will receive old notes in a like principal amount. The form and terms of the new notes are identical in all respects to the form and terms of the old notes, except the new notes will be registered under the Securities Act and will not contain restrictions on transfer, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. Old notes surrendered in exchange for the new notes will be retired and cancelled and will not be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the new notes will not result in any change in outstanding indebtedness.
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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
We are offering up to $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of our new 7.00% senior notes due 2027, which have been registered under the Securities Act, referred to in this prospectus as the "new notes," for any and all of our outstanding unregistered 7.00% senior notes due 2027, referred to in this prospectus as the "old notes," that we issued on July 31, 2019 in a transaction not requiring registration under the Securities Act. We are offering you new notes in exchange for old notes in order to satisfy our registration obligations from this initial sale of the old notes. The new notes will be treated as a single class with any old notes that remain outstanding after the completion of the exchange offer. The old notes and the new notes are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the "notes." The old notes were issued, and the new notes will be issued, under an indenture (as amended and supplemented, the "indenture") dated as of July 31, 2019 among the Issuers, the Guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (the "trustee"). The terms of the notes include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act.
You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this description under the subheading "—Certain Definitions." In this description, the term "Company," "us," "our" or "we" refers only to Global Partners LP and not to any of its subsidiaries, the term "Finance Corp." refers to GLP Finance Corp., and the term "Issuers" refers to the Company and Finance Corp.
The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the indenture. It does not restate that agreement in its entirety. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not this description, defines the rights of Holders of the notes. A copy of the indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Certain defined terms used in this description but not defined below under "—Certain Definitions" have the meanings assigned to them in the indenture.
Brief Description of the Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees
The notes. The notes:
- •
- are the general unsecured obligations of the Issuers;
- •
- rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future Senior Debt of either of the Issuers, including the 2023 Senior Notes;
- •
- rank effectively junior in right of payment to any secured Indebtedness of either of the Issuers, including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such Indebtedness;
- •
- rank senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of either of the Issuers; and
- •
- are unconditionally guaranteed by the Guarantors on a senior unsecured basis.
The subsidiary guarantees. The notes are guaranteed by all of the Company's existing Subsidiaries other than Finance Corp. and the Company's 60%-owned Restricted Subsidiary, Basin Transload, LLC.
Each guarantee of the notes:
- •
- is the general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor;
- •
- ranks equally in right of payment with all existing and future Senior Debt of that Guarantor, including its guarantee of the 2023 Senior Notes;
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- •
- ranks effectively junior in right of payment to any secured Indebtedness of that Guarantor, including Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such Indebtedness;
- •
- ranks senior in right of payment to any future subordinated Indebtedness of that Guarantor; and
- •
- is structurally subordinated to all liabilities of Basin Transload, LLC and any future non-guarantor Subsidiaries.
The indenture permits us and the Guarantors to incur additional Indebtedness, including additional Senior Debt.
Currently, all of our existing Subsidiaries (other than Finance Corp. and Basin Transload, LLC) guarantee the notes. Under the circumstances described below under the subheading "—Certain Covenants—Additional Subsidiary Guarantees," in the future one or more of our newly created or acquired Subsidiaries may not guarantee the notes. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of these non-guarantor Subsidiaries, the non-guarantor Subsidiaries will pay current outstanding obligations to the holders of their debt and their trade creditors before they will be able to distribute any of their assets to us.
As of the date of this prospectus, all of our Subsidiaries (including Basin Transload, LLC) are "Restricted Subsidiaries." However, under the circumstances described below under the subheading "—Certain Covenants—Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries," we may designate certain of our Subsidiaries as "Unrestricted Subsidiaries." Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to many of the restrictive covenants in the indenture. Our Unrestricted Subsidiaries will not guarantee the notes.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Issuers issued the old notes with an initial maximum aggregate principal amount of $400.0 million. In addition to the new notes offered hereby and the old notes, the Issuers may issue additional notes from time to time in the future. Any later offering of additional notes will be subject to the covenant described below under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock." Any old notes remaining outstanding after the completion of the exchange offer and any additional notes subsequently issued under the indenture, together with all new notes, will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the indenture, including, without limitation, for waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase, and the term "notes" refers to all such notes. The Issuers will issue notes in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The notes will mature on August 1, 2027.
Interest on the notes accrues at the rate of 7.00% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on August 1 and February 1, commencing February 1, 2020. The Issuers will make each interest payment to the Holders of record on the July 15 and January 15 immediately preceding each interest payment date.
In the case of the new notes, all interest accrued on the old notes from the date of issuance, July 31, 2019, will be treated as having accrued on the new notes that are issued in exchange for the old notes. Interest is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a Holder of at least $5.0 million in aggregate principal amount has given wire transfer instructions to the Issuers, the Issuers will pay all principal, interest and premium, if any, on that Holder's notes in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the notes will be made at the office or agency of the paying agent and registrar within the City and State of New York unless the
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Issuers elect to make interest payments by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders.
Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The trustee currently acts as paying agent and registrar. The Issuers may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the Holders of the notes, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.
Transfer and Exchange
A Holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a Holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes. No service charge will be imposed by the Issuers, the trustee or the registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but Holders will be required to pay all Taxes due on transfer or exchange. The Issuers are not required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also, the Issuers are not required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.
Subsidiary Guarantees
Currently, all of our existing Subsidiaries, excluding Finance Corp. and Basin Transload, LLC, guarantee the notes on a senior unsecured basis. In the future, Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company will be required to guarantee the notes under the circumstances described under "—Certain Covenants—Additional Subsidiary Guarantees." These Subsidiary Guarantees are full and unconditional, joint and several obligations of the Guarantors. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that Subsidiary Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law, although this limitation may not be effective to prevent the Subsidiary Guarantees from being voided in bankruptcy. See "Risk Factors—Risks Related to the New Notes—A subsidiary guarantee could be voided if it constitutes a fraudulent transfer under U.S. bankruptcy or similar state law, which would prevent the holders of the notes from relying on that subsidiary to satisfy claims."
A Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person, other than the Company or another Guarantor, unless:
- (1)
- immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
- (2)
- either:
- (a)
- the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) unconditionally assumes, pursuant to a supplemental indenture substantially in the form specified in the indenture, all the obligations of that Guarantor under the notes, the indenture and its Subsidiary Guarantee on terms set forth therein; or
- (b)
- such sale or other disposition does not violate the "Asset Sales" provisions of the indenture.
The Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor will be automatically released:
- (1)
- in connection with any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of that Guarantor (including by way of merger or consolidation) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Company or a Restricted
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See "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales."
Optional Redemption
At any time prior to August 1, 2022, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes issued under the indenture at a redemption price of 107% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings, provided that:
- (1)
- at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes issued under the indenture remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding notes held by the Company and its Subsidiaries); and
- (2)
- the redemption occurs within 180 days of the date of the closing of each such Equity Offering.
On or after August 1, 2022, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the notes at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes to be redeemed to the applicable redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on August 1 of the years indicated below:
| | | | |
Year | | Percentage | |
---|
2022 | | | 103.500 | % |
2023 | | | 102.333 | % |
2024 | | | 101.167 | % |
2025 and thereafter | | | 100.000 | % |
Prior to August 1, 2022, the Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem all or part of the notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of:
- (1)
- the principal amount thereof, plus
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- (2)
- the Make Whole Premium, plus
- (3)
- accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).
Selection and Notice
If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select notes for redemption as follows:
- (1)
- if the notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the notes are listed; or
- (2)
- if the notes are not listed on any national securities exchange, on a pro rata basis (except that any notes represented by a global note will be redeemed by such method as the DTC may require).
No notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part. Notices of optional redemption will be sent at least 15 but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address, except that optional redemption notices may be sent more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture.
Any such redemption may, at the Company's discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including any related Equity Offering. If such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, the related notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company's discretion, the date of redemption may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived (provided that in no event shall such date of redemption be delayed to a date later than 60 days after the date on which such notice was sent), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the date of redemption, or by the date of redemption as so delayed.
If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that note will state the portion of the principal amount of that note that is to be redeemed. A new note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note will be issued in the name of the Holder of notes upon cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption without any condition precedent will become due on the date fixed for redemption, and at the redemption price. On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on notes or portions of them called for redemption, unless the Issuers default in the payment of the redemption price.
Mandatory Redemption; Open Market Purchases
Except as set forth below under "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders," neither of the Issuers will be required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes or to repurchase the notes at the option of the Holders.
The Company may acquire notes by means other than a redemption, whether by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transaction or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws, so long as such acquisition does not otherwise violate the terms of the indenture.
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Repurchase at the Option of Holders
Change of Control Triggering Event
If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the notes as described under "—Optional Redemption," each Holder of notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of that Holder's notes pursuant to a cash tender offer ("Change of Control Offer") on the terms set forth in the indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer a payment in cash ("Change of Control Payment") equal to at least 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased, to the date of settlement (the "Change of Control Settlement Date"), subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of Control Settlement Date.
No later than 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Issuers have previously or concurrently exercised their right to redeem all of the notes as described under "—Optional Redemption," the Company will send a notice to each Holder and the trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase notes on the Change of Control Settlement Date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent, pursuant to the procedures required by the indenture and described in such notice.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of the indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of the indenture by virtue of such conflict.
On or before the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful, accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Promptly thereafter on the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company will:
- (1)
- deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered (and not validly withdrawn); and
- (2)
- deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers' certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being purchased by the Company.
