e424b3
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-124371
PROSPECTUS
Carriage Services, Inc.
Offer to Exchange
Registered 7.875% Senior Notes due 2015
for
All Outstanding 7.875% Senior Notes due 2015 issued on
January 27, 2005
($130,000,000 in principal amount outstanding)
We are offering to exchange, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this prospectus and the accompanying
letter of transmittal, all of our outstanding 7.875% senior
notes due 2015 issued on January 27, 2005 for our
registered 7.875% senior notes due 2015. In this
prospectus, we will call the original notes the Old
Notes and the registered notes the New Notes.
The Old Notes and New Notes are collectively referred to in this
prospectus as the notes.
The Exchange Offer
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The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, August 1, 2005, unless extended. |
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The exchange offer is not conditioned upon a minimum aggregate
principal amount of Old Notes being tendered. |
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All outstanding Old Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn
will be exchanged. |
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The exchange offer is not subject to any condition other than
that the exchange offer not violate applicable law or any
applicable interpretation of the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission. |
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We will not receive any cash proceeds from the exchange offer. |
The New Notes
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The terms of the New Notes to be issued in the exchange offer
are substantially identical to the Old Notes, except that we
have registered the New Notes with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, the New Notes will not be subject to
certain transfer restrictions. |
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Interest on the New Notes will be paid at the rate of
7.875% per annum, semi-annually in arrears on each
January 15 and July 15, beginning July 15, 2005. |
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The New Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or
the Nasdaq Stock Market. |
There is currently no public market for the exchange notes. We
do not intend to list the exchange notes on any securities
exchange or for quotation on any automated dealer quotation
system. Therefore, we do not anticipate that an active public
market for the exchange notes will develop.
You should read the section entitled Risk Factors
beginning on page 7 for a discussion of specific factors
that you should consider before acquiring exchange notes.
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account
in exchange for Old Notes must acknowledge that it will deliver
a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.
The letter of transmittal states that, by so acknowledging 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. 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 outstanding notes were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for
a period of 90 days after the expiration date, as defined
herein, we will make this prospectus available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
Plan of Distribution.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities
commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy
of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 29, 2005.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page | |
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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ii |
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Prospectus Summary
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1 |
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Risk Factors
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7 |
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Where You Can Find More Information
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Incorporation By Reference
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14 |
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Selected Historical Financial Information
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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17 |
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Use of Proceeds
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Capitalization
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The Exchange Offer
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19 |
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Description of the Notes
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26 |
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Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
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58 |
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ERISA Considerations
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Global Securities; Book-Entry System
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Exchange Offer and Registration Rights
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Plan of Distribution
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69 |
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Legal Matters
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70 |
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Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
We make forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 in this
prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference
herein. These statements may be accompanied by words such as
believe, estimate, project,
expect, anticipate or
predict that convey the uncertainty of future events
or outcomes. These statements are based on assumptions that we
believe are reasonable; however, many important factors could
cause our actual results in the future to differ materially from
the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus and in
any other documents or oral presentations made by us or on our
behalf. In addition to the factors described in this prospectus
under Risk Factors and those set forth from time to
time in our filings with the Commission, important factors that
could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the
following:
Risks Related to Our Company
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Marketing and sales activities by existing and new competitors
could cause us to lose market share and lead to lower revenues
and margins. |
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Price competition could also reduce our market share or cause us
to reduce prices to retain or recapture market share, either of
which could reduce revenues and margins. |
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Improved performance in our funeral segment is highly dependent
upon successful execution of our standards-based Being the Best
operating model. |
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Our ability to generate preneed sales depends on a number of
factors, including sales incentives and local and general
economic conditions. |
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Earnings from and principal of trust funds and insurance
contracts could be reduced by changes in financial markets. |
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Our ability to execute our growth strategy is highly dependent
upon our ability to successfully identify suitable acquisition
candidates and negotiate transactions on favorable terms. |
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Increased costs may have a negative impact on our earnings and
cash flows. |
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Increases in interest rates would increase interest costs on our
variable-rate indebtedness if we borrow under our credit
facility and could have a material adverse effect on our net
income. |
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Covenant restrictions under our debt instruments may limit our
flexibility in operating our business. |
Risks Related to the Death Care Industry
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Declines in the number of deaths in our markets can cause a
decrease in revenues. Changes in the number of deaths are not
predictable from market to market or over the short term. |
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The increasing number of cremations in the United States could
cause revenues to decline because we could lose market share to
firms specializing in cremations and because direct cremations
(with no funeral service, casket, urn, mausoleum niche,
columbarium niche or burial) produce no revenues for cemetery
operations and lower funeral revenues. |
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If we are not able to respond effectively to changing consumer
preferences, our market share, revenues and profitability could
decrease. |
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Because the funeral and cemetery businesses are high fixed-cost
businesses, changes in revenue can have a disproportionately
large effect on cash flow and profits. |
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Changes or increases in, or failure to comply with, regulations
applicable to our business could increase costs or decrease cash
flows. |
You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date of this prospectus.
ii
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights basic information appearing in other
sections of this prospectus. It is not complete and does not
contain all the information that you should consider before
exchanging Old Notes for New Notes. You should carefully read
this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference to
understand fully the terms of the exchange offer and the New
Notes, as well as the tax and other considerations that may be
important to you. You should pay special attention to the
Risk Factors section beginning on page 7 of
this prospectus, as well as the section entitled
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking
Statementsand the other documents incorporated by
reference herein. You should rely only on the information
contained in this document or to which we have referred you.
This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these
securities. For purposes of this document, unless the context
otherwise indicates, when we refer to Carriage, the
Company, us, we,
our, or ours, we are describing Carriage
Services, Inc., together with its subsidiaries.
Our Business
We are a leading provider of death care services and merchandise
in the United States. We operate two types of businesses:
funeral homes, which currently account for approximately 75% of
our total revenue, and cemeteries, which currently account for
approximately 25% of our total revenue. As of December 31,
2004, we operated 135 funeral homes in 28 states and 30
cemeteries in 12 states. For the year ended
December 31, 2004, we had revenues of $150.2 million
and earnings from continuing operations of $11.0 million.
We primarily serve suburban markets and believe we are a market
leader (first or second) in most of those markets. We provide
funeral and cemetery services and products on both an
at-need (time of death) and preneed
(planned prior to death) basis.
Our operations are divided into two business segments:
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Funeral Home Operations. Funeral homes are principally
service businesses that provide burial and cremation services
and sell related merchandise, such as caskets and urns. Given
the high fixed cost structure associated with funeral home
operations, we believe the following are key factors affecting
our profitability: |
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demographic trends in terms of population growth and average
age, which impact death rates and number of deaths; |
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establishing and maintaining leading market share positions
supported by strong local heritage and relationships; |
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effectively responding to increasing cremation trends by
packaging complementary services and merchandise; |
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controlling salary and merchandise costs; and |
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exercising pricing leverage related to our at-need business to
increase average revenues per contract. |
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Cemetery Operations. Cemeteries are primarily a sales
business that provides interment rights (grave sites and
mausoleums) and related merchandise, such as markers and
memorials. Our cemetery operating results are impacted by the
success of our sales organization because approximately 36% of
our cemetery revenues during the year ended December 31,
2004 was generated from preneed sales of interment rights. We
believe that changes in the level of consumer confidence (a
measure of whether consumers will spend money on discretionary
items) also impact the amount of such preneed sales. Cemetery
revenues generated from at-need service and merchandise sales
generally are subject to many of the same key profitability
factors as in our funeral home business. Approximately 8% of our
cemetery revenues during the year ended December 31, 2004
was attributable to investment earnings on trust funds and
finance charges on installment contracts. |
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Our business strategy is based on strong, local leadership and
entrepreneurial principles that we believe drive market share,
revenue growth, and profitability in our local markets. Our
operating model emphasizes:
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decentralized management of our local businesses; |
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financial and operational standards based upon drivers of
success of our best businesses; |
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variable compensation that rewards our funeral home managers as
if they are owners; |
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finding, developing and retaining the best people in our
industry; and |
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information technology designed to support local business and
corporate management decisions, measure performance of our
businesses against our financial and operational standards, and
ensure adherence to established internal control procedures. |
Our near-term objectives for 2005 and 2006 include:
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continuing to improve our operating and financial performance by
executing our Being the Best funeral operating model
and implementing a similar operating model in our cemetery
segment; |
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increasing our profitability and cash flow, and continuing to
improve our credit profile; |
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initiating a disciplined acquisition program of funeral
businesses that match a profile based on our Being the Best
standards. |
Our longer-term objectives over the next five years include:
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continuous improvement and portfolio optimization driven by our
Being the Best operating model; |
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increasing market share and profitability; |
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formalizing and fully implementing a disciplined acquisition
program; and |
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raising equity proceeds to enhance our capital structure and
support our growth strategy as appropriate opportunities arise. |
Carriage was incorporated in 1991. Our principal corporate
offices are located at 1900 St. James Place, 4th Floor,
Houston, Texas 77056, and our telephone number is
(713) 522-5141. Our website is
www.carriageservices.com.
Summary of the Terms of the Exchange Offer
The following summary contains basic information about the
exchange offer. The following summary does not contain all the
information that may be important to you. For a more complete
understanding of the exchange offer, please refer to the section
of this prospectus entitled The Exchange Offer
beginning on page 19.
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The Exchange Offer. |
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We are offering to exchange up to $130,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of the New Notes for up to $130,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Old Notes. Old Notes may be
exchanged only in $1,000 increments. New Notes will be issued
only in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
of $1,000. |
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The terms of the New Notes are identical in all material
respects to the Old Notes except that the New Notes will not
contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions,
registration rights and payments of additional interest that
relate to the Old Notes. The New Notes and the Old Notes will be
governed by the same indenture, dated January 27, 2005. |
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Registration Rights Agreement. |
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We issued $130,000,000 of the Old Notes on January 27, 2005
to Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
and Banc of America Securities LLC, the initial purchasers,
under a purchase agreement dated January 20, 2005. Pursuant
to the purchase agreement, we and the initial purchasers entered
into a registration rights agreement relating to the Old Notes
pursuant to which we agreed to file, not later than 90 days
following the closing of the offering of the Old Notes, this
exchange offer registration statement with the Commission with
respect to a registered offer to exchange the Old Notes for the
New Notes. We also agreed to use our best efforts to have this
exchange offer registration statement declared effective by the
Commission within 180 days of the closing of the offering
of the Old Notes and to consummate the exchange offer not later
than 210 days following the closing of the offering of the
Old Notes. If we fail to fulfill our obligations under the
registration rights agreement, additional interest will accrue
on the Old Notes at an annual rate of 0.25% for the first
90 days, increasing by an additional 0.25% for each
subsequent 90-day period up to a maximum additional annual rate
of 1.00%. See Exchange Offer and Registration Rights. |
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Resale. |
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We believe that you will be able to freely transfer the New
Notes without registration or any prospectus delivery
requirement; however, certain broker-dealers and certain of our
affiliates may be required to deliver copies of this prospectus
if they resell any New Notes. |
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Expiration Date. |
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The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on August 1, 2005, unless we extend the exchange
offer. See The Exchange Offer Expiration Date;
Extensions; Termination; Amendments. |
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Conditions to the Exchange Offer. |
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The exchange offer is not subject to any conditions other than
that it does not violate applicable law or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the Commission. |
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Procedures for Tendering Old Notes. |
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If you wish to accept the exchange offer, sign and date the
letter of transmittal that was delivered with this prospectus in
accordance with the instructions, and deliver the letter of
transmittal, along with the Old Notes and any other required
documentation, to the exchange agent. Alternatively, you can
tender your outstanding Old Notes by following the procedures
for book-entry transfer, as described in this prospectus. By
executing the letter of transmittal or by transmitting an
agents message in lieu thereof, you will represent to us
that, among other things: |
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the New Notes you receive will be acquired in the
ordinary course of your business; |
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you are not participating, and you have no
arrangement with any person or entity to participate, in the
distribution of the New Notes; |
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you are not our affiliate, as defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act, or a broker-dealer
tendering Old Notes acquired |
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directly from us for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any
other available exemption under the Securities Act; and |
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if you are not a broker-dealer, that you are not
engaged in and do not intend to engage in the distribution of
the New Notes. |
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Effect of Not Tendering. |
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Old Notes that are not tendered or that are tendered but not
accepted will, following the completion of the exchange offer,
continue to be subject to the existing restrictions upon
transfer thereof. |
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Old Notes that are not tendered will bear interest at a rate of
7.875% per annum. However, if we fail to fulfill our
obligations under the registration rights agreement, additional
interest will accrue on the Old Notes as discussed under
Registration Rights Agreement above. |
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Taxation. |
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The exchange of Old Notes for New Notes will not be a taxable
event for United States federal income tax purposes. See
Material United States Federal Income Tax
Consequences. |
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Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners. |
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If you are a beneficial owner whose Old Notes are registered in
the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
other nominee and wish to tender such Old Notes in the exchange
offer, please contact the registered holder as soon as possible
and instruct them to tender on your behalf and comply with our
instructions set forth elsewhere in this prospectus. |
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Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. |
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If you wish to tender your Old Notes, you may, in certain
instances, do so according to the guaranteed delivery procedures
set forth elsewhere in this prospectus under The Exchange
Offer Procedures for Tendering Old Notes
Guaranteed Delivery. |
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Withdrawal Rights. |
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You may withdraw Old Notes that you tender pursuant to the
exchange offer by furnishing a written or facsimile transmission
notice of withdrawal to the exchange agent containing the
information set forth in The Exchange Offer
Withdrawal of Tenders at any time prior to the expiration
date. |
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Acceptance of Old Notes and Delivery of New Notes. |
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We will accept for exchange any and all Old Notes that are
properly tendered in the exchange offer prior to the expiration
date. See The Exchange Offer Procedures for
Tendering Old Notes. The New Notes issued pursuant to the
exchange offer will be delivered promptly following the
expiration date. |
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Broker-Dealers. |
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Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New
Notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so acknowledging
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. 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 |
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Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. See Plan of Distribution. |
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Exchange Agent. |
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Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the exchange agent for the exchange
offer. The address and phone number of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
are on the inside of the back cover of this prospectus. |
Summary of the Terms of the New Notes
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Issuer. |
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Carriage Services, Inc. |
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New Notes. |
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$130,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.875% senior
notes due 2015. |
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Maturity date. |
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January 15, 2015. |
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Interest Rate. |
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7.875% per annum, accruing from January 27, 2005 or
from the date most recently paid. |
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Interest payment dates. |
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January 15 and July 15, beginning July 15, 2005. |
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Guarantees. |
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All of our existing subsidiaries (other than the issuer of our
TIDES preferred securities) will guarantee the New Notes on a
senior basis. Future restricted subsidiaries will also be
required to guarantee the New Notes on a senior basis. |
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Ranking. |
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The New Notes will be unsecured senior indebtedness. The New
Notes will rank senior in right of payment to our subordinated
indebtedness, including our TIDES, and equal in right of payment
with any of our existing and future senior indebtedness. Each
guarantee will be unsecured and will rank equally with all
unsecured senior indebtedness of the guarantors and senior to
all subordinated indebtedness of the guarantors. The New Notes
and guarantees will also be effectively subordinated to all of
our secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of the
subsidiary guarantors to the extent of the value of the assets
securing such indebtedness. |
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Optional redemption. |
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As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately
$110.3 million of other senior indebtedness that would have
ranked equally with the New Notes. We will have the option to
redeem the New Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or
after January 15, 2010, at the redemption prices described
in this prospectus under the heading Description of the
Notes Optional Redemption, together with any
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. |
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Equity offering optional redemption. |
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Before January 15, 2008, we may, at any time or from time
to time, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of
the New Notes with the net proceeds of one or more equity
offerings at 107.875% of the principal amount of the New Notes,
plus any accrued and unpaid interest, provided at least 65% of
the aggregate principal amount of the New Notes issued under the
indenture remains outstanding after such redemption and the
redemption occurs within 90 days of the date of the closing
of such equity offering. |
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Change of control. |
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When a change of control event occurs, each holder of New Notes
may require us to repurchase all or a portion of its New Notes
at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the New
Notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. |
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Certain Covenants. |
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The indenture governing the notes will contain covenants that,
among other things, will limit our ability and the ability of
our restricted subsidiaries to: |
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sell assets; |
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pay dividends on, redeem or repurchase our capital
stock or redeem or repurchase our subordinated debt; |
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make investments; |
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incur additional indebtedness; |
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create certain liens; |
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enter into agreements that restrict dividends or
other payments from our restricted subsidiaries to us; |
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consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially
all of the assets of us and our restricted subsidiaries taken as
a whole; |
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engage in transactions with affiliates; and |
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enter into sale and leaseback transactions. |
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These covenants are subject to important exceptions and
qualifications that are described under the heading
Description of the Notes in this prospectus. |
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Use of Proceeds. |
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We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange of the New
Notes for the outstanding Old Notes. |
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Governing Law. |
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The New Notes will be, and the indenture is, governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. |
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Trustee, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent. |
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Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. |
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Book-Entry Depository. |
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The Depository Trust Company. |
You should read the Risk Factors section
beginning on page 7, as well as the other cautionary
statements throughout this prospectus, to ensure you understand
the risks involved with the exchange of the New Notes for the
outstanding Old Notes.
6
RISK FACTORS
Before you decide to participate in the exchange offer, you
should read the risks, uncertainties and factors that may
adversely affect us that are discussed under the captions
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004,
which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well
as the following risk factors.
Risks Related to Tendering Old Notes for New Notes
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You may find it difficult to sell your New Notes because
there is no existing trading market for the New Notes. |
You may find it difficult to sell your New Notes because an
active trading market for the New Notes may not develop. There
is no existing trading market for the New Notes. We do not
intend to apply for listing or quotation of the New Notes on any
securities exchange, and so we do not know the extent to which
investor interest will lead to the development of a trading
market or how liquid that market might be. Although the initial
purchasers have informed us that they intend to make a market in
the New Notes, they are not obligated to do so, and any
market-making may be discontinued at any time without notice. As
a result, the market price of the New Notes, as well as your
ability to sell the New Notes, could be adversely affected.
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If an active trading market does not develop for the New
Notes, you may be unable to sell the New Notes or to sell them
at a price you deem sufficient. |
The New Notes will be new securities for which there is no
established trading market. We do not intend to apply for
listing of the New Notes on any securities exchange or for
quotation through any automated dealer quotation system.
Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of,
or adequate trading markets for, the New Notes.
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The New Notes are unsecured and will be effectively
subordinated to all of our existing and future secured
obligations to the extent of the collateral securing such
obligations. |
The New Notes and the subsidiary guarantees will be general,
unsecured obligations of Carriage and will be effectively
subordinated in right of payment to all of our secured debt to
the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. In the
event of a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, our assets that
serve as collateral under such secured debt would be made
available to satisfy the obligations under the secured debt
before any payments are made on the notes. As of
December 31, 2004, we had preexisting secured debt of
approximately $0.3 million related primarily to a previous
acquisition and approximately $5.5 million of capitalized
lease obligations. In addition, we have the ability to draw up
to $35 million in principal amount under our new senior
secured credit facility, which was amended on April 26,
2005, and the indenture governing the New Notes permits us to
incur additional secured debt. All of the stock of our
subsidiaries, all of our working capital assets, and a
substantial portion of our property, plant and equipment have
been granted as collateral to secure repayment of the new senior
secured credit facility.
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If we breach any of the material financial covenants under
our various indentures, revolving credit facility or guarantees,
our debt service obligations could be accelerated. |
If we or any of our consolidated subsidiaries breach any of the
material financial covenants under our various indentures,
revolving credit facility or guarantees, our substantial debt
service obligations, including the New Notes, could be
accelerated. Furthermore, any breach of any of the material
financial covenants under our revolving credit facility could
result in the acceleration of the indebtedness of all of our
subsidiaries. In the event of any such simultaneous
acceleration, we would not be able to repay all of our
indebtedness.
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The restrictions contained in our various indentures do
not limit our ability to issue additional indebtedness. |
We could enter into acquisitions, recapitalizations or other
transactions that could increase our outstanding indebtedness.
The restrictions contained in our various indentures do not
limit our ability to incur such additional indebtedness.
