JANUS HENDERSON US (HOLDINGS) INC. as Issuer JANUS HENDERSON GROUP PLC as Guarantor and THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee $400,000,000 5.450% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2034 SENIOR INDENTURE Dated as of September 10, 2024
Exhibit 4.1
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX US (HOLDINGS) INC.
as Issuer
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX GROUP PLC
as Guarantor
and
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
$400,000,000 5.450% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2034
Dated as of September 10, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Article 1 | ||
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference | ||
Section 1.01. | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.02. | Other Definitions | 9 |
Section 1.03. | Incorporation by Reference of TIA | 9 |
Section 1.04. | Rules of Construction | 10 |
Article 2 | ||
The Notes | ||
Section 2.01. | Issuance of Additional Notes | 10 |
Section 2.02. | Form and Dating | 12 |
Section 2.03. | Execution and Authentication | 12 |
Section 2.04. | Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent | 13 |
Section 2.05. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 14 |
Section 2.06. | Holder Lists | 14 |
Section 2.07. | Transfer and Exchange | 14 |
Section 2.08. | Replacement Notes | 15 |
Section 2.09. | Outstanding Notes | 16 |
Section 2.10. | Temporary Notes | 16 |
Section 2.11. | Cancellation | 16 |
Section 2.12. | Common Codes, CUSIP and ISIN Numbers | 17 |
Section 2.13. | Certain Transfers in Connection with and After the Exchange Offer under the Registration Rights Agreement | 17 |
Section 2.14. | Exchange Offer | 17 |
Article 3 | ||
Redemption | ||
Section 3.01. | Notices to Trustee | 18 |
Section 3.02. | Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed or Repurchased | 18 |
Section 3.03. | Notice of Redemption | 18 |
Section 3.04. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 19 |
Section 3.05. | Deposit of Redemption Price | 20 |
Section 3.06. | Notes Redeemed in Part | 20 |
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Article 4 | ||
Covenants | ||
Section 4.01. | Payment of Notes | 20 |
Section 4.02. | Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event | 20 |
Section 4.03. | Limitation on Liens | 23 |
Section 4.04. | Guarantee by the Parent | 24 |
Section 4.05. | Reports | 24 |
Section 4.06. | Compliance Certificate | 24 |
Section 4.07. | Further Instruments and Acts | 25 |
Article 5 | ||
Successor Company | ||
Section 5.01. | Merger and Consolidation of the Issuer | 25 |
Section 5.02. | Merger and Consolidation of the Parent | 26 |
Article 6 | ||
Defaults and Remedies | ||
Section 6.01. | Events of Default | 26 |
Section 6.02. | Acceleration | 27 |
Section 6.03. | Other Remedies | 27 |
Section 6.04. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 28 |
Section 6.05. | Control by Majority | 28 |
Section 6.06. | Limitation on Suits | 28 |
Section 6.07. | Collection Suit by Trustee | 29 |
Section 6.08. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 29 |
Section 6.09. | Priorities | 29 |
Section 6.10. | Undertaking for Costs | 29 |
Section 6.11. | Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws | 30 |
Article 7 | ||
Trustee | ||
Section 7.01. | Duties of Trustee | 30 |
Section 7.02. | Rights of Trustee | 31 |
Section 7.03. | Individual Rights of Trustee | 34 |
Section 7.04. | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 34 |
Section 7.05. | Notice of Defaults | 34 |
Section 7.06. | Reports by Trustee to Holders | 34 |
Section 7.07. | Compensation and Indemnity | 35 |
Section 7.08. | Replacement of Trustee | 36 |
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Section 7.09. | Successor Trustee by Xxxxxx | 37 |
Section 7.10. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 38 |
Section 7.11. | Certain Provisions | 38 |
Section 7.12. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer | 38 |
Article 8 | ||
Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance | ||
Section 8.01. | Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance | 38 |
Section 8.02. | Conditions to Defeasance | 39 |
Section 8.03. | Application of Trust Money | 41 |
Section 8.04. | Repayment to Issuer | 41 |
Section 8.05. | Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations | 41 |
Section 8.06. | Reinstatement | 42 |
Article 9 | ||
Amendments | ||
Section 9.01. | Without Consent of Holders | 42 |
Section 9.02. | With Consent of Holders | 43 |
Section 9.03. | Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers | 44 |
Section 9.04. | Notation on or Exchange of Notes | 45 |
Section 9.05. | Trustee to Sign Amendments | 45 |
Section 9.06. | Payment for Consent | 45 |
Article 10 | ||
Note Guarantee | ||
Section 10.01. | Note Guarantee | 46 |
Section 10.02. | Release of Note Guarantee | 48 |
Section 10.03. | Successors and Assigns | 49 |
Section 10.04. | No Waiver | 49 |
Section 10.05. | Modification | 49 |
Section 10.06. | Non-Impairment | 49 |
Article 11 | ||
Miscellaneous | ||
Section 11.01. | Trust Indenture Act of 1939 | 49 |
Section 11.02. | Noteholder Communications; Noteholder Actions | 49 |
Section 11.03. | Notices | 50 |
Section 11.04. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 52 |
Section 11.05. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 52 |
Section 11.06. | When Notes Disregarded | 52 |
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Section 11.07. | Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar | 52 |
Section 11.08. | Legal Holidays | 53 |
Section 11.09. | Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial | 53 |
Section 11.10. | Consent to Jurisdiction and Service | 53 |
Section 11.11. | No Recourse Against Others | 53 |
Section 11.12. | Successors | 54 |
Section 11.13. | Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures | 54 |
Section 11.14. | Table of Contents; Headings | 54 |
Section 11.15. | Applicable Law; Provision of Information to Trustee | 54 |
Section 11.16. | Force Majeure | 55 |
Appendix A | Provisions Relating to the Notes |
Exhibit A | Form of 5.450% Senior Notes Due 2034 |
Exhibit B | Form of Certificate of Transfer |
Exhibit C | Form of Officer’s Compliance Certificate |
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
TIA Section |
Indenture Section |
310(a)(1) | 7.10 |
(a)(2) | 7.10 |
(a)(3) | N.A. |
(a)(4) | N.A. |
(a)(5) | 7.10 |
(b) | 7.08; 7.10 |
311(a) | 7.12 |
(b) | 7.12 |
312(a) | 2.06 |
(b) | 11.02 |
(c) | 11.02 |
313(a) | 7.06 |
(b) | 7.06 |
(c) | 7.06 |
(d) | 7.06 |
314(a) | 4.05; 4.06 |
(b) | N.A. |
(c)(1) | 11.04 |
(c)(2) | 11.04 |
(c)(3) | N.A. |
(d) | N.A. |
(e) | 11.05 |
315(a) | 7.01 |
(b) | 7.05; 11.03 |
(c) | 7.01 |
(d) | 7.01 |
(e) | 6.10 |
316(a)(last sentence) | 11.06 |
(a)(1)(A) | 6.05 |
(a)(1)(B) | 6.04 |
(a)(2) | N.A. |
(b) | 9.02 |
317(a)(1) | 6.07 |
(a)(2) | 6.08 |
(b) | 2.05 |
318(a) | 11.01 |
N.A. means Not Applicable.
Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.
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INDENTURE, dated as of September 10, 2024, among Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), the Parent (as defined herein), as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.
This Indenture is subject to, and will be governed by, the provisions of the TIA that are required to be a part of and govern indentures under the TIA, except as otherwise set forth herein.
Article 1
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference
Section 1.01. Definitions
“actual knowledge” of any Trustee shall be construed to mean that such Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge (actual or otherwise) of the existence of facts that would impose an obligation on it to make any payment or prohibit it from making any payment unless a Responsible Officer of such Trustee has received written notice that such payments are required or prohibited by this Indenture in which event the Trustee shall be deemed to have actual knowledge within one Business Day of receiving that notice.
“Additional Interest” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes is lowered in respect of a Change of Control and the Notes are rated below Investment Grade by both Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Repurchase Event) if the Rating Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or inform the trustee in writing at its request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
“Board of Directors” means (1) with respect to the Parent, the Issuer or any corporation, the board of directors or managers, as applicable, of the corporation or company, or any duly authorized committee thereof; (2) with respect to any partnership, the board of directors or other governing body of the general partner of the partnership or any duly authorized committee thereof; and (3) with respect to any other Person, the board or any duly authorized committee of such Person serving a similar function. Whenever any provision requires any action or determination to be made by, or any approval of, a Board of Directors, such action, determination or approval shall be deemed to have been taken or made if approved by a majority of the directors (excluding employee representatives, if any) on any such Board of Directors (whether or not such action or approval is taken as part of a formal board meeting or as a formal board approval).
“Business Day” means each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday or other day on which banking institutions or trust companies in The City of New York, or any other city in which the paying agent is being utilized, are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants or options to purchase any of the foregoing.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) | the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Parent’s properties or assets and those of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Parent or one of its wholly owned subsidiaries; |
(2) | the adoption of a plan relating to the Parent’s liquidation or dissolution; or |
(3) | the consummation of any transaction (including any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the Parent or one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Parent’s Voting Stock, measured by voting power rather than number of shares. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction effected to create a holding company for the Parent or the Issuer will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if (1) pursuant to such transaction the Parent or the Issuer becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of such holding company and (2)(A) the holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following such transaction are the same as the holders of the Parent’s Voting Stock immediately prior to such transaction or (B) immediately following such transaction no Person (other than the Parent or a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of such holding company.
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“Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date, (a) the total assets appearing on the Parent’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, prepared in accordance with GAAP, less all current liabilities as shown on such balance sheet, and (b) the value (net of applicable reserves), as shown on or reflected in the Parent’s most recent consolidated balance sheet, of (i) all trade names, trademarks, licenses, patents, copyrights and goodwill, (ii) unamortized debt discount and expenses, less unamortized premium and (iii) and any other like intangibles.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000X, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Issuer).
“Credit Facility” means the revolving credit facility pursuant to the Facility Agreement, dated June 30, 2023 (as amended or supplemented or from time to time refinanced or replaced), among Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Group plc, as borrower, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc., as guarantor, and lenders party thereto.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor securities clearing agency.
“Electronic Means” shall mean the following communications methods: e-mail, secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys issued by the Trustee, or another method or system specified by the Trustee as available for use in connection with its services hereunder.
“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, as amended.
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“Exchange Notes” means, with respect to the Original Notes, notes issued in exchange for the Original Notes pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Notes, notes issued in exchange for such Additional Notes pursuant to the terms of a registration rights agreement among the Issuer, the Parent and the initial purchasers of such Additional Notes.
“Exchange Offer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Existing Indebtedness” means indebtedness subject to Liens in existence on the Issue Date (and Liens securing indebtedness incurred to refinance, refund, replace, amend, extend or modify, as a whole or in part, indebtedness that was previously so secured pursuant to this clause; provided that the amount of any such indebtedness secured pursuant to this clause is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding available amount or, if greater, the outstanding principal amount, of the indebtedness secured by such Liens in existence on the Issue Date and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, replacement, amendment, extension or modification; provided, further, that any such Lien is limited to all or part of the Voting Stock that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the indebtedness being refinanced).
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect on the date of any calculation or determination required hereunder.
“Guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any indebtedness or other obligations.
“Guarantor” means the Parent and any Person that executes a Note Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and its respective successors and assigns.
“Holder” means each Person in whose name the Notes are registered on the Registrar’s books, which shall initially be the respective nominee of DTC.
“interest” means, with respect to the Notes, interest and Additional Interest.
“Investment Grade” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Xxxxx’x (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Xxxxx’x) and BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P) (or, in each case, if such Rating Agency ceases to rate the Notes for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected by the Issuer as a replacement Rating Agency).
“Issue Date” means September 10, 2024.
“Lien” means a pledge, mortgage or other lien.
“Xxxxx’x” means Xxxxx’x Investor Services Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Note Documents” means the Notes (including Additional Notes) and this Indenture.
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“Note Guarantee” has the meaning given to such term in Section 10.01.
“Notes” means the Original Notes, the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Original Notes and the Additional Notes, if any, issued by the Issuer pursuant to this Indenture.
“Obligors” means, collectively, the Issuer and the Parent.
“Offering Memorandum” means the offering memorandum of the Issuer dated as of September 5, 2024 in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.
“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, (1) the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Managing Director, or the Secretary (a) of such Person or (b) if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, of such entity, or (2) any other individual designated as an “Officer” for the purposes of this Indenture by the Board of Directors of such Person.
“Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Officer of such Person.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. The legal counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Parent or its Subsidiaries.
“Original Notes” means the $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the 5.450% Senior Notes due 2034 of the Issuer issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date.
“Parent” means Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Group plc or any successor thereto.