On the Change of Control Settlement Date, the paying agent will mail to each Holder of notes properly tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes (or, if all the notes are then in global form, make such payment through the facilities of DTC), and the trustee will 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, however, that each new note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Settlement Date.
The Credit Agreement provides that certain change of control events with respect to the Company would constitute an event of default thereunder, entitling the lenders, among other things, to accelerate the maturity of all Indebtedness outstanding thereunder. Any future credit agreements or other
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agreements relating to Indebtedness to which the Company or any Guarantor becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. The indenture provides that, prior to complying with any of the provisions of this "Change of Control Triggering Event" covenant, but in any event no later than the Change of Control Settlement Date, the Company or any Guarantor must either repay all of its other outstanding Senior Debt or obtain the requisite consents, if any, under all agreements governing such Senior Debt to permit the repurchase of notes required by this covenant.
The provisions described above that require the Company to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Triggering Event will be applicable whether or not any other provisions of the indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control Triggering Event, the indenture does not contain provisions that permit the Holders of the notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Triggering Event if (1) a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer or (2) in connection with, or in contemplation of, any publicly announced Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company or a third party has made an offer to purchase (an "Alternate Offer") any and all notes properly tendered at a cash price equal to or higher than the Change of Control Payment and has purchased all such notes properly tendered in accordance with the terms of such Alternate Offer. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the indenture, a Change of Control Offer by the Company or a third party may be made in advance of a Change of Control Triggering Event, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control Triggering Event, if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control Triggering Event at the time the Change of Control Offer is made.
The definition of Change of Control Triggering Event includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of "all or substantially all" of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase "substantially all," there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of notes to require the Company to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.
In the event that Holders of not less than 90% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes accept a Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer and the Company (or the third party making the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer in lieu of the Company) purchases all of the notes held by such Holders, the Issuers will have the right, upon not less than 15 nor more than 60 days' prior notice, given not more than 30 days following the purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer or Alternate Offer described above, to redeem all of the notes that remain outstanding following such purchase at a redemption price equal to the Change of Control Payment or Alternate Offer price, as applicable, plus, to the extent not included in the Change of Control Payment or Alternate Offer price, as applicable, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes that remain outstanding, to the date of redemption (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date).
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Asset Sales
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
- (1)
- the Company (or a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value of the assets or Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and
- (2)
- at least 75% of the aggregate consideration received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Asset Sale and all other Asset Sales since June 4, 2015 is in the form of cash. For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be deemed to be cash:
- (a)
- any liabilities, as shown on the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet, of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets pursuant to a novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;
- (b)
- any securities, notes or other obligations received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are, within 180 days after the Asset Sale, converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, to the extent of the cash received in that conversion;
- (c)
- any Capital Stock or assets of the kind referred to in clauses (2), (4) or (5) of the following paragraph; and
- (d)
- any Designated Non-cash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having a fair market value, taken together with all other Designated Non-cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (d), not to exceed 5.0% of the Company's Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).
Within 360 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale (or within 180 days after such 360-day period in the event the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary enters into a binding commitment with respect to such application within such 360-day period), the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may apply those Net Proceeds at its option to any combination of the following:
- (1)
- to repay, redeem, repurchase or otherwise retire Senior Debt, including notes;
- (2)
- to acquire all or substantially all of the properties or assets of a Person primarily engaged in a Permitted Business;
- (3)
- to acquire any Capital Stock of a Person primarily engaged in a Permitted Business if, after giving effect to any such acquisition of Capital Stock, such Person is or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
- (4)
- to make capital expenditures; or
- (5)
- to acquire other long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business.
Pending the final application of any Net Proceeds, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may invest the Net Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the indenture. Any Net Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will constitute "Excess Proceeds."
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On the 361st day after the Asset Sale (or, at the Company's option, any earlier date), if the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds then exceeds $20.0 million, the Company will make an Asset Sale Offer to all Holders of notes, and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari passu with the notes containing provisions similar to those set forth in the indenture with respect to offers to purchase or redeem with the proceeds of sales of assets, to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of settlement, subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the date of settlement, and will be payable in cash. If any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may use those Excess Proceeds for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by the indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of notes and other pari passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the trustee will select the notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis as set forth in the indenture. Upon completion of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset at zero.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with each repurchase of notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the "Asset Sales" provisions of the indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the "Asset Sales" provisions of the indenture by virtue of such conflict.
Certain Covenants
Restricted Payments
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
- (1)
- declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of the Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or indirect holders of the Company's or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or payable to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company);
- (2)
- purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation, in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company) any Equity Interests of the Company or any direct or indirect parent of the Company;
- (3)
- make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except a payment of interest or principal at the Stated Maturity thereof or within six months of the final Stated Maturity thereof; or
- (4)
- make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above being collectively referred to as "Restricted Payments");
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unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a consequence of such Restricted Payment and either:
- (1)
- if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment (the "Trailing Four Quarters") is not less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of the next succeeding paragraph) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made, is less than the sum, without duplication, of:
- (a)
- Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow as of the end of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter, plus
- (b)
- 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company, or the fair market value of any Permitted Business or long-term assets that are used or useful in a Permitted Business to the extent acquired in consideration of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) after the Prior Issue Date as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the issue or sale of convertible or exchangeable Disqualified Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt securities of the Company that have been converted into or exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities) sold to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), plus
- (c)
- to the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Prior Issue Date is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the cash return of capital with respect to such Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any), plus
- (d)
- the net reduction in Restricted Investments resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers of assets in each case to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any Person (including, without limitation, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries as Restricted Subsidiaries to the extent such amounts have not been included in Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow for any period commencing on or after the Prior Issue Date (items (b), (c) and (d) being referred to as "Incremental Funds"), minus
- (e)
- the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds previously expended pursuant to this clause (1) and clause (2) below; or
- (2)
- if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Trailing Four Quarters is less than 1.75 to 1.0, such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) of the next succeeding paragraph) with respect to the quarter for which such Restricted Payment is made (such Restricted Payments for purposes of this clause (2) meaning only distributions on the Company's common units, preferred units, subordinated units, or incentive distribution rights, plus the related distribution to the General Partner), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:
- (a)
- $100.0 million less the aggregate amount of all prior Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to this clause (2)(a) since the Prior Issue Date, plus
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- (b)
- Incremental Funds to the extent not previously expended pursuant to this clause (2) or clause (1) above.
The preceding provisions will not prohibit:
- (1)
- the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of its declaration, if at the date of declaration the payment would have complied with the provisions of the indenture;
- (2)
- the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of any subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent (a) contribution (other than from a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) to the equity capital of the Company or (b) sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), with a sale being deemed substantially concurrent if such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement occurs not more than 120 days after such sale; provided, however, that the amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement will be excluded (or deducted, if included) from the calculation of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow and Incremental Funds;
- (3)
- the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement of subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor with the net cash proceeds from an incurrence of, or in exchange for, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
- (4)
- the payment of any dividend or distribution by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis or a basis more favorable to the Company;
- (5)
- so long as no Default (except a Reporting Default) or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby, the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company pursuant to any director or employee equity subscription agreement or equity option agreement or other employee benefit plan or to satisfy obligations under any Equity Interests appreciation rights or option plan or similar arrangement, including the Repurchase Program of Global GP LLC; provided, however, that the aggregate price paid for all such purchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $10.0 million in any calendar year, with any portion of such $10.0 million amount that is unused in any calendar year to be carried forward to successive calendar years and added to such amount;
- (6)
- the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of unit options, warrants, incentives, rights to acquire Equity Interests or other convertible securities if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise or exchange price thereof, and any purchase, repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of Equity Interests made in lieu of withholding Taxes in connection with any exercise or exchange of unit options, warrants, incentives or rights to acquire Equity Interests; or
- (7)
- any purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any subordinated Indebtedness (i) at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such subordinated Indebtedness plus accrued interest in accordance with provisions similar to the covenant described under "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event" or (ii) at a purchase price not greater than 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest in accordance with provisions similar to the covenant described under "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales"; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or
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retirement for value, the Company shall have complied with the provisions of the indenture described under the caption "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event" or "—Asset Sales," as the case may be, and repurchased all notes validly tendered and accepted for payment in connection with the Change of Control Offer or Asset Sale Offer, as the case may be.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment proposed to be made of the securities or other assets proposed to be issued or transferred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment, except that the fair market value of any non-cash dividend made within 60 days after the date of declaration shall be determined as of such date of declaration. The fair market value of any Restricted Investment, securities or other assets that are required to be valued by this covenant will be determined in the manner prescribed by the definition of such term.