However, our senior secured credit facility contains covenants
that restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness. The
credit agreement does not absolutely restrict our ability to
incur unsecured debt at the parent level. Additionally, under
this agreement, we are permitted to pay dividends and repurchase
stock, subject to certain conditions. Issuing additional
indebtedness could materially impact our business by making it
more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to
the New Notes; increasing our vulnerability to general adverse
economic and industry conditions; limiting our ability to obtain
additional financing; requiring us to dedicate a substantial
portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our
indebtedness, which will reduce the amount of our cash flow
available for other purposes, including capital expenditures and
other general corporate purposes; limiting our flexibility in
planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and our
industry; and placing us at a possible competitive disadvantage
compared to our competitors that have less debt or the ability
to use their cash flows for such purposes as described above.
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We may be unable to repurchase the notes in the event of a
change of control. |
Upon the occurrence of certain kinds of change of control
events, you will have the right, as a holder of the New Notes,
to require us to repurchase all of your New Notes at a
repurchase price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.
We may not be able to pay you the required price for your New
Notes at that time because we may not have available funds to
pay the repurchase price. Under our new senior secured credit
facility, a change of control is an event of default that would
require us to repay all amounts outstanding thereunder. In
addition, the terms of our new senior secured credit facility
will prevent us from paying you.
Federal and state fraudulent conveyance laws may permit a court
to void the New Notes and the subsidiary guarantees, and, if
that occurs, you may not receive any payments on the notes or
the subsidiary guarantees.
The issuance of the New Notes and the subsidiary guarantees may
be subject to review under federal and state fraudulent
conveyance statutes. While the relevant laws may vary from state
to state, under such laws the payment of consideration generally
will be a fraudulent conveyance if:
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it was paid with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding
creditors; or |
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we or any of the subsidiary guarantors received less than
reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration in return for
issuing either the notes or a subsidiary guarantee, as
applicable, and either: |
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we or the subsidiary guarantor was insolvent or rendered
insolvent by reason of the incurrence of the debt; |
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payment of the consideration left us or the subsidiary guarantor
with an unreasonably small amount of capital to carry on the
business; or |
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we or the subsidiary guarantor intended to, or believed that we
or it would, incur debts beyond our or its ability to pay the
debt. |
If a court were to find that the issuance of the New Notes or a
subsidiary guarantee was a fraudulent conveyance, the court
could void the payment obligations under the notes or such
subsidiary guarantee or subordinate the New Notes or such
subsidiary guarantee to presently existing and future debt, or
require the holders of the New Notes to repay any amounts
received with respect to the New Notes or such subsidiary
guarantee. In the event of a finding that a fraudulent
conveyance occurred, you may not receive any repayment on the
notes, may not have a claim against the subsidiary guarantor and
may only be a general unsecured creditor of the company.
Further, voiding the New Notes or a subsidiary guarantee could
result in an event of default with respect to our other debt
that could result in acceleration of that debt.
8
The subsidiary guarantees could also be subject to the claim
that, because they were incurred for our benefit (and only
indirectly for the benefit of the subsidiary guarantors), the
obligations of the subsidiary guarantors were incurred for less
than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration. A court
could then void a subsidiary guarantors obligation under
its subsidiary guarantee, subordinate the subsidiary guarantee
to other debt of the subsidiary guarantor or take other action
detrimental to your interests as a holder of the New Notes.
We are a holding company and we conduct all of our operations
exclusively through our subsidiaries. Our only significant
assets are the capital stock of our subsidiaries. If the
subsidiary guarantees are unenforceable, your interests would be
effectively subordinated to all of our subsidiaries debt
and other liabilities.
Risk Related to Continuing Ownership of the Old
Notes
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If you fail to exchange your outstanding Old Notes for New
Notes, you will continue to hold notes subject to transfer
restrictions. |
We will only issue New Notes in exchange for outstanding Old
Notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should
allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the
outstanding Old Notes and you should carefully follow the
instructions on how to tender your Old Notes set forth under
The Exchange Offer Procedures for Tendering
Old Notes and in the letter of transmittal that
accompanies this prospectus. Neither we nor the exchange agent
are required to notify you of any defects or irregularities
relating to your tender of outstanding Old Notes.
If you do not exchange your outstanding Old Notes for New Notes
in this exchange offer, the outstanding Old Notes you hold will
continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions. In
general, you may not offer or sell the outstanding 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 the outstanding Old Notes under the
Securities Act. If you continue to hold any outstanding Old
Notes after this exchange offer is completed, you may have
trouble selling them because of these restrictions on transfer.
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The trading market for unexchanged Old Notes could be
limited. |
The trading market for unexchanged Old Notes could become
significantly more limited after the exchange offer due to the
reduction in the amount of Old Notes outstanding upon
consummation of the exchange offer. Therefore, if your Old Notes
are not exchanged for New Notes in the exchange offer, it may
become more difficult for you to sell or otherwise transfer your
Old Notes. This reduction in liquidity may in turn reduce the
market price, and increase the price volatility, of the Old
Notes. There is a risk that an active trading market in the
unexchanged Old Notes will not exist, develop or be maintained
and we cannot give you any assurances regarding the prices at
which the unexchanged Old Notes may trade in the future.
Risks Related to Our Company
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Marketing and sales activities by existing and new
competitors could cause us to lose market share and lead to
lower revenues and margins. |
We face competition in all of our markets. Most of our
competitors are independently owned, and some are relatively
recent market entrants. Certain of the recent entrants are
individuals who were formerly employed by us or by our
competitors and have relationships and name recognition within
our markets. As a group, independent competitors tend to be
aggressive in distinguishing themselves by their independent
ownership, and they promote their independence through
advertising, direct mailings and personal contact. Increasing
pressures from new market entrants and continued advertising and
marketing by competitors in local markets could cause us to lose
market share and revenues. In addition, competitors may change
the types or mix of products or services offered. These changes
may attract customers, causing us to lose market share and
revenue as well as to incur costs in response to competition to
vary the types or mix of products or services offered by us.
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Price competition could also reduce our market share or
cause us to reduce prices to retain or recapture market share,
either of which could reduce revenues and margins. |
We have historically experienced price competition primarily
from independent funeral home and cemetery operators, and from
monument dealers, casket retailers, low-cost funeral providers
and other non-traditional providers of services or products. New
market entrants tend to attempt to build market share by
offering lower cost alternatives. In the past, this price
competition has resulted in our losing market share in some
markets. In other markets, we have had to reduce prices thereby
reducing profit margins in order to retain or recapture market
share. Increased price competition in the future could further
reduce revenues, profit margins and our backlog.
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Improved performance in our funeral segment is highly
dependent upon successful execution of our standards-based Being
the Best operating model. |
At the beginning of 2004, we implemented our new standards-based
Being the Best operating model to improve and better measure
performance in our funeral operations. We developed standards
according to nine criteria, each with a different weighting,
designed around market share, people, and operational and
financial metrics. We also incentivize our location managing
partners by giving them the opportunity to earn a fixed
percentage of the field-level [net income] based upon the
number and weighting of the standards achieved. Our expectation
is that, over time, the Being the Best operating model will
result in our maintaining or improving field-level margins,
market share, customer satisfaction and overall financial
performance, but there is no assurance that these goals will be
met.
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Our ability to generate preneed sales depends on a number
of factors, including sales incentives and local and general
economic conditions. |
Declines in preneed sales would reduce our backlog and revenue
and could reduce our future market share. On the other hand, a
significant increase in preneed sales can have a negative impact
on cash flow as a result of commissions and other costs incurred
without corresponding revenues.
As we have localized our preneed sales strategies, we are
continuing to refine the mix of service and product offerings in
both our funeral and cemetery segments, including changes in our
sales commission and incentive structure. These changes could
cause us to experience declines in preneed sales in the
short-run. In addition, economic conditions at the local or
national level could cause declines in preneed sales either as a
result of less discretionary income or lower consumer
confidence. Declines in preneed cemetery property sales would
reduce current revenue, and declines in other preneed sales
would reduce our backlog and future revenue and could reduce
future market share.
Preneed sales of cemetery property and funeral and cemetery
merchandise and services are generally cash flow negative
initially, primarily due to the commissions paid on the sale,
the portion of the sales proceeds required to be placed into
trust or escrow and the terms of the particular contract such as
the size of the down payment required and the length of the
contract. As a result, preneed sales reduce cash flow available
for other activities, and, to the extent preneed activities are
increased, cash flow will be further reduced.
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Earnings from and principal of trust funds and insurance
contracts could be reduced by changes in financial
markets. |
Earnings and investment gains and losses on trust funds and
insurance contracts are affected by financial market conditions
that are largely outside our control. Earnings are also affected
by the mix of fixed-income and equity securities that we choose
to maintain in the funds, and we may not choose the optimal mix
for any particular market condition. Declines in earnings from
perpetual care trust funds would cause a decline in current
revenues, while declines in earnings from other trust funds and
insurance contracts could cause a decline in future cash flows
and revenues.
Unrealized gains and losses in the funeral trust funds and
cemetery merchandise trust funds have no immediate impact on our
revenues, margins, earnings or cash flow, unless the fair market
value of the funds
10
were to decline below the estimated costs to deliver the
underlying products and services. If that were to occur, we
would record a charge to earnings to record the expected loss
currently. Over time, gains and losses realized in the funds are
allocated to underlying preneed contracts and affect the amount
of the trust fund earnings to be recognized when we deliver the
underlying product or service. Depending on conditions in the
financial markets, the funds may eventually realize losses, and
our revenues, margins, earnings and cash flow would be
negatively affected by the reduced revenue when we deliver the
underlying products and services.
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Our ability to execute our growth strategy is highly
dependent upon our ability to successfully identify suitable
acquisition candidates and negotiate transactions on favorable
terms. |
There has been little acquisition activity by us or the other
public companies in the death care industry over the preceding
four years, and there is no assurance that we will be able to
identify candidates that meet our criteria or that we will be
able to reach terms with identified candidates for transactions
that are acceptable to us. We intend to apply standards
established under our Being the Best operating model in
qualifying acquisition candidates, and there is no assurance
that we will be successful in doing so or that we will find
attractive candidates that satisfy these standards.
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Increased costs may have a negative impact on our earnings
and cash flows. |
Cost increases may impair our ability to achieve revenue growth
that exceeds our cost increases. Our 2005 plan assumes that we
will be successful in increasing revenues at a rate that is
greater than the growth in the cost of sales. We can give no
assurance that we will be successful in achieving such increases.
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Increases in interest rates would increase interest costs
on our variable-rate indebtedness and could have a material
adverse effect on our net income. |
As of December 31, 2004, $25.6 million of our
indebtedness was subject to variable interest rates, all under
our old unsecured credit facility. All of these amounts were
repaid in connection with the $130 million offering of the
Old Notes. On April 26, 2005, we amended the facility to
make it a secured credit facility. Our current senior notes, the
Old Notes and the New Notes to be issued in this exchange, are
fixed-rate debt instruments, as are the TIDES debentures.
Nevertheless, as borrowings under our new senior secured credit
facility increase, we will become subject to greater exposure to
increases in interest rates, and increases in our interest costs
could decrease our net income.
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Covenant restrictions under our debt instruments may limit
our flexibility in operating our business. |
The terms of our new senior secured credit facility and the
indenture governing the Old Notes and New Notes limit our
ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other
things:
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incur additional debt; |
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pay dividends or make distributions or redeem or repurchase
stock; |
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make investments; |
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grant liens; |
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make capital expenditures; |
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enter into transactions with affiliates; |
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enter into sale-leaseback transactions; |
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sell assets; and |
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acquire the assets of, or merge or consolidate with, other
companies. |
Our new senior secured credit facility requires us to maintain
certain financial ratios. Complying with these restrictive
covenants and financial ratios, as well as those that may be
contained in any future debt agreements, may impair our ability
to finance our future operations or capital needs or to take
advantage of
11
other favorable business opportunities. They may also limit our
ability to pay interest or principal on the New Notes. Our
ability to comply with these restrictive covenants and financial
ratios will depend on our future performance, which may be
affected by events beyond our control. Our failure to comply
with any of these covenants or restrictions when they apply will
result in a default under the particular debt instrument, which
could permit acceleration of the debt under that instrument and,
in some cases, the acceleration of debt under other instruments
that contain cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions. In
the event of an event of default, or in the event of a
cross-default or cross-acceleration, we may not have sufficient
funds available to make the required payments under our debt
instruments. If we are unable to repay amounts owed under the
terms of our new senior secured credit facility, the lenders
thereunder may be entitled to sell most or substantially all of
our assets and the assets of many of our subsidiaries to satisfy
our obligations under those agreements. In such event, we may
not be able to fully repay the notes, if at all.
Risks Related to the Death Care Industry
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Declines in the number of deaths in our markets can cause
a decrease in revenues. Changes in the number of deaths are not
predictable from market to market or over the short term. |
Declines in the number of deaths could cause at-need sales of
funeral and cemetery services, property and merchandise to
decline, which could decrease revenues. Although the United
States Bureau of the Census estimates that the number of deaths
in the United States will increase through 2010, longer
lifespans could reduce the rate of deaths. In addition, changes
in the number of deaths can vary among local markets and from
quarter to quarter, and variations in the number of deaths in
our markets or from quarter to quarter are not predictable.
These variations may cause our revenues to fluctuate and our
results of operations to lack predictability.
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The increasing number of cremations in the United States
could cause revenues to decline because we could lose market
share to firms specializing in cremations. In addition, direct
cremations produce no revenues for cemetery operations and lower
funeral revenues. |
Our traditional cemetery and funeral service operations face
competition from the increasing number of cremations in the
United States. Industry studies indicate that the percentage of
cremations has steadily increased and that cremations will
represent approximately 35% of the U.S. burial market by
the year 2010, compared to approximately 28% in 2002. The trend
toward cremation could cause cemeteries and traditional funeral
homes to lose market share and revenues to firms specializing in
cremations. In addition, direct cremations (with no funeral
service, casket, urn, mausoleum niche, columbarium niche or
burial) produce no revenues for cemetery operations and lower
revenues than traditional funerals and, when delivered at a
traditional funeral home, produce lower profit margins as well.
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If we are not able to respond effectively to changing
consumer preferences, our market share, revenues and
profitability could decrease. |
Future market share, revenues and profits will depend in part on
our ability to anticipate, identify and respond to changing
consumer preferences. During the last four years, we have
implemented new product and service strategies based on results
of customer surveys that we conduct on a continuous basis.
However, we may not correctly anticipate or identify trends in
consumer preferences, or we may identify them later than our
competitors do. In addition, any strategies we may implement to
address these trends may prove incorrect or ineffective.
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Because the funeral and cemetery businesses are high
fixed-cost businesses, changes in revenue can have a
disproportionately large effect on cash flow and profits. |
Companies in the funeral home and cemetery business must incur
many of the costs of operating and maintaining facilities, land
and equipment regardless of the level of sales in any given
period. For example, we must pay salaries, utilities, property
taxes and maintenance costs on funeral homes and maintain the
grounds of cemeteries regardless of the number of funeral
services or interments performed. Because we cannot
12
decrease these costs significantly or rapidly when we experience
declines in sales, declines in sales can cause margins, profits
and cash flow to decline at a greater rate than the decline in
revenues.
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Changes or increases in, or failure to comply with,
regulations applicable to our business could increase costs or
decrease cash flows. |
The death care industry is subject to extensive regulation and
licensing requirements under federal, state and local laws. For
example, the funeral home industry is regulated by the Federal
Trade Commission, which requires funeral homes to take actions
designed to protect consumers. State laws impose licensing
requirements and regulate preneed sales. Embalming and cremation
facilities are subject to stringent environmental and health
regulations. Compliance with these regulations is burdensome,
and we are always at risk of not complying with the regulations
or facing costly and burdensome investigations from regulatory
authorities.
In addition, from time to time, governments and agencies propose
to amend or add regulations, which could increase costs or
decrease cash flows. For example, federal, state, local and
other regulatory agencies have considered and may enact
additional legislation or regulations that could affect the
death care industry. Several states and regulatory agencies have
considered or are considering regulations that could require
more liberal refund and cancellation policies for preneed sales
of products and services, limit or eliminate our ability to use
surety bonding, increase trust requirements and prohibit the
common ownership of funeral homes and cemeteries in the same
market. If adopted by the regulatory authorities of the
jurisdictions in which we operate, these and other possible
proposals could have a material adverse effect on us, our
financial condition, our results of operations and our future
prospects. For additional information regarding the regulation
of the death care industry, see Business
Regulation in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2004.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933 that registers the securities offered
by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the
attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information
about us. The rules and regulations of the Commission allow us
to omit some information included in the registration statement
from this prospectus.
In addition, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and
other information with the Commission in accordance with the
requirements of the Exchange Act. We make our Annual Reports on
Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any
amendments to such reports available free of charge through our
corporate web site at www.carriageservices.com as soon as
reasonably practicable after we file any such report with the
Commission. Our filings with the Commission also are available
to the public over the Internet at the Commissions web
site at www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any
document we file with the Commission at the Commissions
Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain
information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by
calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.
Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the
Commission, so long as any notes are outstanding, we will
furnish to the holders of notes, upon request, within the time
periods specified in the Commissions rules and regulations:
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(1) all quarterly and annual financial 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 Managements 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 Companys certified
independent accountants; and |
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(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. |
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Any such request should be directed to Carriage Services, Inc.,
1900 Saint James Place, 4th Floor, Houston, Texas 77056,
Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
In addition, whether or not required by the Commission, the
Company will file a copy of all of the information and reports
referred to in clause (1) and (2) above with the
Commission for public availability within the time periods
specified in the Commissions rules and regulations (unless
the Commission will not accept or does not permit such a filing).
In addition, the Company agrees that, for so long as any notes
remain outstanding, if at any time it is not required to file
with the Commission the reports required by the preceding
paragraphs, it will furnish to holders of notes and prospective
investors, upon request, the information required to be
delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities
Act.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We incorporate by reference information in this
prospectus, which means that we disclose important information
to you by referring you to another document filed separately
with the Commission. This important information is not included
in or delivered with this prospectus. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this
prospectus, except for any information superseded by information
contained directly in this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference the following documents that we
filed with the Commission and any filings that we make with the
Commission in the future under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding Forms 8-K furnished to
the Commission, until this exchange is completed:
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2004; |
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended
March 31, 2005; |
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Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2005,
January 12, 2005, January 13, 2005, January 20,
2005, January 28, 2005, February 2, 2005,
February 10, 2005, February 15, 2005,
February 25, 2005, March 3, 2005, April 1, 2005,
April 19, 2005, April 20, 2005, April 28, 2005
and June 9, 2005 (excluding any information furnished
pursuant to Item 7.01 or Item 2.02 of any such Current
Reports on Form 8-K. |
We also disclose information about us through current reports on
Form 8-K that are furnished to the Commission pursuant to
Item 2.02 (Results of Operations and Financial Condition)
and Item 7.01 (Regulation FD Disclosure) of
Form 8-K (formerly Item 12 and Item 9,
respectively). This information disclosed in these reports is
not considered to be filed for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, is not
subject to the liabilities of that section and is not
incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We will provide, without charge, upon written or oral request, a
copy of the document incorporated by reference into this
offering memorandum. Requests should be directed to: Carriage
Services, Inc., 1900 Saint James Place, 4th Floor, Houston,
Texas 77056, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
To obtain timely delivery of any requested documents, you
must request the information no later than five business days
before you make your investment decision. Please make any such
requests on or before July 25, 2005.
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make
any representation that differs from, or adds to, the
information in this document or in our documents that are
publicly filed with the Commission. Therefore, if anyone does
give you different or additional information, you should not
rely on it.
If you are in a jurisdiction where it is unlawful to offer to
exchange or sell, or to ask for offers to exchange or buy, the
securities offered by this document, or if you are a person to
whom it is unlawful to direct these activities, then the offer
presented by this document does not extend to you.
The information contained in this prospectus speaks only as
of its date unless the information specifically indicates that
another date applies.
14
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial
information for Carriage that has been derived from (a) the
audited consolidated financial statements of Carriage as of and
for each of the years ended December 31, 2000 through
December 31, 2004 and (b) other data for those
periods. The operating data includes reclassifications to
conform to current period presentations with no impact on net
income. The data set forth should be read in conjunction with
our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to
the consolidated financial statements included in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2004. The historical information is not necessarily indicative
of the results to be expected in the future.