“Participating Broker-Dealer” has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Permitted Liens” means:
(1) | Liens on Voting Stock of any Subsidiary existing at the time such entity becomes a direct or indirect Significant Subsidiary of the Parent or is merged into a direct or indirect Significant Subsidiary of the Parent (provided such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with such transaction and do not extend to any other Significant Subsidiary); |
(2) | Liens on Voting Stock of any Subsidiary securing indebtedness or other obligations of the Parent, the Issuer or such Subsidiary owing to the Parent, the Issuer or another Subsidiary, or Liens in favor of the Parent, the Issuer or any Subsidiary; |
(3) | statutory liens, liens for taxes or assessments or governmental liens not yet due or delinquent or which can be paid without penalty or are being contested in good faith; |
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(4) | other liens of a similar nature as those described in clause (3) above; |
(5) | liens granted under Existing Indebtedness; and |
(6) | other Liens (including successive extensions, renewals, alterations or replacements thereof) not excepted by clauses (1) through (5) above, provided that after giving effect thereto the aggregate principal amount of the indebtedness or other obligations of the Parent, the Issuer or any Subsidiary secured by such Liens does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets, in each case after giving effect to such incurrence and the application of the proceeds therefrom. |
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.
“Rating Agency” means:
(1) | each of Xxxxx’x and S&P; and |
(2) | if either of Xxxxx’x or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Issuer’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by the Issuer as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both, as the case may be. |
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement related to the Original Notes, dated as of the Issue Date, among the Issuer, the Parent and the representatives of the initial purchasers named therein and, with respect to any Additional Notes, one or more registration rights agreements between the Issuer and the other parties thereto, relating to rights given by the Issuer to the purchasers of Additional Notes to register such Additional Notes under the Securities Act.
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such individual’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a business unit of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC, or any successor to its rating agency business.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.
“Securities Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
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“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Parent within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC as in effect on the issue date of the Notes.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any indebtedness or security, the date specified in such indebtedness or security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of such indebtedness or security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision, but shall not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Subsidiary” means an entity of which a Person has direct or indirect control or owns directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting capital or similar right of ownership and “control” for this purpose means the power to direct the management and the policies of the entity whether through the ownership of voting capital, by contract or otherwise.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Issuer in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Issuer after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily) - H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Issuer shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
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If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Issuer shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Issuer shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Issuer shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (1) direct obligations of the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (2) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the Issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligations or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligations held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligations or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligations evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“Voting Stock” as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, stock, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
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Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term | Defined in Section |
act | 11.02(b) |
Additional Notes | 2.01 |
Agent Members | Appendix A |
Applicable Law | 11.15 |
Applicable Procedures | Appendix A |
Authorized Agent | 11.10 |
Authorized Officers | 7.02(q) |
Change of Control Offer | 4.02(a) |
Change of Control Payment | 4.02(b)(i) |
Change of Control Payment Date | 4.02(b)(ii) |
covenant defeasance option | 8.01(b) |
defeasance trust | 8.02(a)(1) |
Definitive Note | Appendix A |
Depositary | Appendix A |
DTC | Appendix A |
Event of Default | 6.01(a) |
full defeasance option | 8.01(b) |
Global Note Legend | Appendix A |
Guaranteed Obligations | 10.01(a) |
indemnity | 6.05 |
Instructions | 7.02(q) |
Issuer | Preamble |
Note Guarantee | 10.01(a) |
Notes Custodian | Appendix A |
Par Call Date | Exhibit A |
Paying Agent | 2.04(a) |
Private Placement Legend | Appendix A |
protected purchaser | 2.08 |
QIB | Appendix A |
Registrar | 2.04(a) |
Regulation S | Appendix A |
Regulation S Notes | Appendix A |
Restricted Notes Legend | Appendix A |
Restricted Period | Appendix A |
Rule 144 | Appendix A |
Rule 144A | Appendix A |
Rule 144A Notes | Appendix A |
Transfer Agent | 2.04(a) |
Transfer Restricted Notes | Appendix A |
Trustee | Preamble |
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of TIA
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the portion of such provision required to be incorporated herein in order for this Indenture to be qualified under the TIA is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Notes and the Note Guarantee.
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“indenture security holder” means a Holder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor on the indenture securities” means the Issuer, the Parent and any other obligor on the indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or” is not exclusive;
(d) “including” means including without limitation;
(e) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular; and
(f) whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, principal, interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Note, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Interest to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable in respect thereof.
Article 2
The Notes
Section 2.01. Issuance of Additional Notes
The Notes are a single series and shall be substantially identical except as to denomination. The Issuer may, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders, increase the principal amount of the Notes by issuing additional Notes (the “Additional Notes”) in the future on the same terms and conditions, except for any differences in the issue date and, in some cases, the issue price and the first interest payment date. Any Additional Notes having those similar terms, together with the previously issued Notes, will constitute a single series of debt securities under this Indenture. The Additional Notes will have the same CUSIP number as the Notes, provided that any Additional Notes that are not fungible with the Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be issued under a separate CUSIP number.
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With respect to any Additional Notes issued after the Issue Date (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10 or 3.06 or Appendix A), there shall be (a) established in or pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Issuer and (b)(i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:
(1) | the title of such Additional Notes; |
(2) | the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10 or 3.06 or Appendix A and except for Notes which, pursuant to Section 2.03, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder); |
(3) | the date or dates on which the principal of any such Additional Notes is payable, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended; |
(4) | the issue price and issuance date of such Additional Notes, including the date from which interest on such Additional Notes shall accrue, the rate or rates at which such Additional Notes shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates on which such interest shall be payable and the record date, if any, for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
(5) | the period or period within the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any such Additional Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Issuer; and |
(6) | if applicable, that such Additional Notes shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Notes and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such Global Notes, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by such Global Notes in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Exhibit A hereto and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Section 2.3 of Appendix A in which any such Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Additional Notes registered, or any transfer of such Global Note in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the depositary for such Global Note or a nominee thereof. |
If any of the terms of any Additional Notes are established by action taken pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by an Officer’s Certificate and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate of the Issuer or the indenture supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of the Additional Notes.
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This Indenture is unlimited in aggregate principal amount. The Original Notes and, if issued, any Additional Notes will be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including with respect to voting, waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.
Section 2.02. Form and Dating
Provisions relating to the Notes are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The (a) Original Notes and (b) any Additional Notes (if issued as Transfer Restricted Notes) shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A (in the event of Additional Notes, with such changes as may be required to reflect any differing terms), which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. Any Additional Notes issued other than as Transfer Restricted Notes shall each be substantially in the form of Exhibit A (without the Restricted Notes Legend), which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Issuer is subject, if any, or usage, provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Issuer and the Trustee. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes shall be issuable only in registered form and only in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Section 2.03. Execution and Authentication
One Officer shall sign the Notes for the Issuer by manual, facsimile or electronic signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time the Trustee authenticates the Note, the Note shall be valid nevertheless.
A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee or an authentication agent manually or electronically signs the certificate of authentication on the Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery Notes as set forth in Appendix A following receipt of an authentication order signed by an Officer of the Issuer directing the Trustee or an authentication agent to authenticate such Notes.