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable, contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, issue any Disqualified Stock, and the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Guarantor) to issue any preferred stock; provided, however, that the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Stock and any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor may issue preferred stock, if, for the Company's most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would have been at least 2.0 to 1.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued, as the case may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness (collectively, "Permitted Debt") or the issuance of any preferred securities described below:
- (1)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under one or more Credit Facilities, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) (with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $1.6 billion and (b) the sum of the Company's Borrowing Base at the time of determination and $850.0 million;
- (2)
- the incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of the Existing Indebtedness;
- (3)
- the incurrence by the Issuers and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by (a) the old notes issued and sold on the Initial Issuance Date and the related Subsidiary Guarantees and (b) the Exchange Notes and the related Subsidiary Guarantees issued pursuant to any registration rights agreement;
- (4)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case, incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or equipment used in the business of
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the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), provided that after giving effect to any such incurrence, the principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $150.0 million or (b) 7.5% of the Company's Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at such time;
- (5)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to, extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund Indebtedness that was permitted by the indenture to be incurred under the first paragraph of this covenant or clause (2), (3) or (12) of this paragraph or this clause (5);
- (6)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness between or among the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that:
- (a)
- if the Company is the obligor on such Indebtedness and a Guarantor is not the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the notes, or if a Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and neither the Company nor another Guarantor is the obligee, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Guarantor; and
- (b)
- (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is neither the Company nor a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (6);
- (7)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations under Hedging Contracts;
- (8)
- the guarantee by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of this covenant;
- (9)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of obligations relating to net Hydrocarbon balancing positions arising in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
- (10)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness in respect of bid, performance, surety and similar bonds issued for the account of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including guarantees and obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to letters of credit supporting such obligations (in each case other than an obligation for money borrowed);
- (11)
- the issuance by any of the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or to any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any preferred securities; provided, however, that:
- (a)
- any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such preferred securities being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; and
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- (b)
- any sale or other transfer of any such preferred securities to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred securities by such Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (11);
- (12)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Acquired Debt in connection with a merger or consolidation meeting either one of the financial tests set forth in clause (4) under the caption "—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets"; and
- (13)
- the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness or the issuance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Disqualified Stock, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence or issuance, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred and Disqualified Stock issued under this clause (13) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (a) $100.0 million or (b) 6.0% of the Company's Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
For purposes of determining compliance with this "Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1) through (13) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be permitted to classify (or later classify or reclassify in whole or in part in its sole discretion) such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement on the Initial Issuance Date (after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of the offering of the notes and the consummation of the refinancing of the Company's 6.25% Senior Notes due 2022) shall be considered incurred under clause (1) of Permitted Debt.
The accrual of interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or preferred stock in the form of additional shares or units of the same class of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an issuance of Disqualified Stock or preferred stock for purposes of this covenant, provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued to the extent required by the definition of such term. Further, the accounting reclassification of any obligation of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as Indebtedness will not be deemed an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant.
Liens
The Company will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) securing Indebtedness upon any of their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, unless the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, is secured on an equal and ratable basis with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of obligations subordinated in right of payment to the notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be) the obligations so secured until such time as such obligations are no longer secured by a Lien.
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Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
- (1)
- pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the priority that any series of preferred securities of a Restricted Subsidiary has in receiving dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions before dividends, distributions or liquidating distributions are paid in respect of common equity of such Restricted Subsidiary shall not constitute a restriction on the ability to make dividends or distributions on Capital Stock for purposes of this covenant;
- (2)
- make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (it being understood that the subordination of loans or advances made to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary to other Indebtedness incurred by the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary will not be deemed a restriction on the ability to make loans or advances); or
- (3)
- transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
- (1)
- agreements as in effect on the Initial Issuance Date and any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of those agreements or the Indebtedness to which they relate, provided that the amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend, distribution and other payment restrictions than those contained in those agreements on the Initial Issuance Date;
- (2)
- the indenture, the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees;
- (3)
- applicable law;
- (4)
- any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired, provided that, in the case of Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was otherwise permitted by the terms of the indenture to be incurred;
- (5)
- customary non-assignment provisions in Hydrocarbon purchase and sale or exchange agreements or similar operational agreements or in licenses, easements or leases, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
- (6)
- Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case for property acquired in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on that property of the nature described in clause (3) of the preceding paragraph;
- (7)
- any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition;
- (8)
- Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive, taken
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Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
Neither of the Issuers may, directly or indirectly: (1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person (whether or not such Issuer is the survivor); or (2) 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 Person, unless:
- (1)
- either: (a) such Issuer is the survivor; or (b) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia; provided, however, that Finance Corp. may not consolidate or merge with or into any Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement so long as the Company is not a corporation;
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- (2)
- the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Issuer) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations of such Issuer under the notes and the indenture pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee;
- (3)
- immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default exists;
- (4)
- in the case of a transaction involving the Company and not Finance Corp., either
- (a)
- the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made will, on the date of such transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption "—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock"; or
- (b)
- immediately after giving effect to such transaction and any related financing transactions on a pro forma basis as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made, will be equal to or greater than the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the Company immediately before such transactions; and
- (5)
- such Issuer has delivered to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or disposition and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the indenture.
Notwithstanding the restrictions described in the foregoing clause (4), any Restricted Subsidiary (other than Finance Corp.) may consolidate with, merge into or dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Company without complying with the preceding clause (4) in connection with any such consolidation, merger or disposition.
Notwithstanding the second preceding paragraph, the Company may reorganize as any other form of entity in accordance with the following procedures provided that:
- (1)
- the reorganization involves the conversion (by merger, sale, contribution or exchange of assets or otherwise) of the Company into a form of entity other than a limited partnership formed under Delaware law;
- (2)
- the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization is an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
- (3)
- the entity so formed by or resulting from such reorganization assumes all the obligations of the Company under the notes, the indenture and the registration rights agreement pursuant to agreements reasonably satisfactory to the trustee;
- (4)
- immediately after such reorganization no Default or Event of Default exists; and
- (5)
- such reorganization is not materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the notes (for purposes of this clause (5) a reorganization will not be considered materially adverse to the Holders or Beneficial Owners of the notes solely because the successor or survivor of such reorganization (a) is subject to federal or state income taxation as an entity or (b) is considered to be an "includible corporation" of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of the Code or any similar state or local law).
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Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase "substantially all," there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, in certain circumstances there may be a degree of uncertainty as to whether a particular transaction would involve "all or substantially all" of the properties or assets of a Person.
Transactions with Affiliates
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each, an "Affiliate Transaction") involving aggregate payments or consideration in excess of $10.0 million, unless:
- (1)
- the Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person or, if in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, no comparable transaction is available with which to compare such Affiliate Transaction, such Affiliate Transaction is otherwise fair to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view; and
- (2)
- the Company delivers to the trustee with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $20.0 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company set forth in an officers' certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction or series of Affiliate Transactions complies with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Company.
The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the provisions of the prior paragraph:
- (1)
- any employment, equity award, equity option or equity appreciation agreement or plan entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
- (2)
- transactions between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
- (3)
- transactions with a Person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary) that is an Affiliate of the Company solely because the Company owns an Equity Interest in such Person;
- (4)
- transactions effected in accordance with the terms of agreements that are identified in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K under the heading "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence," in each case as such agreements are in effect on the Initial Issuance Date, and any amendment or replacement of any of such agreements so long as such amendment or replacement agreement is no less advantageous to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any material respect than the agreement so amended or replaced;
- (5)
- customary compensation, indemnification and other benefits made available to officers, directors or employees of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including reimbursement or advancement of out-of-pocket expenses and provisions of officers' and directors' liability insurance;
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- (6)
- any issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) to, or receipt of capital contributions from, Affiliates of the Company;
- (7)
- Permitted Investments or Restricted Payments that are permitted by the provisions of the indenture described above under the caption "—Restricted Payments";
- (8)
- payments to the General Partner with respect to reimbursement for expenses in accordance with the Partnership Agreement as in effect on the Initial Issuance Date and as it may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, provided that any such amendment, modification or supplement relating to reimbursement of the General Partner for expenses is not less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any material respect than the relevant provision of the Partnership Agreement prior to such amendment, modification or supplement;
- (9)
- in the case of contracts for the purchase or sale of refined petroleum products or other Hydrocarbons or activities or services reasonably related thereto, or other operational contracts, any such contracts that are (a) entered into in the ordinary course of business on terms substantially similar to those contained in similar contracts entered into by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with third parties or (b) otherwise on terms not materially less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than those that would be available in a transaction with an unrelated third party; and
- (10)
- any Affiliate Transaction with a Person in its capacity as a holder of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Person is treated no more favorably than the other holders of Indebtedness or Capital Stock of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
The Board of Directors of the Company may designate any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate fair market value of all outstanding Investments owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary properly designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be either an Investment made as of the time of the designation that will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption "—Restricted Payments" or represent Permitted Investments, as determined by the Company. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment would be permitted at that time and if the Subsidiary so designated otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant described above under the caption "—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock," calculated on a pro forma basis as if such designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period, and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such designation.
Additional Subsidiary Guarantees
If, after the Initial Issuance Date, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not already a Guarantor guarantees any Indebtedness of either of the Issuers or any Guarantor, or any Domestic
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Subsidiary, if not then a Guarantor, incurs any Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Facility of the Company, then in either case that Subsidiary will become a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture and delivering it to the trustee within 20 Business Days of the date on which it guaranteed or incurred such Indebtedness, as the case may be. Any such guarantee shall be subject to release as described under "—Subsidiary Guarantees."
Business Activities
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any business other than a Permitted Business, except to such extent as would not be material to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Finance Corp. shall not incur Indebtedness unless (1) the Company is a co-obligor or guarantor of such Indebtedness or (2) the net proceeds of such Indebtedness are loaned to the Company, used to acquire outstanding debt securities issued by the Company or used to repay Indebtedness of the Company as permitted under the covenant described about under the caption "—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock." Finance Corp. may not engage in any business not related directly or indirectly to obtaining money or arranging financing for the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Reports
Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any notes are outstanding, the Company will furnish (whether through hard copy or internet access) to the trustee and, upon its prior request, to any of the Holders or Beneficial Owners of notes, within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and regulations:
- (1)
- all quarterly and annual financial and other information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were required to file such Forms, including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and, with respect to the annual information only, a report on the annual financial statements by the Company's certified independent accountants; and
- (2)
- all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports.