Our historical financial data included in the table below as of
and for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 2001 are
derived from our consolidated financial statements audited by
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, which has
ceased operations. The historical financial data included in the
table below as of and for the years ended December 31,
2002, 2003 and 2004 is derived from our consolidated financial
statements audited by KPMG LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm.
We adopted FASB Interpretation No. 46, as revised
(FIN 46R), Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities an Interpretation of Accounting Research
Bulletin (ARB) No. 51 as of March 31, 2004.
The adoption of FIN 46R resulted in the consolidation of
funeral and cemetery merchandise and service, and perpetual care
trusts in our consolidated balance sheet at fair value. We do
not consolidate certain funeral trusts for which we do not
absorb a majority of their expected losses and, therefore, are
not considered a primary beneficiary of these funeral trusts
under FIN 46R. The adoption of FIN 46R also resulted
in the deconsolidation of Carriage Services Capital Trust, the
issuer of TIDES preferred securities. Instead, we now report as
a liability the junior subordinated debenture payable to the
Trust. Amounts and balances prior to March 31, 2004 have
not been restated to reflect the adoption of FIN 46R. The
adoption of FIN 46R has not impacted our consolidated
statements of operations or cash flows. Certain financial
information has been restated from information presented in the
Companys Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2003. See notes 2 and 4 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements included in
Carriages Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004 and filed with the SEC on
March 31, 2005.
We adopted Statement of Financial Accountings Standards
(SFAS) No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (SFAS 144) during 2002.
The application of that standard resulted in, among other
things, the presentation of the revenues and expenses, as well
as gains, losses and impairments, from business units sold,
discontinued or held for sale in the discontinued operations
section of the consolidated statements of operations for all
periods presented.
Carriage, the parent entity, has no independent assets or
operations. All assets and operations are held and conducted at
the subsidiary level, each of which (except for Carriage
Services Capital Trust which is a minor subsidiary with respect
to our assets and operations because it is a single purpose
entity that holds our debentures issued in connection with our
TIDES) have fully and unconditionally guaranteed our obligations
under the New Notes in a joint and several manner. Additionally,
we do not currently have any significant restrictions on our
ability to receive dividends or loans from any subsidiary
guarantor under the New Notes. The disclosure in this paragraph
is in accordance with Notes to paragraph (f) of
Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X.
You should read this historical financial data together with
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and Carriages
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included in
Carriages Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004.
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INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues, net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funeral
|
|
$ |
122,686 |
|
|
$ |
120,039 |
|
|
$ |
115,100 |
|
|
$ |
112,588 |
|
|
$ |
112,816 |
|
Cemetery
|
|
|
34,552 |
|
|
|
37,245 |
|
|
|
34,217 |
|
|
|
34,351 |
|
|
|
37,390 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total net revenues
|
|
|
157,238 |
|
|
|
157,284 |
|
|
|
149,317 |
|
|
|
146,939 |
|
|
|
150,206 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funeral
|
|
|
24,746 |
|
|
|
30,559 |
|
|
|
33,407 |
|
|
|
29,098 |
|
|
|
29,429 |
|
Cemetery
|
|
|
5,630 |
|
|
|
8,435 |
|
|
|
8,221 |
|
|
|
8,521 |
|
|
|
8,874 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total gross profit
|
|
|
30,376 |
|
|
|
38,994 |
|
|
|
41,628 |
|
|
|
37,619 |
|
|
|
38,303 |
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
10,256 |
|
|
|
8,698 |
|
|
|
10,557 |
|
|
|
10,492 |
|
|
|
10,665 |
|
Special charges and other
|
|
|
102,250 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
871 |
|
|
|
432 |
|
|
|
495 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(82,130 |
) |
|
|
30,296 |
|
|
|
30,200 |
|
|
|
26,695 |
|
|
|
27,143 |
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(20,655 |
) |
|
|
(20,300 |
) |
|
|
(19,715 |
) |
|
|
(17,935 |
) |
|
|
(17,058 |
) |
Other income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
865 |
|
|
|
657 |
|
|
|
940 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
|
|
(102,785 |
) |
|
|
9,996 |
|
|
|
11,350 |
|
|
|
9,417 |
|
|
|
11,025 |
|
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
|
|
|
(8,382 |
) |
|
|
1,999 |
|
|
|
(8,429 |
) |
|
|
3,519 |
|
|
|
71 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
|
|
|
(94,404 |
) |
|
|
7,997 |
|
|
|
19,779 |
|
|
|
5,898 |
|
|
|
10,954 |
|
Cumulative effect of the change in accounting, net
|
|
|
(38,993 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
|
|
1,005 |
|
|
|
499 |
|
|
|
727 |
|
|
|
(1,720 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
(131,996 |
) |
|
|
9,002 |
|
|
|
20,278 |
|
|
|
6,625 |
|
|
|
9,234 |
|
Preferred stock dividends
|
|
|
81 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders
|
|
$ |
(132,077 |
) |
|
$ |
8,965 |
|
|
$ |
20,278 |
|
|
$ |
6,625 |
|
|
$ |
9,234 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
|
$ |
(5.88 |
) |
|
$ |
0.48 |
|
|
$ |
1.17 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
|
$ |
0.62 |
|
Cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(2.43 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discontinued operations
|
|
|
.08 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
(0.10 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$ |
(8.23 |
) |
|
$ |
0.54 |
|
|
$ |
1.20 |
|
|
$ |
0.38 |
|
|
$ |
0.52 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
|
$ |
(5.88 |
) |
|
$ |
0.46 |
|
|
$ |
1.13 |
|
|
$ |
0.33 |
|
|
$ |
0.60 |
|
Cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(2.43 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Discontinued operations
|
|
|
.08 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
(0.09 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$ |
(8.23 |
) |
|
$ |
0.51 |
|
|
$ |
1.16 |
|
|
$ |
0.37 |
|
|
$ |
0.51 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares
outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
16,056 |
|
|
|
16,696 |
|
|
|
16,973 |
|
|
|
17,444 |
|
|
|
17,786 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
16,056 |
|
|
|
17,492 |
|
|
|
17,433 |
|
|
|
17,808 |
|
|
|
18,260 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2000 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(In thousands, except per share and operating data) | |
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL DATA:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funeral homes at end of period
|
|
|
172 |
|
|
|
148 |
|
|
|
144 |
|
|
|
139 |
|
|
|
135 |
|
Cemeteries at end of period
|
|
|
38 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
Atneed funeral service contracts performed
|
|
|
27,178 |
|
|
|
24,724 |
|
|
|
24,071 |
|
|
|
23,397 |
|
|
|
22,732 |
|
Preneed funeral contracts sold
|
|
|
7,377 |
|
|
|
5,378 |
|
|
|
5,455 |
|
|
|
5,192 |
|
|
|
4,834 |
|
Backlog of preneed funeral contracts
|
|
|
86,710 |
|
|
|
67,320 |
|
|
|
59,594 |
|
|
|
59,872 |
|
|
|
60,504 |
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
$ |
18,003 |
|
|
$ |
15,716 |
|
|
$ |
9,565 |
|
|
$ |
9,975 |
|
|
$ |
10,830 |
|
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$ |
541,651 |
|
|
$ |
552,167 |
|
|
$ |
549,948 |
|
|
$ |
538,917 |
|
|
$ |
565,156 |
|
Working capital (deficit)
|
|
|
13,892 |
|
|
|
(1,006 |
) |
|
|
(1,598 |
) |
|
|
(14,285 |
) |
|
|
4,933 |
|
Long-term debt, net of current maturities
|
|
|
176,662 |
|
|
|
148,508 |
|
|
|
141,207 |
|
|
|
105,355 |
|
|
|
102,714 |
|
Convertible junior subordinated debenture(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93,750 |
|
Redeemable convertible preferred stock (TIDES)
|
|
|
91,100 |
|
|
|
90,058 |
|
|
|
90,193 |
|
|
|
90,327 |
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
$ |
77,237 |
|
|
$ |
81,578 |
|
|
$ |
98,091 |
|
|
$ |
105,930 |
|
|
$ |
116,438 |
|
|
|
(1) |
When the TIDES were issued in 1999, we reported the securities
as a component of temporary equity because they have
predominantly equity-like characteristics which are not normally
found in debt securities (including traditional subordinated
debt). In 2004, we changed that classification to report the
securities as subordinated debt in order to comply with a new
accounting standard. |
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2000 | |
|
2001 | |
|
2002 | |
|
2003 | |
|
2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.44 |
|
|
|
1.52 |
|
|
|
1.48 |
|
|
|
1.60 |
|
|
|
(1) |
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges: (i) earnings consist of income before provision
for income taxes plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized
interest) and (ii) fixed charges consist of
interest expensed and capitalized, amortization of debt discount
and expense relating to indebtedness and the portion of rental
expense representative of the interest factor attributable to
leases for rental property. There were no dividends paid or
accrued on our common stock during the periods presented above.
Earnings were inadequate in 2000 by $101,893 to cover fixed
charges. |
USE OF PROCEEDS
This exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under
the registration rights agreement entered into in connection
with our issuance of the Old Notes. We received net proceeds of
approximately $125.5 million from the issuance of the Old
Notes after deducting initial purchasers discounts and
offering expenses. We used approximately $114.7 million of
the net proceeds of the Old Notes to pay in full the principal,
accrued but unpaid interest and the make-whole
payments on our senior notes, to repay all borrowings under our
existing unsecured credit facility, and to repay the TIDES
deferred interest. We used the remaining net proceeds for
general corporate purposes.
We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the
New Notes. We will exchange outstanding Old Notes for New Notes
in like principal amount as contemplated in this prospectus. The
terms of the New Notes are identical in all material respects to
the existing Old Notes except as otherwise described herein
under Description of the Notes. The Old Notes
surrendered in exchange for the New Notes will be retired and
canceled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, issuance of the
New Notes will not result in a change in our total debt and
other financing obligations.
17
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of
December 31, 2004 on an actual basis and on an as adjusted
basis, which includes the original issuance of $130 million
of the Old Notes and our application of the net proceeds
therefrom as described above in the section entitled Use
of Proceeds. The exchange of the Old Notes for the New
Notes will not impact our overall total capitalization. This
table is unaudited and should be read in conjunction with our
consolidated financial statements and related notes contained in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004, which is incorporated by reference in
this prospectus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of | |
|
|
December 31, 2004 | |
|
|
| |
|
|
Actual | |
|
As Adjusted | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(In millions) | |
Senior Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Existing Unsecured Credit Facility
|
|
$ |
25.6 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
Existing Senior Notes
|
|
|
70.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
New Senior Notes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
130.0 |
|
Acquisition Debt
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
|
|
8.7 |
|
Capital Leases
|
|
|
5.5 |
|
|
|
5.5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Senior Debt
|
|
$ |
110.3 |
|
|
$ |
144.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subordinated Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subordinated Debt to Affiliate
|
|
$ |
93.8 |
|
|
$ |
93.8 |
|
Deferred Interest
|
|
|
10.9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Subordinated Debt
|
|
$ |
104.7 |
|
|
$ |
93.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Debt
|
|
$ |
215.0 |
|
|
$ |
238.0 |
|
Total Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
116.4 |
|
|
|
112.2 |
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Capitalization
|
|
$ |
331.4 |
|
|
$ |
350.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
In connection with the early retirement of the senior debt from
the proceeds, the Company made a required make whole
payment of $6.0 million in the form of additional interest
and recorded a charge to write off $0.7 million of
unamortized loan costs. These charges equal $4.2 million
after tax, or $0.22 per diluted share, and will be reported
in the first quarter of 2005. |
18
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Exchange Terms
Old Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $130,000,000 are
currently issued and outstanding. The maximum aggregate
principal amount of New Notes that will be issued in exchange
for Old Notes is $130,000,000. The terms of the New Notes and
the Old Notes are substantially the same in all material
respects, except that the New Notes will not contain terms with
respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights, and
payments of additional interest.
The New Notes will bear interest at a rate of 7.875% per
year, payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each
year, beginning on July 15, 2005. Holders of New Notes will
receive interest from the date of the original issuance of the
Old Notes or from the date of the last payment of interest on
the Old Notes, whichever is later. Holders of New Notes will not
receive any interest on Old Notes tendered and accepted for
exchange. In order to exchange your Old Notes for New Notes in
the exchange offer, you will be required to make the following
representations, which are included in the letter of transmittal:
|
|
|
|
|
the New Notes that you receive will be acquired in the ordinary
course of your business; |
|
|
|
you are not participating, and 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, or a broker-dealer
tendering Old Notes acquired directly from us for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption
under the Securities Act; and |
|
|
|
if you are not a broker-dealer, that you are not engaged in and
do not intend to engage in the distribution of the New Notes. |
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
prospectus and in the letter of transmittal, we will accept for
exchange any Old Notes properly tendered in the exchange offer,
and the exchange agent will deliver the New Notes promptly after
the expiration date of the exchange offer.
If you tender your Old Notes, you will not be required to pay
brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in
the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the
exchange of the Old Notes in connection with the exchange offer.
We will pay all charges, expenses and transfer taxes in
connection with the exchange offer, other than the taxes
described below under Transfer Taxes.
We make no recommendation to you as to whether you should tender
or refrain from tendering all or any portion of your existing
Old Notes into this exchange offer. In addition, no one has been
authorized to make this recommendation. You must make your own
decision whether to tender into this exchange offer and, if so,
the aggregate amount of Old Notes to tender after reading this
prospectus and the letter of transmittal and consulting with
your advisors, if any, based on your financial position and
requirements.
Expiration Date; Extensions; Termination; Amendments
The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on August 1, 2005, unless we extend the exchange
offer, in which case the expiration date will be the latest date
and time to which we extend the exchange offer.
We expressly reserve the right, so long as applicable law allows:
|
|
|
|
|
to delay our acceptance of Old Notes for exchange; |
|
|
|
to terminate the exchange offer if any of the conditions set
forth under Conditions of the Exchange
Offer exist; |
|
|
|
to waive any condition to the exchange offer; |
|
|
|
to amend any of the terms of the exchange offer; and |
19
|
|
|
|
|
to extend the expiration date and retain all Old Notes tendered
in the exchange offer, subject to your right to withdraw your
tendered Old Notes as described under
Withdrawal of Tenders. |
Any waiver or amendment to the exchange offer will apply to all
Old Notes tendered, regardless of when or in what order the Old
Notes were tendered. If the exchange offer is amended in a
manner that we think constitutes a material change, or if we
waive a material condition of the exchange offer, we will
promptly disclose the amendment or waiver by means of a
prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the registered
holders of the Old Notes, and we will extend the exchange offer
to the extent required by Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act.
We will promptly follow any delay in acceptance, termination,
extension or amendment by oral or written notice of the event to
the exchange agent, followed promptly by oral or written notice
to the registered holders. Should we choose to delay, extend,
amend or terminate the exchange offer, we will have no
obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate this
announcement, other than by making a timely release to an
appropriate news agency.
In the event we terminate the exchange offer, all Old Notes
previously tendered and not accepted for payment will be
returned promptly to the tendering holders.
In the event that the exchange offer is withdrawn or otherwise
not completed, New Notes will not be given to holders of Old
Notes who have validly tendered their Old Notes.
Resale of New Notes
Based on interpretations of the Commission staff set forth in no
action letters issued to third parties, we believe that New
Notes issued under the exchange offer in exchange for Old Notes
may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by
you without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act, if:
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you are acquiring New Notes in the ordinary course of your
business; |
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you are not participating, and have no arrangement or
understanding with any person or entity to participate, in the
distribution of the New Notes; and |
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you are not our affiliate within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and |
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you are not a broker-dealer who purchased Old Notes directly
from us for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act. |
If you tender Old Notes in the exchange offer with the intention
of participating in any manner in a distribution of the New
Notes:
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you cannot rely on those interpretations by the Commission
staff, and |
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you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a
secondary resale transaction and such a secondary resale
transaction must be covered by an effective registration
statement containing the selling security holder information
required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of
Regulation S-K. |
Only broker-dealers who acquired the Old Notes as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities may
participate in the exchange offer. Each broker-dealer that
receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old
Notes, where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer
as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of the New Notes. Please read the
section captioned Plan of Distribution for more
details regarding the transfer of New Notes.
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange
We will accept for exchange Old Notes validly tendered pursuant
to the exchange offer, or defectively tendered, if such defect
has been waived by us. We will not accept Old Notes for exchange
subsequent to the
20
expiration date of the exchange offer. Tenders of Old Notes will
be accepted only in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof.
We expressly reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to:
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delay acceptance for exchange of Old Notes tendered under the
exchange offer, subject to Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange
Act, which requires that an offeror pay the consideration
offered or return the securities deposited by or on behalf of
the holders promptly after the termination or withdrawal of a
tender offer, or |
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terminate the exchange offer and not accept for exchange any Old
Notes not theretofore accepted for exchange, if any of the
conditions set forth below under Conditions of
the Exchange Offer have not been satisfied or waived by us
or in order to comply in whole or in part with any applicable
law. In all cases, New Notes will be issued only after timely
receipt by the exchange agent of certificates representing Old
Notes, or confirmation of book-entry transfer, a properly
completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, or a manually
signed facsimile thereof, and any other required documents. For
purposes of the exchange offer, we will be deemed to have
accepted for exchange validly tendered Old Notes, or defectively
tendered Old Notes with respect to which we have waived such
defect, if, as and when we give oral, confirmed in writing, or
written notice to the exchange agent. Promptly after the
expiration date, we will deposit the New Notes with the exchange
agent, who will act as agent for the tendering holders for the
purpose of receiving the New Notes and transmitting them to the
holders. The exchange agent will deliver the New Notes to
holders of Old Notes accepted for exchange after the exchange
agent receives the New Notes. |
If, for any reason, we delay acceptance for exchange of validly
tendered Old Notes or we are unable to accept for exchange
validly tendered Old Notes, then the exchange agent may,
nevertheless, on our behalf, retain tendered Old Notes, without
prejudice to our rights described under
Expiration Date; Extensions; Termination;
Amendments, Conditions of the Exchange
Offer and Withdrawal of Tenders,
subject to Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, which
requires that an offeror pay the consideration offered or return
the securities deposited by or on behalf of the holders thereof
promptly after the termination or withdrawal of a tender offer.
If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for exchange for any
reason, or if certificates are submitted evidencing more Old
Notes than those that are tendered, certificates evidencing Old
Notes that are not exchanged will be returned, without expense,
to the tendering holder, or, in the case of Old Notes tendered
by book-entry transfer into the exchange agents account at
a book-entry transfer facility under the procedure set forth
under Procedures for Tendering Old
Notes Book-Entry Transfer, such Old Notes will
be credited to the account maintained at such book-entry
transfer facility from which such Old Notes were delivered,
unless otherwise requested by such holder under Special
Delivery Instructions in the letter of transmittal,
promptly following the expiration date or the termination of the
exchange offer.
Tendering holders of Old Notes exchanged in the exchange offer
will not be obligated to pay brokerage commissions or transfer
taxes with respect to the exchange of their Old Notes other than
as described in Transfer Taxes or in
Instruction 13 to the letter of transmittal. We will pay
all other charges and expenses in connection with the exchange
offer.
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes
Any beneficial owner whose Old Notes are registered in the name
of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee or held through a book-entry transfer facility and who
wishes to tender Old Notes should contact such registered holder
promptly and instruct such registered holder to tender Old Notes
on such beneficial owners behalf.
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Tender of Old Notes Held Through Depository Trust
Company |
The exchange agent and Depository Trust Company (DTC) have
confirmed that the exchange offer is eligible for the DTCs
automated tender offer program. Accordingly, DTC participants
may electronically
21
transmit their acceptance of the exchange offer by causing DTC
to transfer Old Notes to the exchange agent in accordance with
DTCs automated tender offer program procedures for
transfer. DTC will then send an agents message to the
exchange agent.
The term agents message means a message
transmitted by DTC, received by the exchange agent and forming
part of the book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has
received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC
tendering Old Notes that are the subject of that book-entry
confirmation that the participant has received and agrees to be
bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, and that we may
enforce such agreement against such participant. In the case of
an agents message relating to guaranteed delivery, the
term means a message transmitted by DTC and received by the
exchange agent which states that DTC has received an express
acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering Old Notes
that they have received and agree to be bound by the notice of
guaranteed delivery.