The Trustee may appoint an authentication agent reasonably acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate the Notes. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument signed by a Responsible Officer, a copy of which shall be furnished to the Issuer. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authentication agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authentication agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.
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Notwithstanding the above provisions, facsimile, documents executed, authenticated, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, shall be deemed manual signatures for purposes of this Indenture, Notes and other related documents and all matters and instruments, agreements, documents and certificates related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as manual signatures.
Section 2.04. Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent
(a) The Issuer shall maintain a registrar (the “Registrar”) and a transfer agent in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York where Notes may be presented for transfer or exchange (the “Transfer Agent”) and for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes of their transfer and exchange. The Issuer initially appoints The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, who has accepted such appointment, as Paying Agent for the Notes. The Issuer initially appoints The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, who has accepted such appointment, as Registrar and Transfer Agent. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent in connection with the Global Notes with respect to the Notes settled through DTC.
(b) The Issuer shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or Paying Agent not a party to or appointed under this Indenture. Such agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent, including applicable terms of the TIA that are incorporated into this Indenture. Any Registrar or Paying Agent appointed hereunder shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture as though a party hereto. The Issuer shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Issuer fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 7.07. The Issuer or any Subsidiary may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
(c) The Issuer may change any Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent upon written notice to such Registrar, Paying Agent or Transfer Agent and to the Trustee, without prior notice to the Holders; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) acceptance of an appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Issuer and such successor Registrar, Paying Agent, or Transfer Agent, as the case may be, and delivered to the Trustee or (ii) written notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall, to the extent that it determines that it is able, serve as Registrar or Paying Agent or Transfer Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above.
(d) Interest shall be calculated by applying the applicable rate to the principal amount of each Note outstanding at the commencement of the interest period, computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and rounding the resultant figure upwards to the nearest available currency unit.
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Section 2.05. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust
No later than 10:00 a.m. New York time on each due date of the principal of, interest and premium (if any) on any Note, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or if the Issuer is acting as Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto) a sum sufficient to pay such principal, interest and premium (if any) when so becoming due and subject to receipt of such monies, the Paying Agent shall make payment on the Notes in accordance with this Indenture. The Issuer shall require each Paying Agent to agree in writing (and each Paying Agent party to this Indenture agrees) that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, interest and premium (if any) on the Notes, but such Paying Agent may use such monies as banker in the ordinary course of business without accounting for profits (other than in the case of Article 8), and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. If the Issuer acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be held harmless and have no liability with respect to payments or disbursements to be made by the Paying Agent and Trustee for which payment instructions are not made or that are not otherwise deposited by the respective times set forth in this Section 2.05.
Section 2.06. Holder Lists
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar with respect to the Notes, the Issuer shall furnish, or cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date with respect to such Notes and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders of such Notes.
Section 2.07. Transfer and Exchange
The Notes shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Note for registration of transfer and in compliance with Appendix A. When a Note is presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if its requirements therefor are met. When Notes are presented to the Registrar with a written request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Notes of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate Notes at the Registrar’s request. The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section. The Issuer is not required to register the transfer or exchange of any Notes (i) for a period of 15 days prior to any date fixed for the redemption of any Notes, (ii) for a period of 15 days immediately prior to the date fixed for selection of Notes to be redeemed in part, (iii) for a period of 15 days prior to the record date with respect to any interest payment date applicable to such Notes or (iv) which the Holder has tendered (and not withdrawn) for repurchase in connection with a Change of Control Offer in connection with a Change of Control Repurchase Event.
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Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Note, the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal and (subject to Section 2 of the Notes) interest, if any, on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note is overdue, and none of the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Any Holder of a Global Note shall, by acceptance of such Global Note, agree that transfers of beneficial interest in such Global Note may be effected only through a book-entry system maintained by (a) the Holder of such Global Note (or its agent) or (b) any Holder of a beneficial interest in such Global Note, and that ownership of a beneficial interest in such Global Note shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.
All Notes issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.
Section 2.08. Replacement Notes
If a mutilated Note is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Note claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate a replacement Note if the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met, such that the Holder (a) notifies the Issuer or the Trustee within a reasonable time after such Holder has notice of such loss, destruction or wrongful taking and the Registrar does not register a transfer prior to receiving such notification, (b) makes such request to the Issuer or the Trustee prior to the Note being acquired by a protected purchaser as defined in Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code (a “protected purchaser”) and (c) satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Issuer, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced. The Issuer and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Note including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. In the event any such mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Issuer in its discretion may pay such Note instead of issuing a new Note in replacement thereof.
Every replacement Note is an additional obligation of the Issuer.
The provisions of this Section 2.08 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken Notes.
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Section 2.09. Outstanding Notes
Notes outstanding at any time are all Notes authenticated by the Trustee or an authentication agent except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section 2.09 as not outstanding. Subject to Section 11.06, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.
If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Issuer receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Note is held by a protected purchaser.
If the Paying Agent receives (or if the Issuer is acting as Paying Agent and such Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust) in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest and premium, if any, payable on that date with respect to the Notes (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such amount to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Notes (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
Section 2.10. Temporary Notes
In the event that Definitive Notes are to be issued under the terms of this Indenture, until such Definitive Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate temporary Notes. Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of Definitive Notes but may have variations that the Issuer considers appropriate for temporary Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate Definitive Notes and deliver them in exchange for temporary Notes upon surrender of such temporary Notes at the office or agency of the Issuer, without charge to the Holder.
Section 2.11. Cancellation
The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures or deliver canceled Notes to the Issuer pursuant to written direction by an Officer of the Issuer. Certification of the destruction of all canceled Notes shall be delivered to the Issuer. The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation. Neither the Trustee nor an authentication agent shall authenticate Notes in place of canceled Notes other than pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
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Section 2.12. Common Codes, CUSIP and ISIN Numbers
The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use Common Codes, CUSIP and ISIN numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use Common Codes, CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of any change in the Common Code, CUSIP or ISIN numbers.
Section 2.13. Certain Transfers in Connection with and After the Exchange Offer under the Registration Rights Agreement
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture:
(a) no Exchange Notes issued may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Original Note;
(b) accrued and unpaid interest on the Original Notes being exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall be due and payable on the next interest payment date for the Exchange Notes following the Exchange Offer and shall be paid to the Holder of the Exchange Notes issued in respect of the Original Notes being exchanged; and
(c) interest on the Original Notes being exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall cease to accrue on (and including) the date of completion of the Exchange Offer and interest on the Exchange Notes to be issued in the Exchange Offer shall accrue from (but excluding) the date of the completion of the Exchange Offer.