The Company will be deemed to have furnished each report required by the preceding paragraph to the trustee and the Holders and Beneficial Owners of notes if it has filed such report with the Commission using the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system) and such report is publicly available. The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether such filings have been made.
If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then, to the extent material, the quarterly and annual financial information required by the preceding paragraph will include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of the Company.
Any and all Defaults or Events of Default arising from a failure to furnish or file in a timely manner any information or report required by this covenant shall be deemed cured (and the Company shall be deemed to be in compliance with this covenant) upon furnishing or filing such information or report as contemplated by this covenant (but without regard to the date on which such information or report is so furnished or filed); provided that such cure shall not otherwise affect the rights of the
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Holders under "—Events of Default and Remedies" if principal, premium, if any, and interest have been accelerated in accordance with the terms of the indenture and such acceleration has not been rescinded or cancelled prior to such cure.
In addition, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed that, for so long as any notes remain outstanding, they will furnish to the Holders and Beneficial Owners of the notes and to securities analysts and prospective investors in the notes, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Covenant Suspension
If on any date (a) the rating assigned to the notes by both S&P and Moody's is an Investment Grade Rating, (b) no Default has occurred and is continuing under the indenture, and (c) the Issuers have delivered to the trustee an officers' certificate certifying to the foregoing provisions of this sentence, then beginning on such date the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will no longer be subject to the provisions of the indenture described above under the caption "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales" and under the following headings under the caption "—Certain Covenants" (collectively, the "Suspended Covenants"):
- •
- "—Restricted Payments,"
- •
- "—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock,"
- •
- "—Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries,"
- •
- "—Transactions with Affiliates,"
- •
- "—Business Activities," and
- •
- clause (4) of the covenant described above under the caption "—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets."
After the foregoing covenants have been suspended, the Company may not designate any of its Subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries pursuant to the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Thereafter, if either S&P or Moody's withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the notes below the Investment Grade Rating so that the notes do not have an Investment Grade Rating from both S&P and Moody's, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants, subject to the terms, conditions and obligations set forth in the indenture (each such date of reinstatement being the "Reinstatement Date"). Compliance with the Suspended Covenants with respect to Restricted Payments made after the Reinstatement Date will be calculated in accordance with the terms of the covenant described under "—Restricted Payments" as though such covenants had been in effect during the entire period of time from which the notes are issued. As a result, during any period in which the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants, the notes will be entitled to substantially reduced covenant protection.
Events of Default and Remedies
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
- (1)
- default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest on the notes;
- (2)
- default in payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on the notes;
- (3)
- failure by the Company to comply with the provisions described under the captions "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales," "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event" or "—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets";
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- (4)
- failure by the Company for 180 days after notice to the Company by the trustee or Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding to comply with the provisions described under "—Certain Covenants—Reports";
- (5)
- failure by the Company for 60 days after notice to the Company by the trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other agreements in the indenture;
- (6)
- default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is created after the Initial Issuance Date, if that default:
- (a)
- is caused by a failure to pay principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a "Payment Default"); or
- (b)
- results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity,
and, in each case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more; provided, however, that if any such Payment Default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such Indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 60 days from the continuation of such Payment Default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;
- (7)
- failure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of $50.0 million (to the extent not covered by insurance by a reputable and creditworthy insurer as to which the insurer has not disclaimed coverage), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;
- (8)
- except as permitted by the indenture, any Subsidiary Guarantee shall be held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or shall cease for any reason to be in full force and effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Guarantor, shall deny or disaffirm its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee; and
- (9)
- certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization described in the indenture with respect to Finance Corp., the Company or any of the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of its Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company.
In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, with respect to Finance Corp., the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of its Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary of the Company, 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 then outstanding notes may declare all the notes to be due and payable immediately.
Holders of the notes may not enforce the indenture or the notes except as provided in the indenture. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes may direct the trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The trustee may withhold
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notice of any continuing Default or Event of Default from Holders of the notes if it determines that withholding notice is in their interests, except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the notes.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding by notice to the trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the notes waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences under the indenture except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the notes.
The Issuers will be required to deliver to the trustee annually an officers' certificate regarding compliance with the indenture. Upon any officer of the General Partner or Finance Corp. becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Issuers will deliver to the trustee a statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Unitholders and No Recourse to the General Partner
None of the General Partner or any director, officer, partner, employee, incorporator, manager or unitholder or other owner of Capital Stock of the General Partner, Issuers or any Guarantor, as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the notes, the indenture or the Subsidiary Guarantees, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under federal securities laws.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have all of their obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding notes and all obligations of the Guarantors discharged with respect to their Subsidiary Guarantees ("Legal Defeasance"), except for:
- (1)
- the rights of Holders of outstanding notes to receive payments in respect of the principal of, and interest or premium, if any, on, such notes when such payments are due from the trust referred to below;
- (2)
- the Issuers' obligations with respect to the notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;
- (3)
- the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee, and the Issuers' obligations in connection therewith; and
- (4)
- the Legal Defeasance provisions of the indenture.
In addition, the Issuers may, at their option and at any time, elect to have their obligations released with respect to certain covenants that are described in the indenture ("Covenant Defeasance") and thereafter any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment, bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization events) described under "—Events of Default and Remedies" will no longer constitute an Event of Default with respect to the notes. If the Issuers exercise either their Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for the notes (other than the trust) will be released.
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In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
- (1)
- the Issuers must irrevocably deposit with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the notes, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and interest and premium, if any, on, the outstanding notes on the date of fixed maturity or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Issuers must specify whether the notes are being defeased to the date of fixed maturity or to a particular redemption date;
- (2)
- in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that:
- (a)
- the Issuers have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
- (b)
- since the Initial Issuance Date, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
- (3)
- in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the trustee confirming that the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
- (4)
- no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness) and the granting of Liens to secure such borrowings);
- (5)
- such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the indenture and the agreements or instruments governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
- (6)
- the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuers with the intent of preferring the Holders of notes over the other creditors of the Issuers with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Issuers or others; and
- (7)
- the Issuers must deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
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Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the indenture or the notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes), and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the indenture or the notes may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes).
Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any notes held by a non-consenting Holder):
- (1)
- reduce the principal amount of notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
- (2)
- reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption or repurchase of the notes (other than provisions relating to minimum required notice of optional redemption or those provisions relating to the covenants described above under the caption "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders");
- (3)
- reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any note;
- (4)
- waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the notes by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
- (5)
- make any note payable in currency other than that stated in the notes;
- (6)
- make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the notes (other than as permitted in clause (7) below);
- (7)
- waive a redemption or repurchase payment with respect to any note (other than a payment required by one of the covenants described above under the caption "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders");
- (8)
- release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee or the indenture, except in accordance with the terms of the indenture; or
- (9)
- make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions.
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any Holder of notes, the Issuers, the Guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the notes:
- (1)
- to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
- (2)
- to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certificated notes;
- (3)
- to provide for the assumption of an Issuer's obligations to Holders of notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of such Issuer's properties or assets;
- (4)
- to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of notes or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under the indenture of any such Holder, provided that any change to conform the indenture to the Offering Memorandum will not be deemed to adversely affect such legal rights;
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- (5)
- to secure the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees pursuant to the requirements of the covenant described above under the subheading "—Certain Covenants—Liens";
- (6)
- to provide for the issuance of additional notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the indenture;
- (7)
- to add any additional Guarantor or to evidence the release of any Guarantor from its Subsidiary Guarantee, in each case as provided in the indenture;
- (8)
- to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
- (9)
- to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the indenture of a successor trustee; or
- (10)
- to make any amendment to the provisions of the indenture relating to the transfer and legending of the notes as permitted by the indenture, including, without limitation, to facilitate the issuance and administration of the notes, Exchange Notes or, if incurred in compliance with the indenture, additional notes; provided, however, that (A) compliance with the indenture as so amended would not result in notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (B) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer notes.
Satisfaction and Discharge
The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all notes issued thereunder (except as to surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of the notes and as otherwise specified in the indenture), when:
- (1)
- either:
- (a)
- all notes that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and notes for whose payment money has been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Issuers, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or
- (b)
- all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise and the Issuers or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination of cash in U.S. dollars and non-callable Government Securities, in amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of fixed maturity or redemption;
- (2)
- in the case of clause (1)(b) above, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of the deposit or will occur as a result of the deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing or securing of funds to be applied to such deposit) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than the indenture and the agreements or instruments governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
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- (3)
- the Issuers or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the indenture; and
- (4)
- the Issuers have delivered irrevocable instructions to the trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the notes at fixed maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.
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.
Concerning the Trustee
The trustee under the indenture, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, also serves as trustee under the indenture for the 2023 Senior Notes.