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Tender of Old Notes Held in Certificated Form |
For a holder to validly tender Old Notes held in certificated
form:
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the exchange agent must receive at its address set forth in this
prospectus a properly completed and validly executed letter of
transmittal, or a manually signed facsimile thereof, together
with any signature guarantees and any other documents required
by the instructions to the letter of transmittal, and |
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the exchange agent must receive certificates for tendered Old
Notes at such address, or such Old Notes must be transferred
pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described
below. A confirmation of such book-entry transfer must be
received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration date of
the exchange offer. A holder who desires to tender Old Notes and
who cannot comply with the procedures set forth herein for
tender on a timely basis or whose Old Notes are not immediately
available must comply with the procedures for guaranteed
delivery set forth below. |
Letters of Transmittal and Old Notes should be sent only to
the exchange agent, and not to us or to DTC.
The method of delivery of Old Notes, Letters of Transmittal
and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at the
election and risk of the holder tendering Old Notes. Delivery of
such documents will be deemed made only when actually received
by the exchange agent. If such delivery is by mail, we suggest
that the holder use property insured, registered mail with
return receipt requested, and that the mailing be made
sufficiently in advance of the expiration date of the exchange
offer to permit delivery to the exchange agent prior to such
date. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders of Old
Notes will be accepted.
Signatures on the letter of transmittal must be guaranteed by an
eligible institution unless:
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the letter of transmittal is signed by the registered holder of
the Old Notes tendered therewith, or by a participant in one of
the book-entry transfer facilities whose name appears on a
security position listing it as the owner of those Old Notes, or
if any Old Notes for principal amounts not tendered are to be
issued directly to the holder, or, if tendered by a participant
in one of the book-entry transfer facilities, any Old Notes for
principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange are
to be credited to the participants account at the
book-entry transfer facility, and neither the Special
Issuance Instructions nor the Special Delivery
Instructions box on the letter of transmittal has been
completed, or |
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the Old Notes are tendered for the account of an eligible
institution. |
An eligible institution is a firm that is a member of a
registered national securities exchange or of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or a
trust company having an office or
22
correspondent in the United States or an eligible
guarantor institution within the meaning of
Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act.
The exchange agent will seek to establish a new account or
utilize an existing account with respect to the Old Notes at DTC
promptly after the date of this prospectus. Any financial
institution that is a participant in the DTC system and whose
name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the
Old Notes may make book-entry delivery of Old Notes by causing
DTC to transfer such Old Notes into the exchange agents
account. However, although delivery of Old Notes may be
effected through book-entry transfer into the exchange
agents account at DTC, a properly completed and validly
executed Letter of Transmittal, or a manually signed facsimile
thereof, must be received by the exchange agent at one of its
addresses set forth in this prospectus on or prior to the
expiration date of the exchange offer, or else the guaranteed
delivery procedures described below must be complied with.
The confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Old Notes into the
exchange agents account at DTC is referred to in this
prospectus as a book-entry confirmation. Delivery of
documents to DTC in accordance with DTCs procedures does
not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.
If you wish to tender your Old Notes and:
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(1) certificates representing your Old Notes are not lost
but are not immediately available, |
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(2) time will not permit your letter of transmittal,
certificates representing your Old Notes and all other required
documents to reach the exchange agent on or prior to the
expiration date of the exchange offer, or |
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(3) the procedures for book-entry transfer cannot be
completed on or prior to the expiration date of the exchange
offer, you may nevertheless tender if all of the following
conditions are complied with: |
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your tender is made by or through an eligible
institution; and |
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on or prior to the expiration date of the exchange offer, the
exchange agent has received from the eligible institution a
properly completed and validly executed notice of guaranteed
delivery, by manually signed facsimile transmission, mail or
hand delivery, in substantially the form provided with this
prospectus. The notice of guaranteed delivery must: |
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(a) set forth your name and address, the registered
number(s) of your Old Notes and the principal amount of Old
Notes tendered; |
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(b) state that the tender is being made thereby; |
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(c) guarantee that, within three New York Stock Exchange
trading days after the expiration date, the letter of
transmittal or facsimile thereof properly completed and validly
executed, together with certificates representing the Old Notes,
or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required
by the letter of transmittal and the instructions thereto, will
be deposited by the eligible institution with the exchange
agent; and |
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(d) the exchange agent receives the properly completed and
validly executed letter of transmittal or facsimile thereof with
any required signature guarantees, together with certificates
for all Old Notes in proper form for transfer, or a book-entry
confirmation, and any other required documents, within three New
York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date. |
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New Notes will be issued in exchange for Old Notes accepted for
exchange only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of:
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certificates for (or a timely book-entry confirmation with
respect to) your Old Notes, |
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a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal or
facsimile thereof with any required signature guarantees, or, in
the case of a book-entry transfer, an agents
message, and |
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any other documents required by the letter of transmittal. |
We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions as to
the form of all documents, validity, eligibility, including time
of receipt, and acceptance of all tenders of Old Notes. Our
determination will be final and binding on all parties.
Alternative, conditional or contingent tenders of Old Notes
will not be considered valid. We reserve the absolute right to
reject any or all tenders of Old Notes that are not in proper
form or the acceptance of which, in our opinion, would be
unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects,
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.
Any defect or irregularity in connection with tenders of Old
Notes must be cured within the time we determine, unless waived
by us. We will not consider the tender of Old Notes to have been
validly made until all defects and irregularities have been
waived by us or cured. Neither we, the exchange agent, or any
other person will be under any duty to give notice of any
defects or irregularities in tenders of Old Notes, or will incur
any liability to holders for failure to give any such notice.
Withdrawal of Tenders
Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may
withdraw your tender of Old Notes at any time prior to the
expiration date.
For a withdrawal to be effective:
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the exchange agent must receive a written notice of withdrawal
at the address set forth on the inside of the back cover of this
prospectus, or |
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you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTCs
automated tender offer program system. |
Any notice of withdrawal must:
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specify the name of the person who tendered the Old Notes to be
withdrawn, and |
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identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn, including the principal
amount of the Old Notes. |
If Old Notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for
book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal
must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be
credited with the withdrawn Old Notes and otherwise comply with
the procedures of DTC.
We will determine all questions as to validity, form,
eligibility and time of receipt of any withdrawal notices. Our
determination will 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 that are
not exchanged for any reason will be returned to their holder
without cost to the holder or, in the case of Old Notes tendered
by book-entry transfer into the exchange agents account at
DTC according to the procedures described above, such Old Notes
will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the Old
Notes. This return or crediting will take place promptly after
withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange
offer. You may retender properly withdrawn Old Notes by
following one of the procedures described under
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes at
any time on or prior to the expiration date.
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Conditions of the Exchange Offer
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the exchange offer, if,
on or prior to the expiration date, we determine, in our
reasonable judgment, that the exchange offer, or the making of
an exchange by a holder of Old Notes, would violate applicable
law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the
Commission, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or
to exchange, any tendered Old Notes. We may also terminate,
waive any conditions to or amend the exchange offer or, subject
to Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, which requires that
an offeror pay the consideration offered or return the
securities deposited by or on behalf of the holders thereof
promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the exchange
offer, postpone the acceptance for exchange of tendered Old
Notes.
Transfer Taxes
We will pay all transfer taxes applicable to the transfer and
exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the exchange offer. If,
however:
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delivery of the New Notes and/or certificates for Old Notes for
principal amounts not exchanged, are to be made to any person
other than the record holder of the Old Notes tendered; |
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tendered certificates for Old Notes are recorded in the name of
any person other than the person signing any letter of
transmittal; or |
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a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the transfer
and exchange of Old Notes to us or our order, |
the amount of any such transfer taxes, whether imposed on the
record holder or any other person, will be payable by the
tendering holder prior to the issuance of the New Notes.
Consequences of Failing to Exchange
If you do not exchange your Old Notes for New Notes in the
exchange offer, you will remain subject to the restrictions on
transfer of the Old Notes:
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as set forth in the legend printed on the Old Notes as a
consequence of the issuance of the Old Notes pursuant to the
exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the
registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable
state securities laws; and |
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otherwise set forth in the offering circular distributed in
connection with the private offering of the Old Notes. |
In general, you may not offer or sell the Old Notes unless they
are registered under the Securities Act, or if the offer or sale
is 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
The New Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the
Old Notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of
the exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or
loss for accounting purposes upon the consummation of the
exchange offer. We will amortize the expenses of the exchange
offer over the term of the exchange notes.
Exchange Agent
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. has been appointed as exchange agent for
the exchange offer. You should direct questions and requests for
assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus,
the letter of transmittal or any other documents to the exchange
agent. You should send certificates for Old Notes, letters of
transmittal and any other required documents to the exchange
agent at the address set forth on the inside of the back cover
of this prospectus.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
The New Notes will be issued, and the Old Notes were issued,
under an indenture dated January 27, 2005 between us, the
Guarantors and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as 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 of 1939 (the Trust Indenture Act). We urge you
to read the indenture and the registration rights agreement
because they, and not this description, define your rights as
holders of the notes. The exchange agent will provide a copy of
the indenture governing the New Notes, at no cost, to any holder
who receives this prospectus. To request a copy of this
document, you should telephone the exchange agent at the
telephone number on the inside of the back cover of this
prospectus. We have included at the end of this section a
summary of capitalized terms used in this section. Terms used in
this section and not otherwise defined in this section have the
respective meanings assigned to them in the indenture. In this
description, the word Company refers only to
Carriage Services, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
General
The notes:
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are general unsecured senior obligations of the Company; |
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are equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior
Indebtedness of the Company; |
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are effectively subordinate in right of payment to any existing
or future secured Indebtedness of the Company, including under
our new senior secured credit facility, to the extent of the
value of the assets securing such Indebtedness; |
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are senior in right of payment to any existing or future
Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company, including the
Indebtedness underlying the outstanding Company-obligated
mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred securities of
Carriage Services Capital Trust (the TIDES); and |
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are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by
the Guarantors. |
The notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by all of the
Companys present and future Restricted Subsidiaries, other
than Carriage Services Capital Trust.
The Subsidiary Guarantees of the notes:
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are the general unsecured senior obligations of each Guarantor; |
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are equal in right of payment to all existing and future senior
Indebtedness of each Guarantor; |
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are effectively subordinate in right of payment to any existing
or future secured Indebtedness of each Guarantor to the extent
of the value of the assets securing such Indebtedness; and |
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are senior in right of payment to any existing or future
Subordinated Indebtedness of each Guarantor. |
As of the date of this prospectus, the Company and the
Guarantors have $237.2 million principal amount of
Indebtedness outstanding, of which $5.8 million was
secured. The indenture will permit us and the Guarantors to
incur additional Indebtedness, including secured Indebtedness.
As of the date of the indenture, all of our subsidiaries are
Restricted Subsidiaries. However, under the
circumstances described below under the subheading
Certain Definitions Unrestricted
Subsidiary, we are permitted to designate certain of our
subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not subject to many of the
restrictive covenants in the indenture. Unrestricted
Subsidiaries do not guarantee the notes.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Company initially issued the Old Notes with an aggregate
principal amount of $130.0 million (the Initial
Notes) on the Issue Date. The Company may issue additional
notes (Additional Notes) from time to time in an
unlimited amount, subject to the provisions of the indenture
described below under the
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caption Certain Covenants
Incurrence of Indebtedness. All notes under the indenture
will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the
indenture, including, without limitation, waivers, amendments,
redemptions and offers to purchase. Unless otherwise provided or
the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of the
indenture and this Description of the Notes,
references to the notes include any Additional Notes actually
issued.
The Company issued Old Notes in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000. The notes will mature on
January 15, 2015.
Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of 7.875% per
annum and will be payable semiannually in arrears on January 15
and July 15, commencing, in the case of the Initial Notes,
on July 15, 2005. The Company will make each interest
payment to the holders of record of the notes on the immediately
preceding January 1 and July 1.
Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original
issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it
was most recently paid. Interest will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
The interest rate on the notes is subject to increase if the
registration statement is not declared effective on a timely
basis or if certain other conditions are not satisfied, all as
further described under the caption Exchange Offer;
Registration Rights. All references to interest on the
notes shall include any such additional interest that may be
payable.
Methods of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a holder of any notes has given wire transfer instructions to
the Company, the Company will make all principal, premium and
interest payments on those notes in accordance with those
instructions. All other payments on the notes will be made at
the office or agency of the Paying Agent within the City and
State of New York unless the Company elects to make interest
payments by check mailed to the holders at their address set
forth in the register of holders.
We will make all principal, premium and interest payments on
each note in global form registered in the name of The
Depository Trust Company (DTC) or its nominee in
immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case
may be, as the holder of such global note.
Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The trustee will initially act as Paying Agent and Registrar.
The Company 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,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents and the Company may require a holder to pay
any taxes and fees required by law. The Company is not required
to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. Also,
the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any note for
a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be
redeemed.
The holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all
purposes.
Subsidiary Guarantees
The Guarantors will jointly and severally guarantee the
Companys obligations under the notes on a senior unsecured
basis. The obligations of each Guarantor under its Subsidiary
Guarantee will be limited in a manner intended to prevent that
Subsidiary Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance
under applicable law, although no assurance can be given that a
court would give holders of notes the benefit of such provision.
See Risk Factors Risks Related to Investing in
the Notes.
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A Guarantor may not consolidate with or merge with or into
another Person (other than the Company or another Guarantor)
unless:
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(1) immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no
Default exists; and |
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(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Guarantor) assumes
all the obligations of that Guarantor pursuant to a supplemental
indenture satisfactory to the trustee. |
So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Subsidiary Guarantee of a Guarantor will be
released:
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(1) (a) 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) or (b) in connection with any sale or other
disposition of all of the Capital Stock of a Guarantor, in each
case to a Person that is not (either before or after giving
effect to such transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company and in each case provided that (I) the Company
otherwise complies with the terms of the indenture with respect
to such transaction and (II) upon completion of such
transaction all obligations of such Guarantor with respect to
Guarantees of other Indebtedness of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries terminate; or |
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(2) if the Company designates any Restricted Subsidiary
that is a Guarantor as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the indenture; or |
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(3) if the Company effects a Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance as described under Legal Defeasance
and Covenant Defeasance. |
Optional Redemption
Prior to January 15, 2008, the Company may on any one or
more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal
amount of notes (including any Additional Notes) originally
issued under the indenture at a redemption price of 107.875% of
the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest
to the redemption date (subject to the right of holders on the
relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest
payment date that is on or prior to the redemption date), with
the Net Cash Proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings; provided
that
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(1) at least 65% in aggregate principal amount of notes
(including any Additional Notes) issued under the indenture
remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such
redemption (excluding notes held by the Company and its
Subsidiaries); and |
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(2) the redemption must occur within 90 days of the
date of the closing of such Equity Offering. |
Except pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the notes will not
be redeemable at the Companys option prior to
January 15, 2010.
On or after January 15, 2010, the Company may redeem all or
a part of the notes upon not less than 30 nor more than
60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed
as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the applicable
redemption date (subject to the right of holders 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 January 15 of the years
indicated below:
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Year |
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Percentage | |
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2010
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103.938 |
% |
2011
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102.625 |
% |
2012
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|
101.313 |
% |
2013 and thereafter
|
|
|
100.000 |
% |
28
Selection and Notice
If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time,
the trustee will select notes for redemption on a pro rata
basis, by lot or by such method as the trustee shall deem fair
and appropriate.
No notes of $1,000 or less shall be redeemed in part. Notices of
redemption shall be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but
not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address.
Notices of redemption may not be conditional.
If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of
redemption that relates to that note shall state the portion of
the principal amount thereof 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 thereof upon
cancellation of the original note. Notes called for redemption
become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and after the
redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on notes or portions
of them called for redemption.
Repurchase at the Option of Holders
If a Change of Control occurs, unless the Company has exercised
its right to redeem the notes as provided under
Optional Redemption, each holder of
notes will have the right to require the Company to repurchase
all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple
thereof) of that holders notes pursuant to the offer
described below (the Change of Control Offer). In
the Change of Control Offer, the Company will offer a Change of
Control Payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal
amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the right
of holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due
on an interest payment date that is on or prior to the Change of
Control Payment Date. Within 30 days following any Change
of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem
the notes as provided under Optional
Redemption, the Company will mail a notice to each holder
describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the
Change of Control and offering to repurchase notes on the Change
of Control Payment Date specified in such notice, which date
will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days
from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures
required by the indenture and described in such notice.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-l
under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and
regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations
are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as
a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with
the Change of Control 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 provisions of the indenture by virtue of
such conflict.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the
extent lawful:
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(1) accept for payment all notes or portions thereof
properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; |
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(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the
Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions
thereof so tendered; and |
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(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the
notes so accepted together with an Officers Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions
thereof being purchased by the Company. |
The Paying Agent will promptly mail to each holder of notes so
tendered the Change of Control Payment for such notes (or, if
all the notes are then in global form, make such payment through
the facilities of DTC), and the trustee will promptly
authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry)
to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any
unpurchased portion of the notes surrendered, if any; provided
that each such new note will be in a principal amount of $1,000
or an integral multiple thereof.
29
The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of
Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of
Control Payment Date.
The provisions described above that require the Company to make
a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be
applicable regardless of whether or not any other provisions of
the indenture are applicable. Except as described above with
respect to a Change of Control, the indenture will 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 Companys new senior secured credit facility is
expected to provide, and the Companys existing unsecured
credit facility currently provides, that certain change of
control events with respect to the Company would constitute a
default under such facilities. Any future credit agreements or
other agreements to which the Company becomes a party may
contain similar restrictions and provisions. The occurrence of a
Change of Control may result in a default under the new senior
secured credit facility or other Indebtedness of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, and give the lenders thereunder the right to
require the Company to repay obligations outstanding thereunder.
The Companys ability to repurchase notes following a
Change of Control also may be limited by the Companys then
existing resources.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control
Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change
of Control Offer in the manner, at the times 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 validly tendered and not withdrawn under
such Change of Control Offer.
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating
to the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the properties or assets
of the Company and its 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 such 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 may be uncertain.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
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(1) the Company (or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be) receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at
least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity
Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and |
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(2) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of
(a) cash or Cash Equivalents or (b) assets of the
types described in clauses (2) and (3) of the next
succeeding paragraph. For purposes of this provision, each of
the following shall be deemed to be cash: |
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(a) any liabilities (as shown on the Companys or such
Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet) of the
Company or any 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 customary
novation agreement that releases the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary from further liability; and |
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(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by
the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such
transferee that are converted within 45 days by the Company
or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the
cash received in that conversion). |
30
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Available
Proceeds from an Asset Sale, the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, as applicable, may apply such Net Available Proceeds
at its option:
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(1) to permanently repay, prepay, redeem or repurchase
(i) Indebtedness that is secured by the assets subject to
the Asset Sale, provided such Indebtedness is not Subordinated
Indebtedness or (ii) secured Indebtedness under a Credit
Facility in each case and cause any related loan commitment to
be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal
amount so repaid, prepaid, redeemed or repurchased; |
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(2) to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of,
or all of the Voting Stock of, a company principally engaged in
a Permitted Business; or |
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(3) to acquire other long-term assets that are used or
useful in a Permitted Business or make capital expenditures in a
Permitted Business. |
Pending the final application of any such Net Available
Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit
borrowings or otherwise invest such Net Available Proceeds in
any manner not prohibited by the indenture.
Any Net Available Proceeds from Asset Sales that are not applied
or invested as provided in the preceding paragraph will
constitute Excess Proceeds. When the aggregate amount of Excess
Proceeds exceeds $10.0 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 principal amount plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase,
subject to the right of holders on the relevant record date to
receive interest due on an interest payment date that is on or
prior to the date of purchase and will be payable in cash. If
any Excess Proceeds remain after consummation of an Asset Sale
Offer, the Company may use such Excess Proceeds for any purpose
not otherwise prohibited by the indenture. If the aggregate
principal amount of notes and such other pari passu Indebtedness
tendered into such Asset Sale Offer exceeds the amount of Excess
Proceeds, the trustee shall select the notes and such other pari
passu Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis based on
the principal amounts thereof that are tendered. Upon completion
of each Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be
reset at zero.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-l
under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and
regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations
are applicable in connection with an Asset Sale Offer.