Section 2.14. Exchange Offer
Upon the occurrence of the Exchange Offer with respect to the Notes, the Issuer will issue and, upon a written order of the Issuer, the Trustee will authenticate:
(a) one or more Global Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interests in the Global Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend that are accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that (i) are not Participating Broker-Dealers, (ii) are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (iii) are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer to such effect; or
(b) one or more Definitive Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend that are accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer by Persons that (i) are not Participating Broker-Dealers, (ii) are not participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes and (iii) are not affiliates (as defined in Rule 144) of the Issuer, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer to such effect.
Concurrently with the issuance of such Notes, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend to be reduced accordingly, and the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Persons designated by the Holders of Definitive Notes so accepted Definitive Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend in the appropriate principal amount.
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Article 3
Redemption
Section 3.01. Notices to Trustee
If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 5 of the Notes, it shall notify the Trustee and the relevant Paying Agent in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed and the section of the Note pursuant to which the redemption will occur.
The Issuer shall give each written notice to the Trustee and the relevant Paying Agent provided for in this Article 3 at least 10 days, but not more than 60 days, before the redemption date unless the Trustee or the relevant Paying Agent (as the case may be) consents to a shorter period. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer to the effect that such redemption has complied with the conditions precedent herein. The Trustee will accept such Officer’s Certificate as sufficient existence of the satisfaction of the conditions precedent described above, in which event it will be conclusive and binding on the Holders. Any such notice may be canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being sent to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect.
Section 3.02. Selection of Notes To Be Redeemed or Repurchased
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Notes will be selected for redemption in compliance with the requirements of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, as certified to the Trustee or the Registrar, as applicable, by the Issuer, and in compliance with the requirements of DTC, or if the Notes are not so listed or such exchange prescribes no method of selection and the Notes are not held through DTC, or DTC prescribes no method of selection, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair; provided, however, that no Note of $2,000 in aggregate principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part and only Notes in integral multiples of $1,000 will be redeemed. Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar will be liable for any selections made by it in accordance with this Section 3.02. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption. The Trustee or the Registrar, as applicable, shall notify the Issuer promptly of the Notes or portions of Notes to be redeemed.
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
(a) At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Notes, the Issuer shall transmit a notice of redemption in accordance with Section 11.03 and as provided below to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address.
The notice shall identify the Notes to be redeemed and shall state:
(1) the redemption date;
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(2) the redemption price, and, if applicable, the appropriate calculation of such redemption price and the amount of accrued interest to, but excluding, the redemption date;
(3) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(4) that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(5) if fewer than all the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the portion of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed;
(6) that, unless the Issuer defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on the Notes (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(7) the Common Codes, CUSIP or ISIN number, as applicable, if any, printed on the Notes being redeemed; and
(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the Common Codes, CUSIP or ISIN number, as applicable, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes being redeemed.
(b) At the Issuer’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s name and at the Issuer’s expense. In such event, the Issuer shall provide the Trustee and the Paying Agent with the information required and within the time periods specified by this Section 3.03.
(c) Any redemption notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including completion of a corporate transaction. In such event, the related notice of redemption shall describe each such condition and, if applicable, shall state that, at the Issuer’s discretion, the date of redemption may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the notice of redemption was given) as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion) by the redemption date, or by the redemption date as so delayed.
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption
Once notice of redemption is delivered, Notes called for redemption cease to accrue interest on and after the redemption date, become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice, provided, however, that any redemption notice may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent to the extent permitted under Section 3.03(c) or Section 5 of the Notes. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, the Notes shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, plus accrued interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date; provided, however, that if the redemption date is after a regular record date and on or prior to the interest payment date, the accrued interest shall be payable to the Holder of the redeemed Notes registered on the relevant record date. Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.
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Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price
No later than 10:00 a.m. New York time on the redemption date, the Issuer shall deposit with the relevant Paying Agent (or, if the Issuer is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Notes or portions thereof to be redeemed on that date other than Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption that have been delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee for cancellation. On and after the redemption date, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption so long as the Issuer has deposited with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, the Notes to be redeemed, unless the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be held harmless and have no liability with respect to payments or disbursements to be made by the Paying Agent and Trustee for which payment instructions are not made or that are not otherwise deposited by the respective times set forth in this Section 3.05.
Section 3.06. Notes Redeemed in Part
Subject to the terms hereof, upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed in part, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate, for the Holder (at the Issuer’s expense) a new Note equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Note surrendered.
Article 4
Covenants
Section 4.01. Payment of Notes
The Issuer shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Notes (including Additional Interest, if any) on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes and in this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
Section 4.02. Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event
(a) If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Issuer has exercised its right to redeem the Notes under Section 5 of the Notes, the Issuer will make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.
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(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event or, at the Issuer’s option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the Change of Control, the Issuer shall mail, or deliver to DTC in the case of Notes represented by a Global Note, a notice to each Holder stating:
(1) a description of the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute a Change of Control Repurchase Event and that such Holder has the right to require the Issuer to repurchase such Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of such Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase (the “Change of Control Payment”);
(2) the repurchase payment date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or delivered) (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);
(3) that the Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.02 and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment on the Change of Control Payment Date;
(4) the Change of Control Payment;
(5) the names and addresses of the Paying Agent and the offices or agencies of the Registrar and the Transfer Agent;
(6) that Notes must be surrendered on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date to the Paying Agent at the office of the Paying Agent or to an office or agency of the Registrar or Transfer Agent to collect payment;
(7) that the Change of Control Payment for any Note which has been properly tendered and not withdrawn will be paid promptly following the Change of Control Payment Date;
(8) that, if the Change of Control has not been consummated, the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Repurchase Event occurring on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date;
(9) other procedures that a Holder must follow to accept a Change of Control Offer or to withdraw such acceptance of the Change of Control Offer;
(10) that any Note not tendered will continue to accrue interest;
(11) that, unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on and after the Change of Control Payment Date;
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(12) a statement that if any Note contains a CUSIP number, no representation is being made as to the correctness of the CUSIP number either as printed on the Notes or as contained in the offer and that the Holder should rely only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes; and
(13) a statement that, if the Notes are held in book entry form, Holders must comply with the applicable procedures of the Depositary.