If the trustee becomes a creditor of an Issuer or any Guarantor, the indenture will limit its right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the Trust Indenture Act) after a Default has occurred and is continuing, it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as trustee (if the indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act) or resign.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding notes have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee, subject to certain exceptions. The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its powers, to use the degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any Holder of notes, unless such Holder has offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
Governing Law
The indenture, the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees are governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Certain Definitions
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the indenture. Reference is made to the indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person:
- (1)
- Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person was merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified Person, but excluding Indebtedness which is extinguished, retired or repaid in connection with such Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such specified Person; and
- (2)
- Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control," as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or
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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, however, that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control by the other Person; and further, that any third Person which also beneficially owns 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a specified Person shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of either the specified Person or the other Person merely because of such common ownership in such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with" have correlative meanings.
"Asset Sale" means:
- (1)
- the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any properties or assets (including by way of a sale and leaseback transaction); provided, however, that the disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the provisions of the indenture described above under the caption "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Change of Control Triggering Event" and/or the provisions described above under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets" and not by the provisions of the Asset Sales covenant; and
- (2)
- the issuance of Equity Interests in any of the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity Interests in any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than preferred stock or Disqualified Stock issued in compliance with the covenant described under "Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock."
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will not be deemed to be Asset Sales:
- (1)
- any single transaction or series of related transactions that involves properties or assets having a fair market value of less than $20.0 million;
- (2)
- a transfer of properties or assets between or among any of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
- (3)
- an issuance or sale of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary;
- (4)
- the sale, lease or other disposition of equipment, inventory, accounts receivable or other properties or assets in the ordinary course of business;
- (5)
- the sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents, Hedging Contracts or other financial instruments in the ordinary course of business;
- (6)
- a Restricted Payment that is permitted by the covenant described above under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments" or a Permitted Investment;
- (7)
- the creation or perfection of a Lien that is not prohibited by the covenant described above under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Liens";
- (8)
- dispositions in connection with Permitted Liens;
- (9)
- surrender or waiver of contract rights or the settlement, release or surrender of contract, tort or other claims of any kind;
- (10)
- the grant in the ordinary course of business of any non- exclusive license of patents, trademarks, registrations therefor and other similar intellectual property; and
- (11)
- an Asset Swap.
"Asset Swap" means any substantially contemporaneous (and in any event occurring within 360 days of each other) purchase and sale or exchange of any assets or properties used or useful in a
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Permitted Business between the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and another Person; provided that any cash received must be applied in accordance with the covenant described above under the caption "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales" as if the Asset Swap were an Asset Sale.
"Available Cash" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Initial Issuance Date.
"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 correlative meanings. For purposes of this definition, a Person shall be deemed not to Beneficially Own securities that are the subject of a stock purchase agreement, merger agreement or similar agreement until consummation of the transactions or, as applicable, series of related transactions contemplated thereby.
"Board of Directors" means:
- (1)
- with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;
- (2)
- with respect to a partnership, the board of directors or board of managers of the general partner of the partnership or, if such general partner is itself a limited partnership, then the board of directors or board of managers of its general partner;
- (3)
- with respect to a limited liability company, the board of managers or directors, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and
- (4)
- with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.
"Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the applicable Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the trustee.
"Borrowing Base" means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of:
- (1)
- 100% of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents included in such Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; plus
- (2)
- 90% of net equity in the aggregate amount of all sums deposited by such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries with investment grade commodities brokers on nationally recognized exchanges, after deducting therefrom the aggregate amount of all claims, disputes, contras and offsets (contingent or otherwise) by such brokers or any other Person against such deposits, in each case as included in such Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; plus
- (3)
- 90% of accounts receivable, net of (a) any allowance for doubtful accounts or other adjustments, included in such Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) any receivables sold by a Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries to a third party (including a trust) in connection with a receivables securitization; plus
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- (4)
- 90% of inventory included in such Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP; plus
- (5)
- 90% of the fair market value determined on a mark-to-market basis (net of storage and transportation costs) of fixed forward sales contracts included in such Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, (exclusive, for the avoidance of doubt, of any forward sales contracts pursuant to which future services, goods or products are provided by such Person or its Restricted Subsidiaries in exchange for upfront payments); provided that, if such amount is a negative number, 100% of such negative amount shall be deducted from the Borrowing Base; plus
- (6)
- 40% of property, plant and equipment, net of any depreciation, amortization or other adjustments, included in such Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;
provided that the cash, cash equivalents, margin deposits, accounts receivable, inventory, fixed forward sales contracts, property, plant and equipment of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base.
"Business Day" means each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or another place of payment are authorized or required by law to close.
"Capital Lease Obligation" means, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease or finance lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP. Notwithstanding the preceding, any lease (whether entered into before or after December 31, 2018) that would have been classified as an operating lease pursuant to GAAP as in effect on December 31, 2018 will be deemed not to represent a Capital Lease Obligation notwithstanding any change in GAAP following thereafter.
"Capital Stock" means:
- (1)
- in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
- (2)
- in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
- (3)
- in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
- (4)
- any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means:
- (1)
- United States dollars;
- (2)
- securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the United States government (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities) having maturities of not more than six months from the date of acquisition;
- (3)
- marketable general obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition thereof, having a credit rating of "A" or better from either S&P or Moody's;
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- (4)
- certificates of deposit, demand deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers' acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any lender party to the Credit Agreement or with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of "B" or better;
- (5)
- repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (4) above;
- (6)
- commercial paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Moody's or S&P and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; and
- (7)
- money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (1) through (6) of this definition.
"Change of Control Triggering Event" means the occurrence of any of the following:
- (1)
- (a) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets (including Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, to any "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), and (b) only if the notes are rated by at least one of S&P or Moody's, a Rating Decline within 90 days of the consummation of such transaction;
- (2)
- the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or removal of the General Partner by the limited partners of the Company; or
- (3)
- (a) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, the result of which is that any "person" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Slifka Group, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of either the General Partner or of the Company, measured by voting power rather than number of shares, units or the like, and (b) only if the notes are rated by at least one of S&P or Moody's, a Rating Decline within 90 days thereof.
Notwithstanding the preceding, a conversion of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from a limited partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other form of entity to a limited liability company, corporation, limited partnership or other form of entity or an exchange of all of the outstanding Equity Interests in one form of entity for Equity Interests in another form of entity shall not constitute a Change of Control Triggering Event, so long as following such conversion or exchange the "persons" (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) who Beneficially Owned the Capital Stock of the Company immediately prior to such transactions continue to Beneficially Own in the aggregate more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity, or continue to Beneficially Own sufficient Equity Interests in such entity to elect a majority of its directors, managers, trustees or other persons serving in a similar capacity for such entity or its general partner, as applicable, and, in either case no "person," other than the Slifka Group, Beneficially Owns more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such entity or its general partner, as applicable.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
"Commission" or "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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"Consolidated Cash Flow" means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus:
- (1)
- an amount equal to any net loss realized by such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale, to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
- (2)
- provision for Taxes based on income or profits of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent that such provision for Taxes was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
- (3)
- consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued and whether or not capitalized (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts, to the extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
- (4)
- depreciation and amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period), impairment, non-cash equity based compensation expense and other non-cash items (excluding any such non-cash item to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation and amortization, impairment and other non-cash items that were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
- (5)
- unrealized non-cash losses resulting from foreign currency balance sheet adjustments required by GAAP to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
- (6)
- all extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items of loss or expense, to the extent that any such item was deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus
- (7)
- non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than items that were accrued in the ordinary course of business,
in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP, provided that:
- (1)
- the Net Income (but not loss) of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included, but only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Person;
- (2)
- the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of
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its charter or any judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders, partners or members;
- (3)
- the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be excluded;
- (4)
- unrealized losses and gains under Hedging Contracts included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, including, without limitation those resulting from the application of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815 will be excluded; and
- (5)
- any nonrecurring charges relating to any premium or penalty paid, write off of deferred finance costs or other charges in connection with redeeming or retiring any Indebtedness prior to its Stated Maturity will be excluded.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in such Person's most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP 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.
"Credit Agreement" means that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2017, among Global Operating LLC, the Company and the other subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended by the First Amendment thereto, dated September 10, 2018, the Second Amendment thereto, dated September 10, 2018, and the Third Amendment thereto, dated April 19, 2019, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as further amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time.
"Credit Facilities" means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities or secured capital markets financings, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders or institutional investors providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables), letters of credit or secured capital markets financings, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including refinancing with any capital markets transaction) in whole or in part from time to time.
"Default" means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
"Designated Non-cash Consideration" means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Non-cash Consideration pursuant to an officer's certificate setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-cash Consideration.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each case at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Capital Stock, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because the holders of the Capital Stock have the right to require the
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Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the covenant described above under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments."
"Distributable Cash Flow" has the meaning assigned to such term in the Partnership Agreement, as in effect on the Initial Issuance Date.
"Domestic Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that was formed under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"Equity Offering" means any public or private sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and other than to a Subsidiary of the Company) made for cash on a primary basis by the Company after the Initial Issuance Date (other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any employee benefit plan of the Company).
"Exchange Notes" means the notes issued in an Exchange Offer pursuant to the indenture.
"Exchange Offer" has the meaning set forth for such term in the applicable registration rights agreement.
"Existing Indebtedness" means the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than (i) the notes and the Subsidiary Guarantees, (ii) Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, which is considered incurred under clause (1) of Permitted Debt, and (iii) intercompany Indebtedness) in existence on the Initial Issuance Date, until such amounts are repaid.
The term "fair market value" means the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company in the case of amounts of $25.0 million or more and otherwise by an officer of the General Partner.
"Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" means with respect to any specified Person for any four-quarter reference period, the ratio of the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges of such Person for such period. In the event that the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees, repays, repurchases or redeems any Indebtedness (other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the applicable four-quarter reference period and on or prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the "Calculation Date"), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment, repurchase or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the proceeds therefrom as if the same had occurred at the beginning of such period. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the average rate in effect from the beginning of such period to the Calculation Date had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any interest Hedging Contract applicable to such Indebtedness, but if the remaining term of such interest Hedging Contract is less than 12 months, then such interest Hedging Contract shall only be taken into account for that portion of the period equal to the remaining term thereof). If any Indebtedness that is being given pro forma effect bears an interest rate at the option of such Person, the interest rate shall be calculated by applying such optional rate chosen by such Person. Interest on Indebtedness that may optionally be
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determined at an interest rate based upon a factor of a prime or similar rate, a eurocurrency interbank offered rate, or other rate, shall be deemed to have been based upon the rate actually chosen, or, if none, then based upon such optional rate chosen as such Person may designate.
In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
- (1)
- acquisitions that have been made by the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through mergers, consolidations or otherwise (including acquisitions of assets used in a Permitted Business), and including in each case any related financing transactions (including repayment of Indebtedness) during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the Calculation Date, will be given pro forma effect as if they had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period, including any Consolidated Cash Flow and any pro forma expense and cost reductions that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur within the next 12 months, in the reasonable judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the General Partner (regardless of whether those cost savings or operating improvements could then be reflected in pro forma financial statements in accordance with Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act or any other regulation or policy of the Commission related thereto);
- (2)
- the Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded;
- (3)
- the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date;
- (4)
- any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at all times during such four-quarter period;
- (5)
- any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person on the Calculation Date will be deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary of the specified Person at any time during such four-quarter period; and
- (6)
- interest income reasonably anticipated by such Person to be received during the applicable four-quarter period from cash or Cash Equivalents held by such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person, which cash or Cash Equivalents exist on the Calculation Date or will exist as a result of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, will be included.
"Fixed Charges" means, with respect to any specified Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:
- (1)
- the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued (including, without limitation, amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers' acceptance financings), and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to interest rate Hedging Contracts; plus
- (2)
- the consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries that was capitalized during such period; plus
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- (3)
- any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person that is guaranteed by such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of such Person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus
- (4)
- all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of Disqualified Stock of such Person or on any preferred securities of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividends on such Equity Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the payor (other than Disqualified Stock) or to such Person or a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person,
in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Foreign Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.
"General Partner" means Global GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns as general partner of the Company or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of the Company.
"Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, Taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supranational bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
The term "guarantee" means a guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets, acting as co-obligor or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness. When used as a verb, "guarantee" has a correlative meaning.
"Guarantors" means each of:
- (1)
- the Subsidiaries of the Company, other than Finance Corp. and Basin Transload, LLC, executing the indenture as initial Guarantors; and
- (2)
- any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with the provisions of the indenture;
and their respective successors and assigns.
"Hedging Contracts" means, with respect to any specified Person:
- (1)
- interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;
- (2)
- foreign exchange contracts and currency protection agreements entered into with one or more financial institutions and designed to protect the Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries entering into the agreement against fluctuations in currency exchanges rates with respect to Indebtedness incurred;
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- (3)
- any commodity futures contract, commodity option or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect against fluctuations in the price of Hydrocarbons used, produced, processed or sold by that Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time; and
- (4)
- other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or currency exchange rates;
and in each case are entered into only in the normal course of business and not for speculative purposes.
"Holder" means a Person in whose name a note is registered.
"Hydrocarbons "means (i) crude oil, natural gas, casinghead gas, drip gasoline, natural gasoline, condensate, distillate, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous hydrocarbons and all constituents, elements or compounds thereof and products refined or processed therefrom and (ii) corn, ethanol and other agricultural commodities used in the process of making fuels, and other blendstocks and renewable fuels.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:
- (1)
- in respect of borrowed money;
- (2)
- evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments;
- (3)
- in respect of all outstanding letters of credit issued for the account of such Person that support obligations that constitute Indebtedness (provided that the amount of such letters of credit included in Indebtedness shall not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness being supported) and, without duplication, the unreimbursed amount of all drafts drawn under letters of credit issued for the account of such Person;
- (4)
- in respect of bankers' acceptances;
- (5)
- representing Capital Lease Obligations;
- (6)
- representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or
- (7)
- representing any obligations under Hedging Contracts,
if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and obligations under Hedging Contracts) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the term "Indebtedness" includes all Indebtedness of other Persons secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified Person) and, to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. For the avoidance of doubt, the term "Indebtedness" excludes any obligation arising from any agreement providing for indemnities, purchase price adjustments, holdbacks, contingency payment obligations based on the performance of the acquired or disposed assets or similar obligations (other than guarantees of Indebtedness) incurred by the specified Person in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
- (1)
- the accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount;
- (2)
- in the case of obligations under any Hedging Contracts, the termination value of the agreement or arrangement giving rise to such obligations that would be payable by such Person at such date; and
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- (3)
- the principal amount of the Indebtedness, together with any interest on the Indebtedness that is more than 30 days past due, in the case of any other Indebtedness.
"Initial Issuance Date" means July 31, 2019, the first day that notes were issued under the indenture.
"Investment Grade Rating" means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody's and BBB–(or the equivalent) by S&P.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding (1) commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business and (2) advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Company such that, after giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale or disposition in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments." The acquisition by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company of a Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed to be an Investment made by the Company or such Subsidiary in such third Person in an amount equal to the fair market value of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third Person on the date of any such acquisition in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of the covenant described above under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments."
"Joint Venture" means any Person that is not a direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries makes any Investment.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction other than a precautionary financing statement respecting a lease not intended as a security agreement.
"Make Whole Premium" means, with respect to a note at any time, the excess, if any, of (a) the present value at such time of (i) the redemption price of such note at August 1, 2022 pursuant to the covenant described under "Description of Notes—Optional Redemption," plus (ii) any required interest payments due on such note through August 1, 2022 (except for currently accrued and unpaid interest), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such time plus 50 basis points, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over (b) the principal amount of such note.
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
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"Net Income" means, with respect to any specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:
- (1)
- any gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for Taxes on such gain (but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or (b) the disposition of any securities by such Person or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such Person; and
- (2)
- any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for Taxes on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of:
- (1)
- the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions, severance costs and any relocation expenses incurred as a result of the Asset Sale;
- (2)
- Taxes paid or payable as a result of the Asset Sale, in each case, after taking into account any available Tax credits or deductions and any Tax sharing arrangements;
- (3)
- amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the properties or assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale; and
- (4)
- any amounts to be set aside in any reserve established in accordance with GAAP or any amount placed in escrow, in either case for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such properties or assets or for liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries until such time as such reserve is reversed or such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net Proceeds shall include only the amount of the reserve so reversed or the amount returned to the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries from such escrow arrangement, as the case may be.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness:
- (1)
- as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness) or (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise;
- (2)
- no default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any other Indebtedness (other than the notes) of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and
- (3)
- as to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any recourse to the Capital Stock or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries except as contemplated by clause (9) of the definition of Permitted Liens.
For purposes of determining compliance with the covenant described under "—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" above, in the event that any Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Company's Unrestricted Subsidiaries ceases to be Non-Recourse Debt of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, such event will be deemed to constitute an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.
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"Obligations" means any principal, premium, if any, interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, fees, charges, expenses, indemnifications, reimbursement obligations, damages, guarantees, and other liabilities or amounts payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness or in respect thereto.
"Partnership Agreement" means the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Company dated as of August 7, 2018 as in effect on the Initial Issuance Date and as such may be further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.
"Permitted Business" means either (i) the ownership or operation of assets related to the wholesale or retail marketing, sale, distribution or transportation of refined petroleum products or other Hydrocarbons or alternative sources of energy, including, without limitation, retail gasoline stations and convenience stores (whether or not associated with retail gasoline stations) and the storage of refined petroleum products or other Hydrocarbons and bunkering or (ii) any other business that generates gross income that constitutes "qualifying income" under Section 7704(d) of the Code.
��"Permitted Business Investments" means Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company or in any Joint Venture, provided that:
- (1)
- either (a) at the time of such Investment and immediately thereafter, the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under "—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" above or (b) such Investment does not exceed the aggregate amount of Incremental Funds (as defined in the covenant described under "—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments") not previously expended at the time of making such Investment;
- (2)
- if such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture has outstanding Indebtedness at the time of such Investment, either (a) all such Indebtedness is Non-Recourse Debt or (b) any such Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture that is recourse to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall include, without limitation, all Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture for which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may be directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, obligated to pay, whether pursuant to the terms of such Indebtedness, by law or pursuant to any guarantee, including, without limitation, any "claw-back," "make-well" or "keep-well" arrangement) could, at the time such Investment is made, be incurred at that time by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under "—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock"; and
- (3)
- such Unrestricted Subsidiary's or Joint Venture's activities are not outside the scope of the Permitted Business.