Certain Covenants
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
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(1) declare or pay any dividend or make any other payment
or distribution on account of the Companys 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
Companys 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 to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); |
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(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
thereof (other than any such Equity Interests owned by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company); |
31
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(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase,
redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any
Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor held
by persons other than the Company or a Wholly-Owned Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company, except a payment of interest or
principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or |
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(4) make any Investment other than a Permitted Investment
(all such payments and other actions set forth in this
clause (4) and clauses (1) through (3) above
being collectively referred to as Restricted
Payments), |
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such
Restricted Payment:
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(1) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would occur as a consequence thereof; and |
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(2) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted
Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such
Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at
least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of
the covenant described below under the caption
Incurrence of Indebtedness; and |
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(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate
amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (excluding
Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (6), and
(7) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the
sum, without duplication, of |
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(a) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for
the period (taken as one accounting period) from the beginning
of the full fiscal quarter during which the Issue Date falls to
the end of the Companys most recently ended fiscal quarter
for which internal financial statements are available at the
time of such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net
Income for such period is a deficit, less 100% of such deficit),
plus |
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(b) 100% of the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the
Company since the Issue Date from the issue or sale of Equity
Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock), other
than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Stock or debt securities)
sold to a Subsidiary of the Company and other than an issuance
or sale financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness to an
employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their
employees, plus |
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(c) the amount by which Indebtedness issued after the Issue
Date is reduced on the Companys consolidated balance sheet
upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of
the Company) of any such Indebtedness convertible or
exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock)
of the Company (plus the amount of any accrued interest then
outstanding on such Indebtedness to the extent the obligation to
pay such interest is extinguished less the amount of any cash,
or the Fair Market Value of any property, distributed by the
Company upon such conversion or exchange); provided, however,
that the foregoing amount shall not exceed the Net Cash Proceeds
received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the
sale of such Indebtedness (excluding Net Cash Proceeds from
sales to a Subsidiary of the Company or, in the case of a sale
financed directly or indirectly with Indebtedness, to an
employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their
employees); plus |
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(d) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the net
reduction in the Investments (other than Permitted Investments)
made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in any Person
resulting from repurchases, repayments or redemptions of such
Investments by such Person, proceeds realized on the sale of
such Investment and proceeds representing the return of capital
(excluding dividends and distributions), in each case received
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, and (ii) to
the extent such Person is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the
portion (proportionate to the Companys equity interest in
such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of
such |
32
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Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary
is designated a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that
the foregoing sum shall not exceed, in the case of any such
Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments
(excluding Permitted Investments) previously made (and treated
as a Restricted Payment) by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted Subsidiary. |
The preceding provisions will not prohibit:
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(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after
the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration
such payment would have complied with the provisions of the
indenture; |
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(2) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition of any Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or
any Guarantor or of any Equity Interests of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary in exchange for, or out of the Net Cash
Proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a
Subsidiary of the Company) of, Equity Interests of the Company
(other than Disqualified Stock); provided that the amount of any
such Net Cash Proceeds that are utilized for any such
redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition shall be excluded from clause (3)(b) of the
preceding paragraph; |
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(3) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
the defeasance, redemption, repurchase, retirement or other
acquisition of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company or any
Guarantor with the Net Cash Proceeds from a substantially
concurrent incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; |
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(4) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement
for value of any Equity Interests of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company held by any employees,
former employees, directors or former directors of Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or heirs, estates or other
permitted transferees of such employees or directors) pursuant
to any agreements (including employment agreements), management
equity subscription agreements or stock option agreements or
plans (or amendments thereto), approved by the Board of
Directors, under which such individuals purchase or sell or are
granted the right to purchase or sell shares of Capital Stock;
provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased,
redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests shall not exceed
$2.0 million in any twelve-month period; |
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(5) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
upon the occurrence of a Change of Control or an Asset Sale and
within 60 days after the completion of any required offer
to repurchase the notes under the covenants described under
Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Change of Control or
Asset Sales above (including the
purchase of all notes tendered), any purchase, repurchase,
redemption, defeasance, acquisition or other retirement for
value of Subordinated Indebtedness required under the terms
thereof as a result of such Change of Control or Asset Sale at a
purchase or redemption price not to exceed 101% of the
outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, if any, provided that, in the notice to
holders of notes relating to a Change of Control hereunder, the
Company shall describe any offer to be made pursuant to this
clause (5); |
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(6) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
regularly scheduled distributions (including amounts due in
respect of permitted deferrals thereof) by Carriage Services
Capital Trust on its TIDES (and by the Company on the related
debentures) in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect on
the Issue Date; |
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(7) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
repurchases of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise
of stock options, warrants or other convertible securities if
such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price
thereof; and |
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(8) so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing,
Restricted Payments that, when taken together with all
Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (8), do
not exceed $15.0 million. |
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be
the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of
the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued
by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may
be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair Market Value
33
of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by
this covenant shall be evidenced by an Officers
Certificate to be delivered to the trustee. Not later than five
Business Days following the date of the making of any Restricted
Payment which, together with any Restricted Payment that has not
been reported to the trustee, exceeds $1.0 million, the
Company shall deliver to the trustee an Officers
Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted
and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required
by this Restricted Payments covenant, were computed,
together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal
required by the indenture.
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Incurrence of Indebtedness |
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); provided, however, that the Company and any
Guarantor may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt), if
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the Companys 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 would
have been at least 2.25 to 1, determined on a pro forma basis
(including a pro forma application of the net proceeds
therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred
at the beginning of such four-quarter period.
So long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would be caused thereby, the first paragraph of this covenant
will not prohibit the incurrence of any of the following items
of Indebtedness (collectively, Permitted
Indebtedness):
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(1) the incurrence by the Company and any Guarantor of
Indebtedness (including letters of credit) under Credit
Facilities; provided that the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors outstanding under
all Credit Facilities after giving effect to such incurrence
does not exceed $75.0 million (with letters of credit being
deemed to have a principal amount equal to the maximum potential
liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries thereunder) less
the amount of any Indebtedness under Credit Facilities that is
permanently retired with the proceeds of an Asset Sale in
accordance with Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Asset Sales; |
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(2) the incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of
Indebtedness represented by (a) the Initial Notes and the
Subsidiary Guarantees, and (b) any notes issued pursuant to
a registration rights agreement in exchange for the Initial
Notes and any Additional Notes issued in compliance with the
indenture, and any Subsidiary Guarantees related thereto; |
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(3) the incurrence of other Indebtedness outstanding on the
Issue Date after giving effect to the use of proceeds of the
notes; |
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(4) the incurrence by the Company or any Guarantor of
Indebtedness represented by Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage
financings or purchase money obligations, in each case incurred
for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase price
or cost of construction or improvement of property, plant or
equipment used in the business of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, in an aggregate principal amount, including all
Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or replace any such
Indebtedness (or refinancings, refundings or replacements
thereof), not to exceed $15.0 million at any one time
outstanding; |
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(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 refund, refinance
or replace, Indebtedness (other than intercompany Indebtedness)
that was permitted by the indenture to be incurred under the
first paragraph of this covenant or clause (2) or
(3) or this clause (5) of this paragraph; |
34
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(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: |
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(a) (i) if the Company is the obligor on such
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be expressly subordinated
to the prior payment in full in cash of all obligations with
respect to the notes, and (ii) if a Guarantor is the
obligor of such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be
expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of
all obligations of such Guarantor with respect to its Subsidiary
Guarantee, and |
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(b) (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 thereof and (ii) any sale or other transfer of
any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof, shall be deemed, in each
case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that
was not permitted by this clause; |
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(7) the accrual of interest, 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
in the form of additional shares of the same class of
Disqualified Stock, provided, in each such case, that the amount
thereof is included in Fixed Charges of the Company as accrued; |
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(8) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of obligations under Interest Rate Agreements,
Currency Agreements and Commodity Agreements; provided, that
such Interest Rate Agreements, Currency Agreements and Commodity
Agreements are related to business transactions of the Company
or its Restricted Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary
course of business and are entered into for bona fide hedging
purposes (and not financing or speculative purposes) of the
Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors or senior management of the
Company); |
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(9) any obligation arising from agreements of the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification,
guarantee, adjustment of purchase price, holdback, contingency
payment obligation based on the performance of the disposed
asset or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed
in connection with the disposition of any business, asset or
Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the
maximum aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness
shall at no time exceed the gross proceeds actually received by
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with
such disposition; |
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(10) any obligation arising from the honoring by a bank or
other financial institution of a check, draft or similar
instrument (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn
against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business,
provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within
five Business Days of incurrence; and |
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(11) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor in an
aggregate principal amount which, when taken together with all
Indebtedness of the Company and the Guarantors outstanding on
the date of such incurrence other than Indebtedness permitted by
clauses (1) through (10) above or in the first
paragraph of this covenant, does not exceed $15.0 million. |
The Company will not, and will not permit any Guarantor to,
directly or indirectly, incur any Indebtedness which by its
terms (or by the terms of any agreement governing such
Indebtedness) is subordinated to any other Indebtedness of the
Company or of such Guarantor, as the case may be, unless made
expressly subordinate to the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee
of such Guarantor, as the case may be, to the same extent and in
the same manner as such Indebtedness is subordinated pursuant to
subordination provisions that are most favorable to the holders
of any other Indebtedness of the Company or of such Guarantor,
as the case may be.
35
For purposes of determining compliance with this
Indebtedness covenant:
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(1) if an item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria
of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness
described in clauses (1) through (11) above, or is
entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this
covenant, the Company will be permitted to classify such item of
Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence (or later reclassify
such Indebtedness) in any manner that complies with this
covenant, and only be required to include the amount and type of
such Indebtedness in one of such clauses; |
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(2) Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of
credit relating to, Indebtedness which is otherwise included in
the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness shall
not be included; |
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(3) Indebtedness permitted by this covenant need not be
permitted solely by reference to one provision permitting such
Indebtedness but may be permitted in part by one such provision
and in part by one or more other provisions of this covenant
permitting such Indebtedness; and |
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(4) the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price that is
less than the principal amount thereof will be equal to the
amount of the liability in respect thereof determined in
accordance with GAAP. |
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume
or suffer to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned
or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom or
assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, except
Permitted Liens, to secure (a) any Indebtedness of the
Company unless prior to, or contemporaneously therewith, the
notes are equally and ratably secured, or (b) any
Indebtedness of any Guarantor, unless prior to, or
contemporaneously therewith, the Subsidiary Guarantee of such
Guarantor is equally and ratably secured; provided, however,
that if such Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the notes
or a Subsidiary Guarantee, the Lien securing such Indebtedness
will be subordinated and junior to the Lien securing the notes
or such Subsidiary Guarantee, as the case may be, with the same
relative priority as such Indebtedness has with respect to the
notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee.
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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:
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a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its
Capital Stock to the Company or any of the Companys
Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any indebtedness owed to the
Company or any of the Companys Restricted Subsidiaries; |
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b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of the
Companys Restricted Subsidiaries; or |
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c) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company
or any of the Companys Restricted Subsidiaries. |
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to
encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
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(1) instruments governing Indebtedness (and guarantees or
collateral documents relating thereto) or the TIDES outstanding
on the Issue Date; |
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(2) 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 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
permitted by the terms of the indenture to be incurred; |
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(3) any agreement for the sale or other disposition of a
Restricted Subsidiary that restricts distributions by such
Restricted Subsidiary pending its sale or other disposition; |
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(4) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in respect
of Indebtedness described in clauses (1) or (2), provided
that the restrictions contained in the agreements governing such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are no more restrictive,
taken as a whole, than those contained in the agreements
governing the Indebtedness being refinanced; |
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(5) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth
imposed by customers or required by insurance, surety or bonding
companies, in each case pursuant to contracts entered into in
the ordinary course of business of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries; and |
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(6) with respect to clause (c) of the preceding
paragraph only, any of the following encumbrances or
restrictions: |
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(a) customary non-assignment provisions in leases entered
into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices; |
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(b) purchase money obligations for property acquired in the
ordinary course of business that impose restrictions on the
property so acquired; |
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(c) Liens securing Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be
incurred pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described
above under the caption Liens that limit
the right of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to dispose of the assets subject to such Lien; |
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(d) customary restrictions contained in asset sale
agreements limiting the transfer of such assets pending the
closing of such sale; |
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(e) customary restrictions on the subletting, assignment or
transfer of any property or asset that is subject to a lease,
license or similar contract, or the assignment or transfer of
any such lease, license or other contract; and |
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(f) customary restrictions on the disposition or
distribution of assets or property in joint venture agreements
or other agreements that are customary in a Permitted Business
and entered into in the ordinary course of business of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries. |
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Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets |
The Company may not: (1) consolidate or merge with or into
another Person; 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:
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(a) the Company is the surviving corporation; or |
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(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which
such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition shall have been made is a corporation existing under
the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District
of Columbia; |
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(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the
Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease,
conveyance or other disposition shall have been made assumes all
the obligations of the Company under the notes, the indenture
and the registration rights agreement pursuant to agreements
reasonably satisfactory to the trustee; |
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(3) immediately after such transaction no Default shall
have occurred and be continuing; |
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(4) the Company or the Person formed by or surviving any
such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to
which 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 |
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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 |
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(5) the Company 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. |
The provisions of clause (4) above shall not apply with
respect to a merger or consolidation of any Guarantor with or
into the Company or another Guarantor.
For purposes of this covenant, the sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the properties or assets of one or more Subsidiaries of
the Company, which properties or assets, if held by the Company
instead of such Subsidiaries, would constitute all or
substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company on
a consolidated basis, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all
or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company.
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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
(each, an Affiliate Transaction), unless:
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(1) such 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 at the time of such
transaction in arms-length dealings by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary with a Person who is not an
Affiliate; and |
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(2) the Company delivers to the trustee: |
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(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration
in excess of $5.0 million, a resolution of the Board of
Directors set forth in an Officers Certificate certifying
that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this covenant and
that such Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors; and |
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(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration
in excess of $10.0 million, a written opinion that such
Affiliate Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view,
to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking
firm of national standing that is not an Affiliate of the
Company. |
The following items shall not be deemed to be Affiliate
Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the
provisions of the prior paragraph:
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(1) any employment agreement or other employee compensation
plan or arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with the past practice of the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(2) transactions between or among (a) the Company and
one or more of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) two or
more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company; |
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(3) Restricted Payments (other than any Permitted
Investment) that are made in accordance with the provisions
described above under the caption Restricted
Payments; |
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(4) indemnities of officers, directors and employees of the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary permitted by bylaw or
statutory provisions; |
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(5) the payment of reasonable and customary regular fees to
directors of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
who are not employees of the Company or any Subsidiary; and |
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(6) the performance of obligations of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries under the terms of any agreement
identified in the Indenture to which the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries is a party as of or on the Issue Date of
the indenture, as these agreements may be amended, modified,
supplemented, extended or renewed from time to time; provided,
however, that any future amendment, modification, supplement,
extension or renewal entered into after the Issue Date will be
permitted to the extent that its terms are not more
disadvantageous to the holders of the notes than the terms of
the agreements in effect on the Issue Date. |
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Limitation on Sale/ Leaseback Transactions |
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale/ Leaseback Transaction
unless:
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(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be, receives consideration at the time of such Sale/
Leaseback Transaction at least equal to the Fair Market Value of
the property subject to such transaction; |
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(2) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary could have
incurred Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable
Debt in respect of such Sale/ Leaseback Transaction pursuant to
the covenant described under Incurrence of
Indebtedness; |
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(3) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be
permitted to create a Lien on the property subject to such Sale/
Leaseback Transaction without securing the notes or any
Subsidiary Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary by the
covenant described under Liens; and |
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(4) the Sale/ Leaseback Transaction is treated as an Asset
Sale and all of the conditions of the indenture described under
Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Asset Sales (including the provisions
concerning the application of Net Available Proceeds) are
satisfied with respect to such Sale/ Leaseback Transaction,
treating all of the consideration received in such Sale/
Leaseback Transaction as Net Available Proceeds for purposes of
such covenant. |
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Additional Subsidiary Guarantees |
If the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquires or
creates another Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date, then
that newly acquired or created Restricted Subsidiary must become
a Guarantor by executing a supplemental indenture in the form
specified in the indenture within 10 Business Days of the date
on which it was acquired or created.
The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than a Permitted
Business.
Whether or not required by the Commission, so long as any notes
are outstanding, the Company will furnish to the trustee and the
holders of notes, within the time periods specified in the
Commissions rules and regulations:
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(1) all quarterly and annual financial 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 Managements 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 Companys certified
independent accountants; and |
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(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. |
If the Company has designated any of its Subsidiaries as
Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual
financial information required by the preceding paragraph shall
include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face
of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in
Managements 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.
In addition, whether or not required by the Commission, the
Company will file a copy of all of the information and reports
referred to in clause (1) and (2) above with the
Commission for public availability within the time periods
specified in the Commissions rules and regulations (unless
the Commission will not accept or does not permit such a filing).
In addition, the Company agrees that, for so long as any notes
remain outstanding, if at any time it is not required to file
with the Commission the reports required by the preceding
paragraphs, it will furnish to holders of notes and prospective
investors, upon request, the information required to be
delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities
Act.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, directly
or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration,
whether by way of interest, fees or otherwise, to any holder of
any notes for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or
amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the indenture or
the notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is
paid to all holders of the notes that consent, waive or agree to
amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents
relating to such consent, waiver or amendment.
Events of Default and Remedies
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
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(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of
interest on the notes; |
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(2) default in payment when due of the principal of or
premium, if any, on the notes; |
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(3) failure by the Company to comply with the provisions
described under the caption Certain
Covenants Merger, Consolidation or Sale of
Assets or Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Change of Control or
Asset Sales; |
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(4) failure by the Company to comply for 30 days after
notice with the provisions described under
Certain Covenants (other than
Certain Covenants Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets); |
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(5) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice to
comply with any of its other agreements in the indenture; |
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(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 date of the indenture, if that
default: |
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(a) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium,
if any, or interest on such Indebtedness prior to the expiration
of the grace period provided in such Indebtedness (a
Payment Default); or |
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(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior
to its Stated Maturity, |
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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
$5.0 million or more; |
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(7) failure by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to pay final judgments aggregating in excess of
$5.0 million (net of any amounts that a reputable and
creditworthy insurance company has acknowledged liability for in
writing), which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for
a period of 60 days; |
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(8) the Subsidiary Guarantees of any Significant Subsidiary
or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together,
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, shall be held in any
judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or, except as
permitted by the indenture, shall cease for any reason to be in
full force and effect or any Guarantor that is a Significant
Subsidiary or any group of Guarantors that, taken together,
would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, or any Person acting
on behalf of any such Guarantor or Guarantors, shall deny or
disaffirm their respective obligations under their Subsidiary
Guarantees; and |
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(9) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect
to the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any
group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would
constitute a Significant Subsidiary. |
A Default under clauses (4) or (5) above will not
constitute an Event of Default unless either the trustee or
holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
notes give notice to the Company of the Default and such Default
is not cured within the time periods specified in such clauses
after receipt of such notice.
In the case of an Event of Default under clause (9) above,
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. Upon
such a declaration, such principal, premium and accrued and
unpaid interest will be due and payable immediately. In the
event of a declaration of acceleration of the notes because an
Event of Default described in clause (6) under Events
of Default has occurred and is continuing, the declaration
of acceleration of the notes shall be automatically annulled if
the Default or Payment Default triggering such Event of Default
pursuant to clause (6) shall be remedied or cured by the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or waived by
the holders of the relevant Indebtedness within 30 days
after the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and
if (a) the annulment of the acceleration of the notes would
not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent
jurisdiction and (b) all existing Events of Default, except
nonpayment of principal, premium or interest on the notes that
became due solely because of the acceleration of the notes, have
been cured or waived.
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 from holders of the
notes notice of any continuing Default (except a Default
relating to the payment of principal, premium or interest) if it
determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding
notes may waive all past Defaults (except with respect to
nonpayment of principal, premium or interest) and rescind any
such acceleration with respect to the notes and its consequences
if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or
decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all
existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes that
have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have
been cured or waived.