(c) Upon receipt by the Issuer of the proper tender of Notes, the Holder of the Note in respect of which such proper tender was made shall (unless the tender of such Note is properly withdrawn) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the Change of Control Payment with respect to such Note. Upon surrender of any such Note for repurchase in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Holder of such Note shall be paid by the Issuer on the Change of Control Payment Date; provided, however, that installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes, registered as such on the relevant Record Dates according to the terms and the provisions of Section 4.01. If any Note tendered for purchase in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.02 shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof, the principal thereof (and premium, if any, thereon) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Change of Control Payment Date at the rate prescribed therefor in such Note. Holders electing to have Notes repurchased will be required to surrender such Notes to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the Change of Control Offer, or transfer their Notes to the Paying Agent by book-entry transfer, prior to the close of business on the third Business Day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. Any Note that is to be repurchased only in part shall be surrendered to a Paying Agent at the office of such Paying Agent (with, if the Issuer, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Registrar or the Trustee, as the case may be, duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), or transferred to the Paying Agent by book-entry transfer, and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to the Holder of such Note without service charge, one or more new Notes, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for, the portion of the principal amount of the Note so surrendered that is not repurchased.
(d) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent lawful, (i) accept for payment all of the Notes or portions of the Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount of money in same day funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all of the Notes or portions of the Notes which have been properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of the Notes or portions thereof accepted for payment by the Issuer. The Paying Agent shall promptly deliver (or cause to be delivered) to each Holder of Notes which has properly tendered and so accepted the Change of Control Payment for such Notes, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee (or an authenticating agent appointed by the Issuer) shall promptly authenticate and deliver (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to such Holders a new Note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered, if any; provided that each such new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Any Note so accepted for payment will cease to accrue interest on or after the Change of Control Payment Date. Any Notes not so accepted shall be promptly mailed or delivered by the Paying Agent at the Issuer’s expense to the Holder thereof.
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(e) The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Repurchase Event provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations, or require a repurchase of the Notes, under this Indenture by virtue of such conflict.
(f) The Issuer will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event if (i) 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 this Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under the Change of Control Offer or (ii) a notice of redemption has been given pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 of the Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditioned upon the consummation of such Change of Control Repurchase Event on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.
(g) The provisions of this Section 4.02 relating to the Issuer’s obligation to make a Change of Control Offer may be waived or modified with the written consent of Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, including after the entry into an agreement that would result in the need to make a Change of Control Offer.
Section 4.03. Limitation on Liens
(a) So long as any Notes are outstanding, the Parent and the Issuer will not, and will not cause or permit any Significant Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness that is secured by a Lien on any Voting Stock of any Significant Subsidiary without providing that the Notes (together, if the Parent or the Issuer shall so determine, with any other indebtedness of, or guarantee by, the Parent, the Issuer or such Significant Subsidiary, ranking equally in right of payment with the Notes and existing as of the Issue Date or thereafter created) will be secured equally and ratably with or prior to all other indebtedness secured by such Lien on the Voting Stock of such Significant Subsidiary for so long as such other indebtedness is so secured; provided that this limitation will not apply to Permitted Liens.
(b) Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders on the Notes (or any other indebtedness of, or guarantee by, the Parent, the Issuer or such Significant Subsidiary, ranking equally in right of payment with the Notes and existing as of the Issue Date or thereafter created) shall provide by its terms that such Lien shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged without any action by the trustee or any holder upon the release and discharge of the Lien on any Voting Stock of any Significant Subsidiary giving rise to the obligation to provide such equal and ratable Lien.
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Section 4.04. Guarantee by the Parent
The Parent will guarantee the Notes on a senior unsecured basis on the Issue Date in accordance with Article 10.
Section 4.05. Reports
(a) To the extent any Exchange Notes are outstanding, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee any reports, information and documents that the Parent is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the U.S. Exchange Act within 30 days after such report, information or document is required to be filed with the SEC. The Issuer also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a) to the extent applicable. Reports, information and documents filed with the SEC via the XXXXX system will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time of such filing via XXXXX for purposes of this Section 4.05, it being understood that the Trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether such filings have been made. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under this Section 4.05(a) is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive or actual notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Obligors’ compliance with any of the covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). All such reports, information or documents referred to in this Section 4.05 that the Parent files with the SEC via the SEC’s XXXXX system shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee and transmitted to Holders at the time such reports, information or documents are filed via the XXXXX system (or any successor system).
(b) Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of its covenants under this Indenture or the Notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
Section 4.06. Compliance Certificate
The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officer’s Certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto (complying with TIA Section 314(a)(4) to the extent any Exchange Notes are outstanding) stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and the Guarantor during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer and the Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to the Officer signing such Officer’s Certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, each of the Issuer and the Guarantor has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer or the Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest on the Notes is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Issuer or the Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto, and reciting the details of such action. Within 30 days after the occurrence of a Default, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee a written notice of any events of which it is aware would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Issuer or the Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
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The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any Default or Event of Default unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by a Responsible Officer at the Corporate Trust Office, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
Section 4.07. Further Instruments and Acts
Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
Article 5
Successor Company
Section 5.01. Xxxxxx and Consolidation of the Issuer
(a) The Issuer may not consolidate or merge with another entity or sell all or substantially all of its assets to another entity unless:
(1) in the event that the Issuer merges out of existence or sells all or substantially all of its assets, the resulting, surviving or transferee entity must expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all obligations of the Issuer under the Notes and this Indenture; provided that the successor company is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; and
(2) the merger or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets must not cause a Default on the Notes, and the Issuer must not already be in Default (unless the merger or sale would cure the Default) with respect to the Notes.
(b) Subject to Section 10.02, if any consolidation or merger or any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Issuer’s assets occurs in accordance with this Indenture, the successor company (if other than the Issuer) will succeed to, and be substituted for the Issuer and may exercise every right and power under this Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such successor company had been named in the Issuer’s place in this Indenture, and the Issuer will be released from all its obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.
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Section 5.02. Merger and Consolidation of the Parent
(a) The Parent may not consolidate or merge with another entity or sell all or substantially all of its assets to another entity unless:
(1) in the event that the Parent merges out of existence or sells all or substantially all of its assets, the resulting, surviving or transferee entity must expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the trustee, all obligations of the Parent under the Notes and this Indenture; provided that the successor company is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United Kingdom or Jersey, Channel Islands; and
(2) the merger or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Parent’s assets must not cause a Default on the Notes, and the Parent must not already be in Default (unless the merger or sale would cure the Default) with respect to the Notes.
(b) Subject to Section 10.02, if any consolidation or merger or any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Parent’s assets occurs in accordance with this Indenture, the successor company (if other than the Parent) will succeed to, and be substituted for the Parent and may exercise every right and power under this Indenture and the Notes with the same effect as if such successor company had been named in the Parent’s place in this Indenture, and the Parent will be released from all its obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.
Article 6
Defaults and Remedies
Section 6.01. Events of Default
(a) An “Event of Default” occurs if or upon:
(1) default in any payment of the principal amount of, or any premium on, the Notes on the due date;
(2) default in the payment of interest on the Notes within 30 days of its due date;
(3) failure to comply with a covenant with respect to the Notes for 90 days after the Issuer receives a written notice of default stating that the Issuer or the Guarantor is in breach; and
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(4) the Parent or the Issuer institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar office with respect to an event of bankruptcy, insolvency or court protection; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar office with respect to an event of bankruptcy, insolvency or court protection is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 90 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property or assets is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 90 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding.