"Permitted Investments" means:
- (1)
- any Investment in the Company (including, without limitation, through purchases of notes) or in a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
- (2)
- any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
- (3)
- any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment:
- (a)
- such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; or
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- (b)
- such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its properties or assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company;
- (4)
- any Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the caption "—Repurchase at the Option of Holders—Asset Sales," or any disposition not constituting an Asset Sale;
- (5)
- any Investment in any Person solely in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company;
- (6)
- any Investments received in compromise of obligations of trade creditors or customers that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, including pursuant to any plan of reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any trade creditor or customer, or as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment in default;
- (7)
- Hedging Contracts;
- (8)
- Permitted Business Investments; and
- (9)
- other Investments in any Person having an aggregate fair market value (measured on the date each such Investment was made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) that are at the time outstanding, do not exceed the greater of $100.0 million or 6.0% of the Company's Consolidated Net Tangible Assets; provided, however, that if any Investment pursuant to this clause (9) is made in any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company at the date of the making of such Investment and such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company after such date, such Investment shall thereafter be deemed to have been made pursuant to clause (1) above and shall cease to have been made pursuant to this clause (9) for so long as such Person continues to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.
"Permitted Liens" means:
- (1)
- Liens securing Indebtedness under a Credit Facility permitted to be incurred under the indenture pursuant to clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt;
- (2)
- Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors;
- (3)
- Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets (other than improvements thereon, accessions thereto and proceeds thereof) other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary;
- (4)
- Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition;
- (5)
- any interest or title of a lessor to the property subject to a Capital Lease Obligation or operating lease;
- (6)
- Liens for the purpose of securing the payment of all or a part of the purchase price of, or Capital Lease Obligations, purchase money obligations or other payments incurred to finance
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the acquisition, lease, improvement or construction of or repairs or additions to, assets or property acquired or constructed in the ordinary course of business; provided that:
- (a)
- the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness secured by such Liens is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the indenture and does not exceed the cost of the assets or property so acquired or constructed; and
- (b)
- such Liens are created within 180 days of the later of the acquisition, lease, completion of improvements, construction, repairs or additions or commencement of full operation of the assets or property subject to such Lien and do not encumber any other assets or property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than such assets or property and assets affixed or appurtenant thereto;
- (7)
- Liens existing on the Initial Issuance Date (other than Liens permitted by clause (1));
- (8)
- Liens to secure the performance of tenders, bids, statutory obligations, surety or appeal bonds, trade contracts, government contracts, operating leases, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
- (9)
- Liens on and pledges of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or any Joint Venture owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company to the extent securing Non-Recourse Debt or other Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary or Joint Venture;
- (10)
- Liens on pipelines or other facilities or equipment that arise by operation of law;
- (11)
- Liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farmout agreements, division orders, contracts for sale, transportation or exchange of crude oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries that are customary in the Permitted Business;
- (12)
- Liens upon specific items of inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries securing such Person's obligations in respect of bankers' acceptances or receivables securitizations issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory, receivables or other goods or proceeds and permitted by the covenant "—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock";
- (13)
- Liens securing Obligations of the Issuers or any Guarantor under the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, as the case may be;
- (14)
- Liens securing any Indebtedness equally and ratably with all Obligations due under the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a contractual covenant that limits Liens in a manner substantially similar to the covenant described above under "—Certain Covenants—Liens";
- (15)
- Liens to secure performance of Hedging Contracts of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
- (16)
- Liens securing any insurance premium financing under customary terms and conditions, provided that no such Lien may extend to or cover any assets or property other than the insurance being acquired with such financing, the proceeds thereof and any unearned or refunded insurance premiums related thereto;
- (17)
- other Liens incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, after giving effect to any such incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all
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"Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than intercompany Indebtedness), provided that:
- (1)
- the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness, or the liquidation preference of the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness, or accrued and unpaid dividends or distributions on such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock and the amount of all fees, expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);
- (2)
- such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness (a) has a final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, no earlier than the earlier of (i) the final maturity date or redemption date, as applicable, of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, or (ii) 91 days after the final maturity of the notes, and (b) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity either (i) equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or preferred stock being refinanced, or (ii) longer than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the notes;
- (3)
- if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees on terms at least as favorable to the Holders of notes as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and
- (4)
- such Indebtedness is not incurred (other than by way of a guarantee) by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) if the Company is the issuer or other primary obligor on the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded.
Notwithstanding the preceding, any Indebtedness incurred under Credit Facilities pursuant to the covenant "Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" shall be subject only to the refinancing provision in the definition of Credit Facilities and not pursuant to the requirements set forth in the definition of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity.
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"Prior Issue Date" means June 24, 2014, the date of original issuance of the Issuers' 6.25% 2022 senior notes due 2022.
"Rating Category" means:
- (1)
- with respect to S&P, any of the following categories: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories); and
- (2)
- with respect to Moody's, any of the following categories: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C and D (or equivalent successor categories).
"Rating Decline" means a decrease in the rating of the notes by either Moody's or S&P by one or more gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between Rating Categories). In determining whether the rating of the notes has decreased by one or more gradations, gradations within Rating Categories, namely + or – for S&P, and 1, 2, and 3 for Moody's, will be taken into account; for example, in the case of S&P, a rating decline either from BB+ to BB or BB to B+ will constitute a decrease of one gradation.
"Reporting Default" means a Default described in clause (4) under "—Events of Default and Remedies."
"Repurchase Program" means a repurchase program maintained by the General Partner from time to time for the purpose of funding compensation expenses for its employees.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
"Restricted Subsidiary" of a Person means any Subsidiary of the referent Person that is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Notwithstanding anything in the indenture to the contrary, Finance Corp. shall be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company.
"S&P" refers to S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., or any successor to the rating agency business thereof.
"Senior Debt" means:
- (1)
- all Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding under the Credit Agreement and all obligations under Hedging Contracts with respect thereto;
- (2)
- any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under the terms of the indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or any Subsidiary Guarantee; and
- (3)
- all Obligations with respect to the items listed in the preceding clauses (1) and (2).
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding sentence, Senior Debt will not include:
- (1)
- any intercompany Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to the Company or any of its Affiliates; or
- (2)
- any Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the indenture.
For the avoidance of doubt, "Senior Debt" will not include any trade payables or Taxes owed or owing by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a "significant subsidiary" as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Regulation is in effect on the Initial Issuance Date.
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"Slifka Group" means (i) each of Richard Slifka, the late Alfred Slifka and Eric Slifka; (ii) the wife of any of the persons referred to in clause (i) above; (iii) any lineal descendants of any of the persons referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above; (iv) any guardian or other legal representative of the person or estate of any of the persons referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above; (v) any trust of which at least one of the trustees is any of the persons referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above, or the principal beneficiaries of which are any one or more of the persons referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above; (vi) any Person which is controlled by any one or more of the Persons in clauses (i) through (v) above; and (vii) any group (within the meaning of the Exchange Act and the rules of the Commission thereunder) that includes one or more of the Persons described in clauses (i) through (vi) above, provided that such Persons described in clauses (i) through (vi) above control more than 50% of the voting power of such group.
"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any specified Person:
- (1)
- any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and
- (2)
- any partnership (whether general or limited) or limited liability company (a) the sole general partner or member of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, or (b) if there is more than a single general partner or member, either (x) the only managing general partners or managing members of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (y) such Person owns or controls, directly or indirectly, a majority of the outstanding general partner interests, member interests or other Voting Stock of such partnership or limited liability company, respectively.
"Subsidiary Guarantee" means any guarantee by a Guarantor of the Issuers' Obligations under the indenture and on the notes.
"Tax" means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
"Treasury Rate" means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such time (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2022; provided, however, that if such period is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Company shall obtain the Treasury Rate by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities for which such yields are given, except that if the period from the redemption date to August 1, 2022 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year shall be used. The Company will (a) calculate the Treasury Rate no earlier than the fourth Business Day and no later than on the second Business Day preceding the applicable redemption date (or, in the case of any redemption in connection with a defeasance of the notes or a satisfaction and discharge of the indenture, on the
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Business Day preceding such event) and (b) prior to such redemption date file with the trustee a written statement setting forth the Make Whole Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company (other than Finance Corp.) that is designated by the Board of Directors of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only to the extent that such Subsidiary:
- (1)
- except to the extent permitted by clause (2)(b) of the definition of "Permitted Business Investments," has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt owing to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
- (2)
- is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company unless the terms of any such agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company;
- (3)
- is a Person with respect to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such Person's financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any specified levels of operating results; and
- (4)
- has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
All Subsidiaries of an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall also be Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be evidenced to the trustee by filing with the trustee a Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and an officers' certificate certifying that such designation complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by the covenant described above under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments." If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is not permitted to be incurred as of such date under the covenant described under the caption "—Certain Covenants—Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock," the Company will be in default of such covenant.
"Voting Stock" of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing:
- (1)
- the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the Indebtedness, or similar payments with respect to the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by
- (2)
- the sum of all such payments.
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CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to the exchange of old notes for new notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions now in effect, all of which may be subject to change at any time by legislative, judicial or administrative action. These changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of new notes. We cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described in this discussion, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS or an opinion of counsel with respect to the U.S. federal tax consequences described herein. Some holders, including financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities or currencies, persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, or persons who hold the notes as part of a hedge, conversion transaction, straddle or other risk reduction transaction may be subject to special rules not discussed below.
We recommend that each holder consult his own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences of exchanging such holder's old notes for new notes, including the applicability and effect of any foreign, state, local or other tax laws or estate or gift tax considerations.