The Company is required to deliver to the trustee annually a
statement regarding compliance with the indenture. Upon becoming
aware of any Default or Event of Default, the Company is
required to deliver to the trustee a statement specifying such
Default or Event of Default.
41
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
No director, officer, employee, incorporator, member, partner or
stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have
any liability for any obligations of the Company or the
Guarantors under the notes, the indenture, 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 the federal securities laws.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have
all of its 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:
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(1) the rights of holders of outstanding notes to receive
payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such notes when such payments are due from the trust
referred to below; |
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(2) the Companys 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; |
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(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of
the trustee, and the Companys obligations in connection
therewith; and |
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(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the indenture. |
In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time,
elect to terminate its obligations under
Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Change of Control and
Asset Sales and under the covenants
described under Certain Covenants (other
than the covenant described under Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets), the operation of the
Events of Default specified in clauses (4), (6), (7)
(8) or (9) (with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries)
under Events of Default and Remedies
above and the limitations contained in clause (4) of the
first paragraph under Certain
Covenants Merger, Consolidation or Sale of
Assets above (Covenant Defeasance).
The Company may exercise its Legal Defeasance option
notwithstanding its prior exercise of the Covenant Defeasance
option. If the Company exercises its Legal Defeasance option,
payment of the notes may not be accelerated because of an Event
of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its
Covenant Defeasance option, payment of the notes may not be
accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in
clauses (4), (6), (7) (8) or (9) (with respect only to
Significant Subsidiaries) under Events of
Default and Remedies above or because of the failure of
the Company to comply with clause (4) of the first
paragraph under Certain Covenants
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets above. If the
Company exercises its Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
option, each Guarantor will be released from its obligations
with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee and any security for
the notes (other than the trust) will be released.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance:
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(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the trustee,
in trust, for the benefit of the holders of the notes, cash in
U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a
combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any,
and interest on the outstanding notes on the Stated Maturity or
on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the
Company must specify whether the notes are being defeased to
Stated Maturity or to a particular redemption date; |
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(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have
delivered to the trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably
acceptable to the trustee confirming that (a) the Company
has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal
Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the Issue Date, there
has |
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been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in
either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion
of Counsel shall confirm that, the holders of the outstanding
notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
Legal Defeasance had not occurred; |
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(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall
have delivered 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; |
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(4) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing
either: (a) on the date of such deposit (other than a
Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to
such deposit); or (b) or insofar as Events of Default from
bankruptcy or insolvency events are concerned, at any time in
the period ending on the 91st day after the date of deposit; |
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(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) 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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(6) the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that after the 91st day
following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to
the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors rights
generally |
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(7) the Company must deliver to the trustee an
Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made
by the Company with the intent of preferring the holders of
notes over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of
defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the
Company or others; and |
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(8) the Company must deliver to the trustee an
Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each
stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal
Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with. |
Satisfaction and Discharge
The indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further
effect as to all notes issued thereunder, when:
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(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 theretofore been deposited in
trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered
to the trustee for cancellation, or |
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(b) all notes that have not been delivered to the trustee
for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the
giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due
and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has
irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with
the trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of
the holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
U.S. government securities, or a combination thereof, in
such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any
reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire
indebtedness on the notes not delivered to the trustee for
cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued
interest to the date of maturity or redemption; |
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(2) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a
result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a
breach or violation of, |
43
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or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the
Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or
any Subsidiary Guarantor is bound; |
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(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be
paid all other sums payable by it under the indenture; and |
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(4) the Company has delivered an Officers Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel to the trustee stating that all
conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been
satisfied. |
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Subject to certain exceptions, the indenture or the notes may be
amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the notes then outstanding
(including without limitation, consents obtained in connection
with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for,
notes) and, subject to certain exceptions, any past Default or
compliance with any provisions of the indenture may be waived
with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the notes then outstanding (including, without
limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of,
or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes). However, 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):
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(1) reduce the principal amount of notes whose holders must
consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
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(2) reduce the principal of or change the Stated Maturity
of any note or alter the provisions with respect to the
redemption or repurchase of the notes or change the time at
which any note may be redeemed or repurchased, including as may
be required under Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Change of Control or
Asset Sales (whether through amendment
or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or
otherwise); |
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(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of
interest on any note; |
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(4) waive a Default in the payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the notes (except a rescission
of acceleration of the notes by the holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the notes and a waiver of the
payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
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(5) make any note payable in money other than that stated
in the notes; |
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(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 premium, if any, or
interest on the notes; |
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(7) modify any Subsidiary Guarantee in any matter adverse
to holder of the notes or release any Subsidiary Guarantee other
than in accordance with the indenture; |
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(8) make any change in the ranking of the notes or the
Subsidiary Guarantees in a manner adverse to the holders of the
notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees; or |
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(9) make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement
and waiver provisions. |
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder
of notes, the Company, the Guarantors and the trustee may amend
or supplement the indenture or the notes:
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(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
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(2) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or
in place of certificated notes; |
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(3) to provide for the assumption of the Companys or
a Guarantors obligations to holders of notes in the case
of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all
of the Companys properties or assets in compliance with
the indenture; |
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(4) to add or release Guarantors in compliance with the
indenture; |
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(5) to secure the notes or the Subsidiary Guarantees; |
44
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(6) to make any change that would provide any additional
rights or benefits to the holders of notes or that does not
materially adversely affect the legal rights under the indenture
of any such holder; or |
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(7) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order
to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act. |
Concerning the Trustee
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. will serve as trustee under the indenture
governing the notes. Wells Fargo Bank currently is a lender
under our existing unsecured credit facility and may participate
in our new senior secured credit facility.
If the trustee becomes a creditor of the Company or any
Guarantor, the indenture limits 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 will be permitted to engage in other transactions;
however, if it acquires any conflicting interest after a Default
has occurred and is continuing it must eliminate such conflict
within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to
continue or resign.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding notes will 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 shall occur
and be continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise
of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person 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 shall have 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 will be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the
State of New York.
Additional Information
Anyone who receives this offering memorandum may obtain a copy
of the forms of indenture and registration rights agreement
without charge by writing to Carriage Services, Inc., 1900 Saint
James Place, 4th Floor, Houston, Texas 77056, Attention:
Corporate Secretary.
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:
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(1) Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time
such other Person is merged with or into or became a Subsidiary
of such specified Person, 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; and |
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(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, shall mean the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or
otherwise; provided that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of
the Voting
45
Stock of a Person will be deemed to be control for such purpose.
For purposes of this definition, the terms
controlling, controlled by and
under common control with shall have correlative
meanings.
Asset Sale means:
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(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any
assets, including, without limitation, by means of a Sale/
Leaseback Transaction, provided that the sale, lease, conveyance
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of the Company and its 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,
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 |
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(2) the issuance of Equity Interests by any of the
Companys Restricted Subsidiaries or the sale of Equity
Interests in any of its Subsidiaries. |
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items shall not be
deemed to be Asset Sales:
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(1) any single transaction or series of related
transactions that involves assets having a fair market value of
less than $1.0 million; |
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(2) a transfer of assets between or among the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
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(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted
Subsidiary to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(4) a disposition of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary
course of business; |
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(5) the sale or lease of equipment, inventory (including
cemetery plots or crypts) or other assets in the ordinary course
of business; |
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(6) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by the covenant
described above under the caption Certain
Covenants Restricted Payments; |
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(7) the creation or perfection of a Lien permitted by the
indenture; and |
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(8) any sale of assets that are purchased by the Company or
any Restricted Subsidiary thereof after the Issue Date as part
of an acquisition of a group of funeral homes or cemeteries or
other assets that are part of a Permitted Business and then sold
(other than to an Affiliate of the Company) no later than
90 days after such acquisition in a transaction in which
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration
at least equal to the Fair Market Value of such assets and the
proceeds of which are used to repay Indebtedness (other than
Subordinated Indebtedness) incurred to acquire such assets. |
Attributable Debt in respect of a Sale/ Leaseback
Transaction means, at the time of determination, the present
value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental payments
during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/
Leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease
has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be
extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a
discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such
transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP. As used in the
preceding sentence, the net rental payments under
any lease for any such period shall mean the sum of rental and
other payments required to be paid with respect to such period
by the lessee thereunder, excluding any amounts required to be
paid by such lessee on account of maintenance and repairs,
insurance, taxes, assessments, water rates or similar charges.
In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon
payment of penalty, such net rental payment shall also include
the amount of such penalty, but no rent shall be considered as
required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first
date upon which it may be so terminated.
Beneficial Owner has the meaning assigned to such
term in Rule l3d-3 and Rule l3d-5 under the Exchange Act, except
that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular
person (as such term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such
person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership
46
of all securities that such person has the right to
acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is
exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition.
Capital Lease Obligation means, at the time any
determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability
of Person in respect of a capital lease that would at that time
be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person
in accordance with GAAP.
Capital Stock means:
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(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; |
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(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; |
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(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability
company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited); and |
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(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:
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(1) United States dollars; |
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(2) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or
insured by the United States government or any agency or
instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit
of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having
maturities of not more than one year from the date of
acquisition; |
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(3) certificates of deposit and Eurodollar time deposits
with maturities of six months or less from the date of
acquisition, bankers acceptances with maturities not
exceeding six months and demand deposits, trust accounts, time
deposits and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any
domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of
$250 million and a Thompson Bank Watch Rating of
B or better; |
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(4) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than
seven days for underlying securities of the types described in
clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any
financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in
clause (3) above; |
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(5) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable
from Moodys Investors Service, Inc. or Standard &
Poors Ratings Services and in each case maturing within
270 days after the date of acquisition; and |
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(6) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which
constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in
clauses (1) through (5) of this definition. |
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the
following:
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(1) the 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 of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; |
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(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company; |
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(3) the consummation of any transaction (including, without
limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is
that any person (as such term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), becomes the
Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of
the Voting Stock of the Company, measured by voting power rather
than number of shares; |
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(4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing
Directors; or |
47
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(5) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into,
any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges with or
into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction
in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company is
converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
property, other than any such transaction where the Voting Stock
of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction
is converted into or exchanged for Voting Stock (other than
Disqualified Stock) of the surviving or transferee Person
constituting a majority of the outstanding shares of such Voting
Stock of such surviving or transferee Person immediately after
giving effect to such issuance. |
Commodity Agreement means any commodity hedging
agreement and other agreement or arrangement designed to protect
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary against fluctuations in
commodity prices.
Consolidated EBITDA means, with respect to any
Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such
Person for such period plus:
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(1) 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 |
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(2) 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, imputed
interest with aspect to Attributable Debt, commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of
letter of credit or bankers acceptance financings, and net
payments, if any, pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements), to the
extent that any such expense was deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus |
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(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of
goodwill and other intangibles but excluding amortization of
prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period),
impairment and other non-cash expenses (excluding any such
non-cash expense 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 amounts were deducted in
computing such Consolidated Net Income; minus |
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(4) 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.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on
the income or profits of, and the depreciation, amortization,
impairment and other non-cash charges of, a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company shall be added to Consolidated Net
Income to compute Consolidated EBITDA of the Company only to the
extent that a corresponding amount would be permitted at the
date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such
Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has not been
obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all
agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes,
rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary
or its stockholders.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, the
consolidated Net Income of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP; provided,
however, that there will not be included in such Consolidated
Net Income:
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(1) any Net Income (loss) of any Person if such Person is
not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that: |
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(a) subject to the limitations contained in
clauses (3) and (4) below, the Companys equity
in the Net Income of any such Person for such period will be
included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate
amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such
period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend
or other distribution (subject, in the case |
48
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of a dividend or other distribution to a Restricted Subsidiary,
to the limitations contained in clause (2) below); and |
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(b) the Companys equity in a net loss of any such
Person (other than an unrestricted Subsidiary) for such period
will be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income to
the extent such loss has been funded with cash from the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(2) any Net Income (but not loss) of any Restricted
Subsidiary if such Subsidiary is subject to restrictions,
directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the
making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly
or indirectly, to the Company, except that: |
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(a) subject to the limitations contained in
clauses (3) and (4) below, the Companys equity
in the Net Income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such
period will be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to
the aggregate amount of cash that could have been distributed by
such Restricted Subsidiary during such period to the Company or
another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend (subject, in the
case of a dividend to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the
limitation contained in this clause); and |
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(b) the Companys equity in a net loss of any such
Restricted Subsidiary for such period will be included in
determining such Consolidated Net Income; |
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(3) Net Income or loss of any Person for any period prior
to the acquisition of such Person by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, or the Net Income or loss of any Person who succeeds
to the obligations of the Company under the indenture for any
period prior to such succession; and |
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(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principles. |
Continuing Directors means, as of any date of
determination, any member of the Board of Directors of the
Company who:
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(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the Issue
Date; or |
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(2) was nominated for election or elected to such Board of
Directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing
Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such
nomination or election. |
Credit Facilities means, with respect to the Company
or any Guarantor, one or more debt facilities or commercial
paper facilities, in each case with banks or other institutional
lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans,
receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables
to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow
from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit.
Currency Agreements means, at any time as to the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, any foreign currency
exchange agreement, option or future contract or other similar
agreement or arrangement designed to protect against or manage
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries exposure
to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
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.
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 thereof), or upon the happening of any
event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the
option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior
to the date that is 91 days after the date on which the
notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, any
Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely
because the holders thereof have the right to require the
Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of
a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute
Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide
that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital
Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or
49
redemption complies with the covenant described above under the
caption Certain Covenants
Restricted Payments.
Equity Interests mean 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 underwritten public
offering for cash of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Company registered under the Securities Act (other
than on Form S-8 or any successor thereto) or any private
placement for cash of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) other than to an Affiliate of the Company, in each case
other than any issuance of securities under any benefit plan of
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary.
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any Asset
Sale or Restricted Payment or other item, the price that would
be negotiated in an arms-length transaction for cash
between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither
of which is under any compulsion to complete the transaction, as
such price is determined in good faith by an officer of the
Company if such value is less than $5.0 million; provided,
however, if the value of such Asset Sale or Restricted Payment
or other item is $5.0 million or greater, such
determination shall be made in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Company; and provided further if the value of
such Asset Sale or Restricted Payment or other item is
$10.0 million or greater, such determination shall be made
by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of
national standing that is not an Affiliate of the Company.
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, with respect to
any specified Person for any period, the ratio of the
Consolidated EBITDA of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries 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,
redeems, repurchases or repays any Indebtedness (other than
revolving credit borrowings not constituting a permanent
commitment reduction) or issues, repurchases or redeems
preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for
which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated but
prior to the date on which the event for which the calculation
of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is made (the
Calculation Date), then the Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such
incurrence, assumption, Guarantee, redemption, repurchase or
repayment of Indebtedness, or such issuance, repurchase or
redemption of preferred stock, as if the same had occurred at
the beginning of the applicable four-quarter reference period.
In addition, for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio:
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(1) acquisitions that have been made by the specified
Person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including through
mergers or consolidations and including any related financing
transactions, during the four-quarter reference period or
subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to the
Calculation Date shall be given pro forma effect as if they had
occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period; |
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(2) the Consolidated EBITDA attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and
operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation
Date, shall be excluded; and |
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(3) the Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued
operations, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and
operations or businesses disposed of prior to the Calculation
Date, shall be excluded, but only to the extent that the
obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be
obligations of the specified Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries following the Calculation Date. |
Fixed Charges means, with respect to any Person for
any period, the sum, without duplication, of:
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(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, imputed interest with respect to
Attributable Debt, commissions, discounts, and other fees and
charges incurred in respect of |
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letters of credit or bankers acceptance financings, and
net payments, if any, pursuant to Interest Rate Agreements; plus |
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(2) the consolidated interest 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 |
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(4) the product of: |
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(a) all dividend payments, whether or not in cash, on any
series of preferred stock of such Person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, other than dividend payments on Equity
Interests payable solely in Equity Interests of the Company
(other than Disqualified Stock) or to the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, times |
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(b) a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the
denominator of which is one minus the then current combined
federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such Person,
expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a consolidated basis
and in accordance with GAAP. |
For purposes of the foregoing, distributions paid or accrued on
the TIDES that are outstanding on the Issue Date shall be deemed
to be covered by clause (1) above and not clause (4)
above.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States of America, as in effect as of the Issue
Date. All ratios and calculations under the indenture based on
GAAP measures shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.
Guarantee means, without duplication, any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or
indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and
any other obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person:
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(1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the
purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness of such other Person
(whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by
agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities
or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement
conditions or otherwise), or |
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(2) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other
manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment therefor
to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in
whole or in part); |
provided, however, that the term Guarantee shall not
include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary
course of business. The term Guarantee used as a
verb has a corresponding meaning.
Guarantors means each Subsidiary that executes the
indenture as an initial Guarantor, any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company that becomes a Guarantor in accordance with the
provisions of the indenture and their respective successors and
assigns.
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any
Person, the obligations of such Person under Currency
Agreements, Interest Rate Agreements and Commodity Agreements.
holder means a person in whose name a note is
registered on the Registrars books.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any specified
Person, without duplication:
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(a) all obligations of such Person, whether or not
contingent, in respect of: |
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(i) the principal component of indebtedness for borrowed
money; |
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(ii) the principal component of indebtedness evidenced by
bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of
credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof); |
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(iii) bankers acceptances; |
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(iv) Capital Lease Obligations; and |
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(v) the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price
of any property due more than six months after the date of
acquisition thereof, except any such balance that constitutes a
trade payable; |
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(b) all net obligations in respect of Hedging Obligations; |
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(c) all liabilities of others of the kind described in the
preceding clause (a) or (b) that such Person has
Guaranteed or that are otherwise its legal responsibility; |
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(d) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition)
of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person,
whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the
amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of |
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(i) the full amount of such obligations so secured and |
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(ii) the Fair Market Value of such asset; |
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(e) Disqualified Stock of such Person or a Restricted
Subsidiary in an amount equal to the greater of the maximum
mandatory redemption or repurchase price (not including, in
either case, any redemption or repurchase premium) or the
liquidation preference thereof; and |
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(f) Attributable Debt in respect of a Sale/ Leaseback
Transaction. |
Interest Rate Agreements means, with respect to the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, interest rate swap
agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate
collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements designed
to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates
with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted
to be incurred under the indenture.
Investments means, with respect to any Person, all
investments by such Person in other Persons (including
Affiliates) in the forms of direct or indirect loans (including
Guarantees of Indebtedness or other obligations), advances or
capital contributions (excluding commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course
of business), 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 shall be
deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale
or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Equity
Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary not sold or disposed of
in an amount determined as provided in the final paragraph of
the covenant described above under the caption
Certain Covenants Restricted
Payments.
Issue Date means January 27, 2005.
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.
Net Available Proceeds means the aggregate cash or
Cash Equivalents received by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries as proceeds in respect of any Asset Sale
(including, without limitation, any
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cash received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash
consideration received in any Asset Sale), net of, without
duplication:
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(1) the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale,
including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment
banking fees, and sales commissions, recording fees, title
transfer fees and any relocation expenses incurred as a result
thereof; |
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(2) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, in each case
after taking into account any available tax credits or
deductions and any tax sharing arrangements; |
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(3) amounts required to be applied to the permanent
repayment of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or
assets that were the subject of such Asset Sale; and |
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(4) any reserve established in accordance with GAAP against
liabilities associated with such Asset Sale or any amount place
in escrow for adjustment in respect of the purchase price of
such Asset Sale, until such time as such reserve is reversed or
such escrow arrangement is terminated, in which case Net
Available Proceeds shall be increased by 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. |
Net Cash Proceeds, with respect to any issuance or
sale of Equity Interests, means the cash proceeds of such
issuance or sale net of attorneys fees, accountants
fees, underwriters or placement agents fees, listing
fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and
other fees and charges actually incurred in connection with such
issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result of
such issuance or sale (after taking into account any available
tax credit or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements).
Net Income means, with respect to any Person, the
consolidated net income (loss) of such Person and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any
reduction in respect of preferred stock dividends, excluding,
however:
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(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 any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any
Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries; and |
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(2) any extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with
any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but
not loss). |
Non-Recourse Debt means Indebtedness:
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(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), (b) is directly or
indirectly liable as a guarantor or otherwise, or
(c) constitutes the lender with respect to such
Indebtedness; and |
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(2) no default with respect to which (including any rights
that the holders thereof 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 of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare a
default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof
to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity. |
For purposes of determining compliance with the covenant
described under Certain Covenants
Incurrence of Indebtedness above, in the event that any
Non-Recourse Debt of any of the Companys 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.