(b) A default under Section 6.01(a)(3) will not constitute an Event of Default with respect to the Notes until the Trustee or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes under this Indenture notify the Issuer and the Trustee (if such Holders provide the notice of default hereunder) of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in Section 6.01(a)(3) after receipt of such notice.
Section 6.02. Acceleration
(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(a)(4) above) has occurred and has not been cured within the applicable time period, the Trustee by notice to the Issuer or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes under this Indenture by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare the entire principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes under this Indenture to be immediately due and payable.
(b) If an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(a)(4) above occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
Section 6.03. Other Remedies
Subject to the duties of the Trustee as provided for in Article 7, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
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Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes, waive any past or existing Defaults or Events of Default except a continuing Default in the payment of the principal, premium or interest on the Notes or a default in respect of a covenant that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of the outstanding Notes and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may direct in writing the time, method and place of conduct of any lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the Trustee. However, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee is not required to take any action under this Indenture at the request of the Holders of the Notes unless such Holders offer the Trustee reasonable protection from expenses and liability (an “indemnity”). The Trustee may refuse to follow such directions of the Holders in certain circumstances; provided, however, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits
(a) Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal or interest when due on the Notes, no Holder may bring its own lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce its rights or protect its interests with respect to this Indenture or the Notes unless:
(1) such Holder has previously given to the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured;
(2) Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Notes have requested in writing the Trustee to take action because of the default that has occurred;
(3) such Holders have offered in writing to the Trustee reasonable indemnity to the Trustee against the cost and other liabilities of taking such action;
(4) the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the written request and the offer of indemnity; and
(5) the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a written direction that is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.
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Section 6.07. Collection Suit by Trustee
If an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(a)(1) or 6.01(a)(2) occurs and is continuing with respect to Notes, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Issuer or any other obligor on the Notes for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.
Section 6.08. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and take such actions as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.
Section 6.09. Priorities
If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, including upon enforcement of any Liens, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:
FIRST: to the Trustee, the Registrar, the Transfer Agent and the Paying Agents for amounts due under Section 7.07;
SECOND: to Holders for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and interest (including Additional Interest, if any), ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Issuer.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.09. At least 15 days before such record date, the Trustee shall deliver to each Holder and the Issuer a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.
Section 6.10. Undertaking for Costs
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as the Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.10 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee or a Paying Agent or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding.
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Section 6.11. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws
The Issuer (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Issuer (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
Article 7
Trustee
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee
(a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee are as provided by the TIA and as set forth herein. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(ii) in the absence of willful misconduct on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, the Trustee shall examine such certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) this Section 7.01(c) does not limit the effect of Section 7.01(b);
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
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(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Sections 6.02 or 6.05.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.01(a), 7.01(b) and 7.01(c) and the TIA.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder to take or omit to take any action under this Indenture or take any action at the request or direction of Holders, if it has reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds is not assured to it or it does not receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it in its discretion against any loss, liability or expense which might reasonably be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction nor shall the Trustee be required to do anything which is illegal or contrary to applicable laws. The Trustee will not be liable to the Holders if prevented or delayed in performing any of its obligations or discretionary functions under this Indenture by reason of any present or future law applicable to it, by any governmental or regulatory authority or by any circumstances beyond its control.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.
(g) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee
Subject to TIA Sections 315(a) through (d):
(a) The Trustee may refrain from taking any action in any jurisdiction if the taking of such action in that jurisdiction would, in its opinion, based upon legal advice in the relevant jurisdiction, be contrary to any law of that jurisdiction or, to the extent applicable, the State of New York. Furthermore, the Trustee may also refrain from taking such action if it would otherwise render it liable to any person in that jurisdiction, or, to the extent applicable, the State of New York or if it is determined by any court or other competent authority in that jurisdiction, or, to the extent applicable, in the State of New York, that it does not have such power.
(b) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in relying on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(c) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(d) The Trustee may act through attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
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(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; provided, however, that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence.
(f) The Trustee may retain professional advisers to assist it in performing its duties under this Indenture. The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Notes shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any Officer’s Certificate, Opinion of Counsel, or any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer, to the extent permitted by law.
(h) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity or other security reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it in compliance with such request, order or direction.
In the event the Trustee receives inconsistent or conflicting requests and indemnity from two or more groups of Holders, each representing less than the requisite majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, may determine what action, if any, shall be taken and shall be held harmless and shall not incur any liability for its failure to act until such inconsistency or conflict is, in its reasonable opinion, resolved.
(i) Except with respect to Section 4.01, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Issuer with respect to the covenants contained in Article 4.
(j) The Trustee shall not have any obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance, and shall not be responsible or liable for compliance with restrictions on transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase or repurchase, as applicable, of minimum denominations imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law or regulation with respect to any transfer, exchange, redemption, purchase or repurchase, as applicable, of any interest in any Notes.
(k) If the Guarantor is substituted to make payments on behalf of the Issuer pursuant to Article 10, the Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee of such substitution.
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(l) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by the Trustee in its capacity hereunder and by each agent and custodian and other Person employed with due care to act as agent hereunder (including each Transfer Agent and Paying Agent). Each Paying Agent and Transfer Agent shall not be liable for acting in good faith on instructions believed by it to be genuine and from the proper party.
(m) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety with respect to the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers under this Indenture.
(n) The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture will not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so.
(o) Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(p) The Trustee may assume without inquiry in the absence of actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee that the Issuer is duly complying with its obligations contained in this Indenture required to be performed and observed by it, and that no Default or Event of Default or other event which would require repayment of the Notes has occurred.
(q) The Trustee shall have the right to accept and act upon instructions, including funds transfer instructions (“Instructions”) given pursuant to this Indenture and delivered using Electronic Means; provided, however, that the Issuer shall provide to the Trustee an incumbency certificate listing officers with the authority to provide such Instructions (“Authorized Officers”) and containing specimen signatures of such Authorized Officers, which incumbency certificate shall be amended by the Issuer whenever a Person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Issuer elects to give the Trustee Instructions using Electronic Means and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such Instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such Instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Issuer understands and agrees that the Trustee cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Instructions and that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that directions that purport to have been sent by an Authorized Officer listed on the incumbency certificate provided to the Trustee have been sent by such Authorized Officer. The Issuer shall be responsible for ensuring that only Authorized Officers transmit such Instructions to the Trustee and that the Issuer and all Authorized Officers are solely responsible to safeguard the use and confidentiality of applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys upon receipt by the Issuer. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such Instructions notwithstanding such directions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Issuer agrees: (i) to assume all risks arising out of the use of Electronic Means to submit Instructions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized Instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties; (ii) that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Instructions to the Trustee and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Instructions than the method(s) selected by the Issuer; (iii) that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances; and (iv) to notify the Trustee immediately upon learning of any compromise or unauthorized use of the security procedures.