We believe that the exchange of old notes for new notes will not be an exchange or otherwise a taxable event to a holder for United States federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a holder will not recognize gain or loss upon receipt of a new note in exchange for an old note in the exchange, and the holder's basis and holding period in the new note will be the same as its basis and holding period in the corresponding old note immediately before the exchange.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
You may transfer new notes issued under the exchange offer in exchange for the old notes if:
- •
- you acquire the new notes in the ordinary course of your business;
- •
- you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such new notes in violation of the provisions of the Securities Act; and
- •
- you are not our "affiliate" (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act).
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for old notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes, where such old notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
If you wish to exchange new notes for your old notes in the exchange offer, you will be required to make representations to us as described in "Exchange Offer—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer" and "—Procedures for Tendering—Your Representations to Us" in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal. In addition, if you are a broker-dealer who receives new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired by you as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale by you of such new notes.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in any of the following ways:
- •
- in the over-the-counter market;
- •
- in negotiated transactions;
- •
- through the writing of options on the new notes or a combination of such methods of resale;
- •
- at market prices prevailing at the time of resale;
- •
- at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
- •
- at negotiated prices.
Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such new notes.
Any broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for old notes that were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or other trading activities may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of new notes received by it in the exchange offer. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. We agreed to permit the use of this prospectus for a period of up to 180 days after the completion of the exchange offer by such broker-dealers to satisfy this prospectus delivery requirement. Furthermore, we agree to amend or supplement this prospectus during such period, if so requested, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of any new notes by broker-dealers.
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We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer, other than fees and expenses of counsel to the holders and brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, and will indemnify the holders of the old notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the new notes offered in this exchange offer will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York. Certain matters under Massachusetts law will be passed on for us by Edward J. Faneuil, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of our general partner. Certain matters under Oregon law will be passed upon for us by Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. Certain matters of Alberta, Canada law will be passed upon for us by Bennett Jones LLP. Certain matters of New Jersey law will be passed upon for us by Day Pitney LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Global Partners LP appearing in Global Partners LP'sAnnual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2018 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of Global Partners LP's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
TO TENDER
Old 7.00% Senior Notes due 2027
OF
GLOBAL PARTNERS LP AND
GLP FINANCE CORP.
PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND PROSPECTUS
DATED January 10, 2020
THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON February 10, 2020 (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"), UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS EXTENDED BY THE ISSUERS.
The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
(Exchange Agent/Depositary addresses)
By Mail, Overnight Mail or Courier:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
c/o DB Services Americas, Inc.
Attention: Reorg. Department
5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
For Telephone Assistance:
(877) 843-9767
If you wish to exchange old 7.00% Senior Notes due 2027 for an equal aggregate principal amount at maturity of new 7.00% Senior Notes due 2027 pursuant to the Exchange Offer, you must validly tender (and not withdraw) old notes to the Exchange Agent prior to the expiration date.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus, dated January 10, 2020 (the "Prospectus"), of Global Partners LP and GLP Finance Corp. (collectively, the "Issuers"), and this Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), which together describe the Issuers' offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange its issued and outstanding 7.00% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "old notes") for a like principal amount of their 7.00% Senior Notes due 2027 (the "new notes") that have been registered under the Securities Act, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meaning given to them in the Prospectus.
The Issuers reserve the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend the Exchange Offer at their discretion, in which event the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest date to which the Exchange Offer is extended. In order to extend the exchange offer, we will notify the exchange agent orally or in writing of any extension. We will notify the registered holders of old notes of the extension by a press release issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by holders of the old notes. Tender of old notes is to be made according to the Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, of the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, pursuant to the procedures set forth in the prospectus under the caption "Exchange Offer—
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Procedures for Tendering." DTC participants that are accepting the Exchange Offer must transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent's DTC account. DTC will then send a computer-generated message known as an "agent's message" to the exchange agent for its acceptance. For you to validly tender your old notes in the Exchange Offer, the Exchange Agent must receive, prior to the Expiration Date, an agent's message under the ATOP procedures that confirms that:
- •
- DTC has received your instructions to tender your old notes; and
- •
- you agree to be bound by the terms of this Letter of Transmittal.
BY USING THE ATOP PROCEDURES TO TENDER OLD NOTES, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS, AND YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IT CONTAINS, JUST AS IF YOU HAD SIGNED IT.
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PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
- (1)
- By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal.
- (2)
- By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you represent and warrant that you have full authority to tender the old notes described above and will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Issuers to be necessary or desirable to complete the tender of old notes.
- (3)
- You understand that the tender of the old notes pursuant to all of the procedures set forth in the Prospectus will constitute an agreement between the undersigned and the Issuers as to the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
- (4)
- By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you acknowledge that the Exchange Offer is being made in reliance upon interpretations contained in no-action letters issued to third parties by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, including Exxon Capital Holdings Corp., SEC No-Action Letter (available May 13, 1988), Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., SEC No-Action Letter (available June 5, 1991) and Shearman & Sterling, SEC No-Action Letter (available July 2, 1993), that the new notes issued in exchange for the old notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") (other than a broker-dealer who purchased old notes exchanged for such new notes directly from the Issuers to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act, and any such holder that is an "affiliate" of the Issuers within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), provided that such new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business and such holders are not participating in, and have no arrangement with any other person to participate in, the distribution of such new notes.
- (5)
- By tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, you hereby represent and warrant that:
- (a)
- the new notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of business of the undersigned, whether or not you are the holder;
- (b)
- you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of old notes or new notes within the meaning of the Securities Act;
- (c)
- you are not an "affiliate," as such term is defined under Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act, of the Company;
- (d)
- if you are a broker-dealer, you will receive the new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and you acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus (or, to the extent permitted by law, make available a prospectus) in connection with any resale of such new notes; and
- (e)
- if you are a broker-dealer that participates in the exchange offer with respect to old notes acquired for your own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you have not entered into any arrangement or understanding with us or any of our "affiliates" to distribute the new notes.
You may, if you are unable to make all of the representations and warranties contained in Item 5 above and as otherwise permitted in the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), elect to have your old notes registered in the shelf registration statement described in
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the Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 31, 2019, by and among Global Partners LP, GLP Finance Corp., the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the initial purchasers party thereto. Such election may be made by notifying the Issuers in writing at Global Partners LP, Attention: Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 9161, 800 South St., Waltham, Massachusetts 02454. By making such election, you agree, as a holder of old notes participating in a shelf registration, to indemnify and hold harmless the Issuers, the guarantors, and their respective directors, each of the officers of the Issuers and the guarantors who signs such shelf registration statement, and each person who controls the Issuers or any of the guarantors, within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and the respective officers, directors, partners, employees, representatives and agents of each such person, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any shelf registration statement or prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or caused by the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; but only with respect to information relating to the undersigned furnished in writing by or on behalf of the undersigned expressly for use in a shelf registration statement, a prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto. Any such indemnification shall be governed by the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions regarding notice, retention of counsel, contribution and payment of expenses set forth therein. The above summary of the indemnification provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by the Registration Rights Agreement.
- (6)
- If you are a broker-dealer that will receive new notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you acknowledge, by tendering old notes in the Exchange Offer, that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, you will not be deemed to admit that you are an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
- (7)
- If you are a broker-dealer and old notes held for your own account were not acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, such old notes cannot be exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
- (8)
- Any of your obligations hereunder shall be binding upon your successors, assigns, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, and legal and personal representatives.
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INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
1. Book-Entry Confirmations
Any confirmation of a book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent's account at DTC of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer (a "Book-Entry Confirmation"), as well as an agent's message and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
2. Partial Tenders
Tenders of old notes will be accepted only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The entire principal amount of old notes delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise communicated to the Exchange Agent. If the entire principal amount of all old notes is not tendered, then old notes for the principal amount of old notes not tendered and new notes issued in exchange for any old notes accepted will be delivered to the holder via the facilities of DTC promptly after the old notes are accepted for exchange.
3. Validity of Tenders
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of tendered old notes will be determined by the Issuers, in their sole discretion, which determination will be final and binding. The Issuers reserve the absolute right to reject any or all tenders not in proper form or the acceptance for exchange of which may, in the opinion of counsel for the Issuers, be unlawful. The Issuers also reserve the absolute right to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer or any defect or irregularity in the tender of any old notes. The Issuers' interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions on the Letter of Transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be cured within such time as the Issuers shall determine. Although the Issuers intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes, neither the Issuers, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of old notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any old notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in the Letter of Transmittal, promptly following the Expiration Date.
4. Waiver of Conditions
The Issuers reserve the absolute right to waive, in whole or part, up to the expiration of the Exchange Offer, any of the conditions to the Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus or in this Letter of Transmittal.
5. No Conditional Tender
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tender of old notes will be accepted.
6. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies
Requests for assistance or for additional copies of the Prospectus or this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address or telephone number set forth on the cover page of
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this Letter of Transmittal. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.
7. Withdrawal
Tenders may be withdrawn only pursuant to the limited withdrawal rights set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders."
8. No Guarantee of Late Delivery
There is no procedure for guarantee of late delivery in the Exchange Offer.
IMPORTANT: BY USING THE ATOP PROCEDURES TO TENDER OLD NOTES, YOU WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE BOUND BY ITS TERMS, AND YOU WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE MADE THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IT CONTAINS, JUST AS IF YOU HAD SIGNED IT.
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