Permitted Business means any business conducted or
proposed to be conducted (as described in this offering
memorandum relating to the issuance of the Initial Notes) by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date and
any other business reasonably related, ancillary, complementary
or incidental thereto or reasonable extensions or expansions
thereof.
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Permitted Investments means:
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(1) any Investment in the Company or in a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company; |
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(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents; |
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(3) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company in a Person if as a result of such
Investment: |
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(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; |
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(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; |
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(5) any acquisition of assets solely in exchange for the
issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of
the Company; |
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(6) receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary created or acquired in the ordinary course of
business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with
customary trade terms; provided, however, that such trade terms
may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any
such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the
circumstances; |
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(7) Capital Stock, obligations or securities received in
settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business
and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in
satisfaction of judgments or pursuant to any plan of
reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or
insolvency of a debtor; |
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(8) Hedging Obligations, which transactions or obligations
are incurred in the ordinary course of business in compliance
with Certain Covenants Incurrence
of Indebtedness; |
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(9) Investment funds received by the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business,
which funds are held in trust for the benefit of others by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in or
by any perpetual care trust, merchandise trust, pre-need trust,
preconstruction trust or other trust arrangements established by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or their
predecessors in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and
interpretations; and |
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(10) 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 (10) since the Issue Date, not to exceed
$10.0 million. |
Permitted Liens means:
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(1) Liens on any property or assets of the Company and any
Guarantor securing Indebtedness under Credit Facilities incurred
in accordance with, and subject to the limits of,
clause (1) of the second paragraph under
Certain Covenants Incurrence of
Indebtedness; |
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(2) Liens in favor of the Company or the Guarantors; |
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(3) Liens on any property or assets 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 not incurred
in contemplation thereof and do not extend to any property or
assets other than those of the Person merged into or
consolidated with the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary; |
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(4) Liens on any property or assets existing at the time of
acquisition thereof by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company, provided that such Liens were in existence prior
to the contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to
any property or assets of the Company or the Restricted
Subsidiary; |
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(5) Liens to secure the performance of statutory
obligations, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other
obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of
business; |
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(6) Liens existing on the Issue Date; |
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(7) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing
statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business; |
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(8) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
incurred to refinance Indebtedness that was previously so
secured as permitted by the indenture, provided that any such
Lien is limited to all or part of the same property or assets
(plus improvements, accessions, proceeds or dividends or
distributions in respect thereof) that secured (or, under the
written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could
secure) the Indebtedness being refinanced or is in respect of
property that is the security for a Permitted Lien hereunder; |
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(9) Liens securing Hedging Obligations of the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, which transactions or
obligations are incurred in the ordinary course of business for
bona fide hedging purposes (and not financing or speculative
purposes) of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors or senior
management of the Company); |
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(10) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease
Obligations) permitted by clause (4) under the second
paragraph under Certain Covenants
Incurrence of Indebtedness; provided that any such Lien
(i) covers only the assets acquired, constructed or
improved with such Indebtedness and (ii) is created within
180 days of such acquisition, construction or
improvement; and |
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(11) other Liens incurred in the ordinary course of
business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with
respect to Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount,
together with all Indebtedness incurred to refund, refinance or
replace such Indebtedness (or refinancings, refundings or
replacements thereof), that does not exceed $5.0 million at
any one time outstanding. |
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any
Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of
which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or
refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany Indebtedness);
provided that:
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(1) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of, plus
premium, if any, and accrued interest on the Indebtedness so
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded
(plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in connection
therewith); |
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(2) (a) if the final maturity date of the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or
refunded is earlier than the final maturity date of the notes,
the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date
no earlier than the final maturity date of the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or
refunded, or |
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(b) if the final maturity date of the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or refunded is
later than the final maturity date of the notes, the Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date at least
91 days later than the final maturity date of the notes; |
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(3) the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted
Average Life to Maturity at the time such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness is incurred that is equal to or greater than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, deferred or refunded; |
55
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(4) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right
of payment to the notes or a Subsidiary Guarantee, such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of
payment to the notes or such Subsidiary Guarantee on terms at
least as favorable, taken as a whole, to the holders of notes as
those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded; and |
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(5) such Indebtedness is not incurred by a Restricted
Subsidiary (other than a Guarantor) if the Company or a
Guarantor is the obligor on the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; provided,
however, that a Restricted Subsidiary that is also a Guarantor
may guarantee Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by the
Company, whether or not such Restricted Subsidiary was an
obligor or guarantor of the Indebtedness being extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; provided
further, however, that if such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness is subordinated to the notes, such Guarantee shall
be subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiarys Subsidiary
Guarantee to at least the same extent. |
Restricted Subsidiary of a Person means any
Subsidiary of the referenced Person that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
Sale/ Leaseback Transaction means an arrangement
relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof transfers such
property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
leases it from such Person.
Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that
would be a significant subsidiary as defined in
Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X,
promulgated pursuant to the Act, as such Regulation is in effect
on the Issue Date.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to any
installment of interest or principal on any series of
Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or
principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and shall not include any
contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such
interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for
the payment thereof.
Subordinated Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the
Company (or a Guarantor) that is subordinated or junior in right
of payment to the notes (or a Subsidiary Guarantee, as
appropriate) pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.
Subsidiary means any subsidiary of the Company. A
subsidiary of any Person means:
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(1) a corporation, limited liability company or similar
entity a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly
or indirectly owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries
of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of
such Person; or |
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(2) a partnership, joint venture, or similar entity in
which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date
of determination, in the case of a partnership, a general or
limited partner of such partnership, and, in the case of each of
the foregoing entities, is entitled to receive more than
50 percent of the assets of such entity upon its
dissolution. |
Subsidiary Guarantee means a Guarantee by a
Subsidiary Guarantor of the Companys obligations with
respect to the notes.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the
Company that is designated by the Board of Directors as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution, but only
to the extent that such Subsidiary:
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(1) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt; |
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(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 |
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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; |
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(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 Persons
financial condition or to cause such Person to achieve any
specified levels of operating results; |
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(4) such Subsidiary, either alone or in the aggregate with
all other Unrestricted Subsidiaries, does not operate, directly
or indirectly, all or substantially all of the business of the
Company and its Subsidiaries; and |
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(5) has not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly
provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. |
The Board of Directors may designate any Restricted Subsidiary
to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not
cause a Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary 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 so designated will be deemed to
be an Investment made as of the time of such designation and
will reduce the amount available for Restricted Payments under
the first paragraph of the covenant described above under the
caption Certain Covenants
Restricted Payments or represent Permitted Investments, as
applicable. All such outstanding Investments will be valued at
their fair market value at the time of such designation. That
designation will only be permitted if such Restricted Payment
would be permitted at that time and if such Restricted
Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Company as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be evidenced to the trustee by
filing with the trustee a certified copy of the 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 shall
thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes
of the indenture and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary shall
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, the
Company shall be in default of such covenant.
The Board of Directors of the Company may at any time designate
any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided that such designation shall 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 shall only be permitted if
(1) such Indebtedness is permitted under the covenant
described under the caption Certain
Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness,
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 would be in existence following such
designation.
Voting Stock of any Person as of any date means the
Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled
(without reference to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote
in the election of the Board of Directors (or similar governing
body) of such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, when
applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the number of years
obtained by dividing:
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(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying
(a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking
fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal,
including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by
(b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest
one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making
of such payment; by |
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(2) the sum of all such payments. |
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Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiary of any Person
means a Restricted Subsidiary of such Person all of the
outstanding Capital Stock of which (other than directors
qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person
and/or by one or more other Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries
of such Person.
Paying Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar. We
may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to
the holders of the notes, and we 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,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents and we may require a holder to pay any taxes
and fees required by law or permitted by the indenture.
The registered holder of a note will be treated as its owner for
all purposes.
Notices
Notices to holders of the notes will be given by mail to the
addresses of such holders as they appear in the security
register.
Concerning the Trustee
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the trustee under the indenture.
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a summary of the material United States Federal
Income Tax Consequences relating to exchanging Old Notes for New
Notes and owning and disposing of New Notes. This discussion is
not a complete discussion of all the potential tax consequences
that may be relevant to you. This discussion is based upon the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), its
legislative history, existing and proposed regulations
thereunder, published rulings, and court decisions, all as in
effect on the date of this document, and all of which are
subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. We have not
sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an
opinion of counsel with respect to the statements made herein
concerning the notes, and we cannot assure you that the Internal
Revenue Service will agree with such statements. Except as
otherwise stated in this discussion, this discussion deals only
with notes held as a capital asset by a holder who is a United
States Person and purchased the Old Notes upon original issuance
at their original issue price. A United States
Person is:
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an individual citizen or resident of the United States or any
political subdivision thereof; |
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a corporation, or a partnership or other entity that is treated
as a corporation or partnership for United States federal income
tax purposes, that is created or organized in the United States
or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof
including the District of Columbia; |
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an estate whose income is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source; or |
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a trust if a United States court is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more
United States Persons have the authority to control all
substantial decisions of the trust or it was in existence on
August 19, 1996, and has elected to be treated as a United
States Person. |
Your tax treatment may vary depending on your particular
situation. This summary does not address all of the tax
consequences that may be relevant to holders that are subject to
special tax treatment, such as:
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dealers in securities or currencies; |
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financial institutions; |
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tax-exempt investors; |
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traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method
of accounting for their securities holdings; |
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persons liable for alternative minimum tax; |
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insurance companies; |
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real estate investment trusts; |
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regulated investment companies; |
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persons holding notes as part of a hedging, conversion,
integrated or constructive sale transaction or a straddle; |
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United States Persons whose functional currency is not the
United States dollar; or |
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partnerships or other pass-through entities or investors in such
entities. |
If a partnership holds notes, the tax treatment of a partner
will generally depend on the status of the partner and on the
activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships holding
notes should consult their own tax advisors.
This summary addresses United States federal income tax
consequences only. It does not address consequences under the
tax laws of any state, local or foreign jurisdiction. We urge
you to consult your own tax advisors regarding the particular
United States federal tax consequences of exchanging, holding
and disposing of notes, as well as any tax consequences that may
arise under the laws of any relevant foreign, state, local, or
other taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.
United States Persons
Your exchange of Old Notes for New Notes under the exchange
offer will not constitute a taxable exchange of the Old Notes.
As a result:
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you will not recognize taxable gain or loss when you receive New
Notes in exchange for Old Notes; |
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your holding period in the New Notes will include your holding
period in the Old Notes; and |
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your basis in the New Notes will equal your adjusted basis in
the Old Notes at the time of the exchange. |
Interest paid on the New Notes generally will be taxable to you
as ordinary interest income at the time payments are accrued or
received in accordance with your regular method of accounting
for United States federal income tax purposes.
In certain circumstances we may be obligated to pay amounts in
excess of stated interest or principal on the notes. According
to United States Treasury Regulations, the possibility that any
such payments in excess of stated interest or principal will be
made will not affect the amount of interest income a United
States Person recognizes if there is only a remote chance as of
the date the notes were issued that such payments will be made.
We believe that the likelihood that we will be obligated to make
any such payments is remote. Therefore, we do not intend to
treat the potential payment of a premium pursuant to the change
of control provisions as part of the yield to maturity of any
notes. Our determination that these contingencies are remote is
binding on a United States Person unless such holder discloses
its contrary position in the manner required by applicable
Unites States Treasury Regulations. The IRS, however, may take a
different position, which could affect the amount and timing of
income that a United States Person must recognize.
59
We have the option to repurchase the notes under certain
circumstances at a premium to the issue price. Under special
rules governing this type of unconditional option, because the
exercise of the option would increase the yield on the notes, we
will be deemed not to exercise the option, and the possibility
of this redemption premium will not affect the amount of income
recognized by holders in advance of receipt of any such
redemption premium.
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Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of New Notes |
You generally will recognize taxable gain or loss on the sale,
exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of
a New Note. The amount of your gain or loss will equal the
difference between the total amount of cash (other than amounts
attributable to accrued interest, if any) plus the fair market
value of all other property you receive minus your adjusted tax
basis in the New Note. Your adjusted tax basis in a New Note
generally will equal the price you paid for the Old Note that
you exchanged for the New Note reduced by any payments of
principal received and increased by any accrued unpaid interest
that you have already included in gross income.
Your gain or loss will generally be a long-term capital gain or
loss if your holding period in the New Note is more than one
year. Otherwise, it will be a short-term capital gain or loss.
The maximum federal long-term capital gain rate is 15% for
non-corporate United States Persons. The deductibility of
capital losses by United States Persons is subject to
limitations. Payments attributable to accrued qualified stated
interest that you have not yet included in income will be taxed
as ordinary interest income.
Non-United States Persons
The following discussion applies to Non-United States Persons.
You are a Non-United States Person if you are not a
United States Person. Special rules may apply to you if you are
a controlled foreign corporation, a corporation that accumulates
earnings to avoid United States federal income tax or, in
certain circumstances, a United States expatriate. Such persons
should consult their tax advisors to determine the United States
federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be
relevant to them.
Your exchange of Old Notes for New Notes under the exchange
offer will not constitute a taxable exchange of the Old Notes,
and the consequences of the exchange to you will be the same as
those of a United States Person described above under the
heading Unites States Persons; Receipt of New
Notes.
Interest that we pay to you on the New Notes will not be subject
to United States federal income tax and withholding of United
States federal income tax will not be required on interest
payments if you:
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do not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of our stock; |
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are not a controlled foreign corporation with respect to which
we are a related person; |
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are not a bank whose receipt of interest is described in
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and |
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you certify to us, our payment agent, or the person who would
otherwise be required to withhold United States tax, on
Form W-8BEN (or applicable substitute form), under
penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person
and provide your name and address. |
If you do not satisfy the preceding requirements, interest
payments made to you on a New Note will generally be subject to
United States withholding tax at a flat rate of 30% (or a lower
applicable treaty rate) unless you provide us with a properly
executed:
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IRS Form W-8BEN claiming an exemption from, or reduction in
the rate of, withholding under the benefit of an applicable
income tax treaty; or |
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IRS Form W-8ECI stating that the interest paid is not
subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected
with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States. |
If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States,
and if interest on a New Note is effectively connected with the
conduct of that trade or business (or in the case of an
applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent
establishment maintained by you in the United States), you will
be exempt from United States withholding tax but will be
subject to regular United States federal income tax on the
interest in the same manner as if you were a United States
person. See United States Persons; Payments of
Interest. In addition to regular United States federal
income tax, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject
to a United States branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower
applicable treaty rate) of your earnings and profits for the
taxable year, subject to certain adjustments, that are
effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business
in the United States including earnings from the notes.
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Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of New Notes |
You generally will not be subject to United States federal
income tax with respect to gain on a sale, redemption, exchange
or other disposition of a New Note unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by you of a
trade or business within the United States, or, under an
applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent
establishment maintained by you in the United States; or |
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if you are an individual, you are present in the United States
for 183 or more days in the taxable year of disposition and
certain other requirements are met. |
You should consult with your own tax advisor as to any
applicable income tax treaties that may provide for a lower rate
of withholding tax, exemption from, or a reduction of, branch
profits tax, or other rules different from the general rules
under United States federal income tax laws.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
In general, information reporting requirements may apply to
payments made to you and to the proceeds of a disposition of the
notes, unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation.
Backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28% of each payment)
may apply if you fail to supply an accurate taxpayer
identification number or otherwise fail to comply with
applicable United States information reporting or certification
requirements. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your
United States federal income tax liability provided the required
information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
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Non-United States Persons |
Backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to
payments of principal or interest on the notes by us or our
paying agent to you if you certify as to your status as a
Non-United States Person under penalties of perjury or otherwise
establish an exemption (provided that neither we nor our paying
agent has actual knowledge that you are a United States person
or that the conditions of any other exemptions are not in fact
satisfied).
The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of notes to or
through the United States office of a United States or foreign
broker will be subject to information reporting and backup
withholding unless you provide the certification described above
or otherwise establish an exemption. The proceeds of a
disposition effected outside the United States by you of notes
to or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be
subject to backup withholding or information reporting. However,
if that broker is a United States Person, a controlled foreign
corporation for United States tax purposes, a foreign person 50%
or more of whose gross
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income from all sources for certain periods is effectively
connected with a trade or business in the United States, or a
foreign partnership that is engaged in the conduct of a trade or
business in the United States or that has one or more partners
that are United States persons who in the aggregate hold more
than 50% of the income or capital interests in the partnership,
information reporting requirements will apply unless that broker
has documentary evidence in its files of your status as a
Non-United States Person and has no actual knowledge to the
contrary or unless you otherwise establish an exemption.
You should consult your tax advisors regarding the application
of information reporting and backup withholding to your
particular situation, the availability of an exemption
therefrom, and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if
available. Any amounts withheld from a payment to you under the
backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against
your United States federal income tax liability and may entitle
you to a refund, provided you furnish the required information
to the Internal Revenue Service.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
If you intend to use plan assets to exchange for any of the
New Notes offered by this prospectus, you should consult with
counsel on the potential consequences of your investment under
the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(ERISA), and the prohibited transaction provisions
of ERISA. If you intend to use governmental or church plan
assets to exchange for any of the New Notes, you should consult
with counsel on the potential consequences of your investment
under similar provisions applicable under laws governing
governmental and church plans.
The following summary is based on the provisions of ERISA and
the Code and related guidance in effect as of the date of this
prospectus. This summary does not attempt to be a complete
summary of these considerations. Future legislation, court
decisions, administrative regulations or other guidance may
change the requirements summarized in this section. Any of these
changes could be made retroactively and could apply to
transactions entered into before the change is enacted.
Fiduciary Responsibilities
ERISA imposes requirements on (1) employee benefit plans
subject to ERISA, (2) entities whose underlying assets
include employee benefit plan assets, for example, collective
investment funds and insurance company general accounts, and
(3) fiduciaries of employee benefit plans. Under ERISA,
fiduciaries generally include persons who exercise discretionary
authority or control over plan assets. Before investing any
employee benefit plan assets in any note offered in connection
with this prospectus, you should determine whether the
investment:
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(1) is permitted under the plan document and other
instruments governing the plan; and |
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(2) is appropriate for the plan in view of its overall
investment policy and the composition and diversification of its
portfolio, taking into account the limited liquidity of the
notes. |
You should consider all factors and circumstances of a
particular investment in the notes, including, for example, the
risk factors discussed in the section of this prospectus
entitled Risk Factors and the fact that in the
future there may not be a market in which you will be able to
sell or otherwise dispose of your interest in the notes.
We are not making any representation that the sale of any notes
to a plan meets the fiduciary requirements for investment by
plans generally or any particular plan or that such an
investment is appropriate for plans generally or any particular
plan.
Prohibited Transactions
ERISA and the Code prohibit a wide range of transactions
involving (1) employee benefit plans and arrangements
subject to ERISA and/or the Code, and (2) persons who have
specified relationships to the plans. These persons are called
parties in interest under ERISA and
disqualified persons under the Code. The
transactions prohibited by ERISA and the Code are called
prohibited transactions. If you are a party
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in interest or disqualified person who engages in a prohibited
transaction, you may be subject to excise taxes and other
penalties and liabilities under ERISA and/or the Code. As a
result, if you are considering using plan assets to invest in
any of the notes offered for sale in connection with this
prospectus, you should consider whether the investment might be
a prohibited transaction under ERISA and/or the Code.
Prohibited transactions may arise, for example, if the notes are
acquired by a plan with respect to which we, or any of our
affiliates, are a party in interest or a disqualified person.
Exemptions from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA
and the Code may apply depending in part on the type of plan
fiduciary making the decision to acquire a note and the
circumstances under which such decision is made. Some of these
exemptions include:
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(1) Prohibited transaction class exemption or
PTCE exemptions 75-1 (relating to specified
transactions involving employee benefit plans and
broker-dealers, reporting dealers and banks). |
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(2) PTCE 84-14 (relating to specified transactions
directed by independent qualified professional asset managers); |
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(3) PTCE 90-1 (relating to specified transactions
involving insurance company pooled separate accounts); |
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(4) PTCE 91-38 (relating to specified transactions by
bank collective investment funds); |
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(5) PTCE 95-60 (relating to specified transactions
involving insurance company general accounts); and |
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(6) PTCE 96-23 (relating to specified transactions
directed by in-house asset managers); |
These exemptions do not, however, provide relief from the
self-dealing prohibitions under ERISA and the Code. In addition,
there is no assurance that any of these class exemptions or
other exemptions will be available with respect to any
particular transaction involving the notes.
Treatment of Notes as Debt Instruments
Some transactions involving our operations could give rise to
prohibited transactions under ERISA and the Code if our assets
were deemed to be plan assets. Pursuant to Department of Labor
Regulations Section 2510.3-101 (which we refer to as the
plan assets regulations), in general, when a plan
acquires an equity interest in an entity such as
Service Corporation International, the plans assets
include both the equity interest and an undivided interest in
each of the underlying assets of the entity unless exceptions
set forth in the plan assets regulations apply.
In general, an equity interest is defined under the
plan assets regulations as any interest in an entity other than
an instrument which is treated as indebtedness under applicable
local law and which has no substantial equity features. Although
there is very little published authority concerning the
application of this definition, we believe that the notes should
be treated as debt rather than equity interest under the plan
assets regulations because the notes (1) should be treated
as indebtedness under applicable local law and debt, rather than
equity, for United States tax purposes and (2) should not
be deemed to have any substantial equity features.
However, no assurance can be given that the notes will be
treated as debt for purposes of ERISA. If the notes were to be
treated as an equity interest under the plan assets regulations,
the purchase of the notes using plan assets could cause our
assets to become subject to the fiduciary and prohibited
transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code unless investment
in the notes by benefit plan investors is not
significant, as determined under the plan assets
regulations. Generally speaking, equity participation by benefit
plan investors is significant on any date if, immediately after
the most recent acquisition of any equity interest in the
entity, 25% or more of the value of any equity class in the
entity is held by benefit plan investors. We cannot assure you
that the criteria for this exception will be satisfied at any
particular time and no monitoring or other measures will be
taken to determine whether such criteria are met. This means
that, if the notes are treated as equity interests under the
plan asset regulations and investment in the notes by benefit
plan investors is significant, our assets could be treated as
plan assets subject to ERISA and a non-exempt prohibited
transaction could arise in connection with our operating
activities.
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Any insurance company proposing to invest assets of its general
account in the notes should consider the implications of the
U.S. Supreme Courts decision in John Hancock Mutual
Life Insurance Co. v. Harris Trust and Savings Bank, 510
U.S. 86, 114 S. Ct. 517 (1993), which, in some
circumstances, treats such general account as including the
assets of a plan that owns a policy or other contract with such
insurance company, as well as the effect of Section 401(c)
of ERISA, as interpreted by regulations proposed by the
Department of Labor.
Government and Church Plans
Governmental plans and some church plans, while not subject to
the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the
prohibited transactions provisions of ERISA or the Code, may be
subject to state or other federal laws that are very similar to
the provisions of ERISA and the Code. If you are a fiduciary of
a governmental or church plan, you should consult with counsel
before purchasing any notes offered for sale in connection with
this prospectus.
Foreign Indicia of Ownership
ERISA also prohibits plan fiduciaries from maintaining the
indicia of ownership of any plan assets outside the jurisdiction
of the United States district courts except in specified cases.
Before investing in any note offered for sale in connection with
this prospectus, you should consider whether the acquisition,
holding or disposition of a note would satisfy such indicia of
ownership rules.
Representations and Warranties
If you acquire or accept a note offered in connection with this
prospectus, you and any subsequent transferee will be deemed to
have represented and warranted that either:
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(1) you have not used plan assets to acquire such note; |
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(2) your acquisition and holding of a note (A) is
exempt from the prohibited transaction restrictions of ERISA and
the Code under one or more prohibited transaction class
exemptions or does not constitute a prohibited transaction under
ERISA and the Code, and (B) meets the fiduciary
requirements of ERISA; or |
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(3) if you use plan assets to acquire such note and you are
not otherwise subject to ERISA, such acquisition is in
compliance with the applicable laws governing such plan. |
GLOBAL SECURITIES; BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
The Global Securities
The notes will initially be represented by one or more permanent
global notes in definitive, fully registered book-entry form
(the global securities) which will be registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC and deposited on behalf
of purchasers of the notes represented thereby with a custodian
for DTC for credit to the respective accounts of the purchasers
(or to such other accounts as they may direct) at DTC.
We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC
(a) upon deposit of the global securities, DTC or its
custodian will credit on its internal system portions of the
global securities which will contain the corresponding
respective amount of the global securities to the respective
accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary and
(b) ownership of the notes will be shown on, and the
transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through,
records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to
interests of participants (as defined below) and the records of
participants (with respect to interests of persons other than
participants). Such accounts initially were designated by or on
behalf of the initial purchasers and ownership of beneficial
interests in the global securities will be limited to persons
who have accounts with DTC (the participants) or persons who
hold interests through participants. Noteholders may hold their
interests in a
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global security directly through DTC if they are participants in
such system, or indirectly through organizations which are
participants in such system.
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner or holder
of any of the notes, DTC or such nominee will be considered the
sole owner or holder of such notes represented by such global
securities for all purposes under the indenture and under the
notes represented thereby. No beneficial owner of an interest in
the global securities will be able to transfer such interest
except in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC in
addition to those provided for under the indenture and, if
applicable, those of the Euroclear System
(Euroclear) and Clearstream Banking,
société anonyme (Clearstream).
Certain Book-Entry Procedures for the Global Securities
The operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream
are solely within the control of the respective settlement
systems and are subject to change by them from time to time.
Investors are urged to contact the relevant system or its
participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised us that it is:
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a limited-purpose trust company organized under the laws of the
State of New York; |
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a banking organization within the meaning of the New
York Banking Law; |
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a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
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a clearing corporation within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code, as amended; and |
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a clearing agency registered pursuant to
Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
DTC was created to hold securities for its participants
(collectively, the participants) and to facilitate the clearance
and settlement of securities transactions, such as transfers and
pledges, between participants through electronic book-entry
changes to the accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating
the need for physical transfer and delivery of certificates.
DTCs participants include securities brokers and dealers
(including the initial purchasers), banks and trust companies,
clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is
owned by a number of its direct participants and by the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange LLC and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Indirect access
to DTCs system is also available to other entities such as
banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (collectively, the
indirect participants) that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or
indirectly. Investors who are not participants may beneficially
own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through
participants or indirect participants. The rules applicable to
DTC and its participants are on file with the Commission.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers
of securities take physical delivery of those securities in
definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in notes represented by a global security to those
persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on
behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons
who hold interests through participants, the ability of a person
holding a beneficial interest in a global security to pledge or
transfer that interest to persons or entities that do not
participate in DTCs system, or to otherwise take actions
in respect of that interest, may be affected by the lack of a
physical security in respect of that interest.
So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a
global security, DTC or that nominee, as the case may be, will
be considered the sole legal owner or holder of the notes
represented by that global security for all purposes of the
notes and the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled
to have the notes represented by that global security registered
in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of certificated securities, and will not be
considered the owners or holders of the notes represented by
that beneficial interest under the Indenture for any purpose,
including with respect to the giving of any direction,
instruction or approval to the trustee. To facilitate subsequent
transfers, all global securities that are deposited with, or on
behalf of, DTC will be
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registered in the name of DTCs nominee, Cede &
Co. The deposit of global securities with, or on behalf of, DTC
and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect
no change in beneficial ownership. We understand that DTC has no
knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities.
Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a
global security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if that
holder is not a participant or an indirect participant, on the
procedures of the participant through which that holder owns its
interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of notes under the
Indenture or that global security. We understand that under
existing industry practice, in the event that we request any
action of holders of notes, or a holder that is an owner of a
beneficial interest in a global security desires to take any
action that DTC, as the holder of that global security, is
entitled to take, DTC would authorize the participants to take
that action and the participants would authorize holders owning
through those participants to take that action or would
otherwise act upon the instruction of those holders.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to its
direct participants, by its direct participants to indirect
participants and by its direct and indirect participants to
beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with
respect to the global securities. Under its usual procedures,
DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after
the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns
Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights to those
direct participants of DTC to whose accounts the securities are
credited on the applicable record date, which are identified in
a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.
Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments
made on account of notes by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising
or reviewing any records of DTC relating to the notes.
Payments with respect to the principal of and premium, if any,
and interest on a global security will be payable by the trustee
to or at the direction of DTC or its nominee in its capacity as
the registered holder of the global security under the
Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, we and the trustee
may treat the persons in whose names the notes, including the
global securities, are registered as the owners thereof for the
purpose of receiving payment thereon and for any and all other
purposes whatsoever. Accordingly, neither we nor the trustee has
or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of
those amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a global
security. It is our understanding that DTCs practice is to
credit direct its participants accounts on the applicable
payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown
on DTCs records, unless DTC has reason to believe that it
will not receive payment on that date. Payments by the
participants and the indirect participants to the owners of
beneficial interests in a global security will be governed by
standing instructions and customary industry practice and will
be the responsibility of the participants and indirect
participants and not of DTC, us or the trustee, subject to
statutory or regulatory requirements in effect at the time. None
of us, the trustee or any paying agent will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records
relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial
interests in the global securities or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to those
beneficial interests.
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in
accordance with DTCs procedures, and will be settled in
same-day funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear or
Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance
with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable
to the notes, cross-market transfers between the participants in
DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants,
on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance
with DTCs rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as
the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, those
crossmarket transactions will require delivery of instructions
to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the
counterparty in that system in accordance with the rules and
procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time)
of that system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be,
will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements,
deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action
to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or
receiving interests in the relevant global securities in DTC,
and making or receiving payment in accordance
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with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable
to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may
not deliver instructions directly to the depositaries for
Euroclear or Clearstream.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a
Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a
global security from a participant in DTC will be credited, and
any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or
Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement
processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and
Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC.
Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales
of interests in a global security by or through a Euroclear or
Clearstream participant to a participant in DTC will be received
with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available
in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of
the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following
DTCs settlement date.
Although we understand that DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have
agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of
interests in the global securities among participants in DTC,
Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to
perform or to continue to perform those procedures, and those
procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the
trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC,
Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or
indirect participants of their respective obligations under the
rules and procedures governing their operations.
DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream may discontinue providing its
services as securities depositary with respect to the global
securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the
trustee. Under such circumstances, if a successor securities
depositary is not obtained, certificates for the securities are
required to be printed and delivered.
We may decide, if allowed under current law, to discontinue use
of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC or a successor
securities depositary. In that event, certificates for the
securities will be printed and delivered.
We have provided the foregoing information with respect to DTC
to the financial community for information purposes only. We
obtained the information in this section and elsewhere in this
prospectus concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and their
respective book-entry systems from sources that we believe are
reliable. Although we expect DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream and
their participants to follow the foregoing procedures in order
to facilitate transfers of interests in global securities among
their respective participants, they are under no obligation to
perform or continue to perform such procedures and such
procedures may be discontinued at any time.
EXCHANGE OFFER AND REGISTRATION RIGHTS
In connection with the issuance of the Old Notes, we entered
into a registration rights agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Banc of America
Securities LLC (collectively, the Initial
Purchasers). The following summary of selected provisions
of the registration rights agreement is not complete and is
subject to all the provisions of the registration rights
agreement. Copies of the registration rights agreement are
available from us upon request as described under Where
You Can Find More Information.
Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, we agreed to file
with the Commission an exchange offer registration statement
with respect to a registered offer to exchange the Old Notes for
New Notes, which have terms identical to the Old Notes in all
material respects except that such notes will not contain terms
with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and
payment of additional interest. Upon the effectiveness of this
exchange offer registration statement, pursuant to the exchange
offer we will offer to the holders of the transfer restricted
Old Notes who are able to make certain representations, the
opportunity to exchange their transfer restricted Old Notes for
New Notes. If, upon consummation of the exchange offer, the
initial purchasers hold notes acquired by them as part of the
Old Notes initial distribution, we, simultaneously with
the delivery of the New Notes pursuant to the exchange offer,
will issue and deliver to the initial purchasers, in a private
exchange for the notes held by the initial purchasers, a like
principal amount of our New Notes issued under the indenture and
identical in all material respects to the New Notes issued in
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the exchange offer, except such notes issued in the private
exchange shall include restrictions on transfer under the
Securities Act and the securities laws of the several states of
the United States.
If:
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because of any changes in law, Commission rules or regulations
or applicable interpretations by the staff of the Commission, we
are not permitted to effect the exchange offer; |
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for any other reason the exchange offer registration statement,
of which this prospectus is a part, is not declared effective
within 180 days following the original issuance of the Old
Notes, or the exchange offer is not consummated within
210 days after the original issuance of the Old Notes; |
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upon the request of any of the Initial Purchasers; or |
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a holder of the Old Notes is not permitted to participate in the
exchange offer or does not receive fully tradeable New Notes
pursuant to the exchange offer; |
we will:
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as promptly as practicable, file with the Commission, and use
our best efforts to cause to be declared effective as promptly
as practicable but not later than 210 days after the
original issuance of the Old Notes, a shelf registration
statement relating to the offer and sale of the New
Notes; and |
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use our best efforts to keep the shelf registration statement
continuously effective for a period of two years from the date
the shelf registration statement is declared effective, or for
such shorter period that will terminate when all of the New
Notes covered by the shelf registration statement have been sold
or cease to be outstanding or otherwise registrable securities
within the meaning of the registration rights agreement. |
If we file a shelf registration statement, we will notify you
when the shelf registration statement has become effective and
take other actions that are required to permit unrestricted
resales of the Old Notes. If you sell Old Notes under the shelf
registration statement, you will be:
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required to deliver information to be used in connection with
the shelf registration statement; |
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required to be named as a selling securityholder in the related
prospectus; |
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required to deliver a prospectus to purchasers; |
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subject to certain of the civil liability provisions under the
Securities Act in connection with the sales; and |
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bound by some of the provisions of the registration rights
agreement, including those regarding indemnification rights and
obligations. |
For purposes of the registration rights agreement,
registrable securities means the notes, provided,
however, that the notes shall cease to be registrable securities
when (1) a registration statement with respect to such
notes has been declared effective and such notes have been
disposed of pursuant to the registration statement,
(2) such notes have been sold to the public pursuant to
Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force, but not
Rule 144A), (3) such notes have ceased to be
outstanding or (4) the exchange offer is consummated.
The registration rights agreement also provides that we will:
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file this exchange offer registration statement with the
Commission not later than 90 days following the closing of
the offering of the Old Notes; |
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use our best efforts to have this exchange offer registration
statement declared effective under the Securities Act within
180 days of the closing of the offering of the Old Notes; |
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use our best efforts to keep this exchange offer registration
statement effective until the closing of the exchange
offer; and |
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use our best efforts to cause the exchange to be consummated not
later than 210 days following the closing of the offering
of the Old Notes. |
Because this exchange offer registration statement has been
declared effective, we are offering the registered New Notes in
exchange for surrender of the Old Notes. We will keep the
exchange offer open for a period of not less than 30 days,
or longer if required by applicable law, after the date notice
of the exchange offer is mailed to holders. Interest will accrue
on each registered New Notes from the last interest payment date
on which we paid interest on the Old Notes tendered in the
exchange offer, or if we have not paid interest on the tendered
Old Notes, from the date of original issuance of the note.
If:
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we do not file with the Commission the exchange offer
registration statement on or prior to the 90th day following the
original issuance of the Old Notes; |
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the Commission does not declare the exchange offer registration
statement effective on or prior to the 180th day following the
original issuance of the Old Notes; |
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we do not consummate the exchange offer on or prior to the 210th
day following the original issuance of the Old Notes; or |
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we have filed, but the Commission has not declared effective,
the shelf registration statement on or prior to the 210th day
following the original issuance of the Old Notes; |
(each, a Registration Default) then additional
interest will accrue on the Old Notes at an amount equal to
0.25% per annum of the principal amount of transfer
restricted securities held by such holder for the first
90 day period immediately following the occurrence of each
Registration Default, and such annual rate will increase by an
additional 0.25% with respect to each subsequent 90-day period,
increasing to a maximum of 1.00% per annum, from and
including the date on which any such Registration Default
occurs. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the
accrual of additional interest will cease. As of the date of
this prospectus, we have not incurred a Registration Default.
Holders of Old Notes will be required to make certain
representations to us, as described in the registration rights
agreement, 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 and will be named as
a selling security holder in such shelf registration statement
in order to have their Old Notes included in the shelf
registration statement and benefit from the provisions regarding
additional interest set forth above. Any holders, other than the
initial purchasers, who are eligible to participate in the
exchange offer but fail to, or elect not to, participate therein
will continue to hold transfer restricted Old Notes. The
transfer restricted Old Notes will remain outstanding and will
continue to accrue interest, but holders of transfer restricted
Old Notes will have no further rights to exchange their transfer
restricted Old Notes or have such securities registered under
the registration rights agreement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Based on interpretations by the staff of the Commission set
forth in no action letters issued to third parties, we believe
that you may transfer New Notes issued under the exchange offer
in exchange for Old Notes unless you are:
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our affiliate within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Securities Act; |
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a broker-dealer that acquired Old Notes directly from us; or |
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a broker-dealer that acquired Old Notes as a result of
market-making or other trading activities without compliance
with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act; |
provided that you acquire the New Notes in the ordinary course
of your business and you are not engaged in, and do not intend
to engage in, and have no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate in, a
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distribution of the New Notes. Broker-dealers receiving New
Notes in the exchange offer will be subject to a prospectus
delivery requirement with respect to resales of the New Notes.
To date, the staff of the Commission has taken the position that
participating broker-dealers may fulfill their prospectus
delivery requirements with respect to transactions involving an
exchange of securities such as this exchange offer, other than a
resale of an unsold allotment from the original sale of the Old
Notes, with the prospectus contained in the exchange offer
registration statement.
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account
pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New
Notes. We have agreed that, during the period broker-dealers are
required to deliver this prospectus, we will make this
prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. 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.
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 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 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 and any
broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New
Notes may be deemed to be an underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale
of New Notes and any commission or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under
the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act.
We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange
offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of
the notes), other than commissions or concessions of any brokers
or dealers, and will indemnify the holders of the notes
(including any broker-dealers) against specified liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity and enforceability of the notes offered hereby will
be passed upon for Carriage Services, Inc. by
Thompson & Knight LLP, Houston, Texas.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Our annual consolidated financial statements as of and for the
three year period ended December 31, 2004, incorporated in
this prospectus by reference to Carriages Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004,
have been audited by KPMG LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their report (which refers to
certain accounting policy changes) incorporated by reference
herein.
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The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:
WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
By facsimile:
(For Eligible Institutions only):
(612) 667-4927
Confirmation or Information Call:
(800) 344-5128
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By Registered or Certified Mail: |
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By Overnight Courier: |
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By Regular Mail or Hand: |
Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Corporate Trust Operations
MAC N9303-121
P.O. Box 1517
Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517 |
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Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Corporate Trust Operations
Sixth and Marquette
MAC N9303-121
Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517 |
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Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Corporate Trust Operations
Sixth and Marquette
MAC N9303-121
Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517 |
Any questions or requests for assistance or for additional
copies of the prospectus or the letter of transmittal may be
directed to the information agent at the telephone numbers set
forth below.
We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other
person to give you written information other than this
prospectus or to make representations as to matters not stated
in this prospectus. You must not rely on unauthorized
information. This prospectus is not an offer to sell the notes
or our solicitation of your offer to buy the notes in any
jurisdiction where that would not be permitted or legal. Neither
the delivery of this prospectus nor any sales made hereunder
after the date of this prospectus shall create an implication
that the information contained herein or the affairs of the
company have not changed since the date of this prospectus.
For a period of time after the date of this prospectus, all
dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or
not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver
this prospectus.
Carriage Services, Inc.
$130,000,000
Offer to Exchange
Registered 7.875% Senior Notes due 2015
for
All Outstanding 7.875% Senior Notes due 2015
PROSPECTUS
June 29, 2005