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Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar may do the same with like rights.
Section 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, and the recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the identity of any Significant Subsidiary unless either (a) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge thereof or (b) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof in accordance with Section 11.03 hereof from the Issuer or any Holder.
Section 7.05. Notice of Defaults
If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and has not been cured and the Trustee is informed in writing of such occurrence by the Issuer, the Trustee must give notice of the Default or Event of Default to the Holders of the Notes within 60 days after the Trustee is informed of such occurrence. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its trust officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders
(a) To the extent any Exchange Notes are outstanding, within 60 days after December 1 of any year, and for so long as any Exchange Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to each Holder a brief report dated as of such date that complies with TIA Section 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee shall also comply with TIA Section 313(b) to the extent applicable. The Trustee shall also transmit all reports required by TIA Section 313(c).
(b) A copy of each report at the time of its transmission to Holders of Notes shall be filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Notes are listed in accordance with TIA Section 313(d). The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee whenever the Notes are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.
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Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity
The Issuer, or, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay, the Guarantor, shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as the Issuer and Trustee may from time to time agree for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder and under the Notes. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.
In the event of the occurrence of an Event of Default or the Trustee considering it expedient or necessary or being requested by the Issuer to undertake duties which the Trustee and the Issuer agree to be of an exceptional nature or otherwise outside the scope of the normal duties of the Trustee, the Issuer shall pay to the Trustee such additional remuneration as shall be agreed between them.
The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it (as evidenced in an invoice from the Trustee), including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the properly incurred compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall indemnify the Trustee and the Paying Agents and their respective officers, directors, agents and employers against any and all loss, liability, taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee or the Paying Agents) or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture and the Notes, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Issuer (including this Section 7.07) and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer or any Holder or any other person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
The Trustee shall notify the Issuer of any claim for which it may seek indemnity promptly upon obtaining actual knowledge thereof; provided, however, that any failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer or the Guarantor of its indemnity obligations hereunder. Except in cases where the interests of the Issuer and the Trustee may be adverse, the Issuer shall defend the claim and the indemnified party shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s expense in the defense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, such indemnified party may, in its sole discretion, assume the defense of the claim against it and the Issuer and the Guarantor shall, jointly and severally, pay the reasonable fees and expenses of the indemnified party’s defense (as evidenced in an invoice from the Trustee). Such indemnified parties may have separate counsel of their choosing and the Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel (as evidenced in an invoice from the Trustee); provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes such indemnified parties’ defense and, in such indemnified parties’ reasonable judgment, there is no conflict of interest between the Issuer and the Guarantor, as applicable, and such parties in connection with such defense. The Issuer need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by an indemnified party through such party’s own willful misconduct or gross negligence.
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To secure the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee and the Paying Agents have a lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Notes.
The Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s payment obligations pursuant to this Section and any lien arising thereunder shall survive the satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture, any rejection or termination of this Indenture under any Debtor Relief Law or the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the Paying Agents. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee and the Paying Agents under applicable law, when the Trustee and the Paying Agents incur expenses after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(4) with respect to the Issuer, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Debtor Relief Laws.
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether such Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee in this Section 7.07, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder including as Registrar, Transfer Agent and Paying Agent, and by each agent, custodian and other Person employed with due care to act as agent hereunder.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee
(a) The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Issuer. If the Trustee is no longer eligible under Section 7.10 or in the circumstances described in TIA Section 310(b), any Holder that satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(b) may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee in writing and the appointment of a successor Trustee. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Issuer shall be entitled to remove the Trustee or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder for not less than six months may petition any court for removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee, if:
(i) the Trustee has or acquires a conflict of interest that is not eliminated;
(ii) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;
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(iii) a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(iv) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting as Trustee hereunder.
(b) If the Trustee resigns, is removed pursuant to Section 7.08(a) or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.
(c) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall send a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided that all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07 and the recognition of the retiring Trustee’s lien thereto by the successor Trustee.
(d) If a successor Xxxxxxx does not take office within 30 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding may petition, at the expense of the Issuer, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(e) If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, unless the Trustee’s duty to resign is stayed as provided in Section 310(b) of the TIA, any Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(f) Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
(g) For the avoidance of doubt, the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee in this Section 7.08, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by each Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar employed to act hereunder.
(h) The Trustee agrees to give the notices provided for in, and otherwise comply with, TIA Section 310(b).
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Xxxxxx
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
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In case at the time such successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor to the Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification
This Indenture must always have a Trustee that satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a) and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $200,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b).
Section 7.11. Certain Provisions
Each Holder by accepting a Note authorizes and directs on his or her behalf the Trustee to enter into and to take such actions and to make such acknowledgements as are set forth in this Indenture or other documents entered into in connection therewith. The Trustee shall not be responsible for the legality, validity, effectiveness, suitability, adequacy or enforceability of any obligation or rights created or purported to be created thereby or pursuant thereto, nor shall it be responsible or liable to any person because of any invalidity of any provision of such documents or the unenforceability thereof, whether arising from statute, law or decision of any court.
Section 7.12. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the TIA, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the TIA. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the TIA to the extent indicated.
Article 8
Discharge of Indenture; Defeasance
Section 8.01. Discharge of Liability on Notes; Defeasance
(a) The Note Guarantee and this Indenture will be discharged and cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights of conversion or transfer or exchange of the Notes, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Notes when (1) either (a) all the Notes previously authenticated and delivered (other than certain lost, stolen or destroyed Notes and certain Notes for which provision for payment was previously made and thereafter the funds have been released to the Issuer) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (b) all Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable, (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year or (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer; (2) the Issuer has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or such entity designated by the Trustee for this purpose) money or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, as applicable, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and interest to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be; (3) the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable under this Indenture with respect to the Notes; and (4) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each to the effect that all conditions precedent under this Section 8.01 have been complied with, provided that any such counsel may rely on any Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact (including as to compliance with the foregoing clauses (1), (2) and (3)).
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(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Issuer at any time may terminate (i) all of its obligations and all obligations of the Guarantor with respect to the Notes, the Note Guarantee and this Indenture (“full defeasance option”) or (ii) its obligations under Article 4 (other than Section 4.01) and under Article 5, and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the Notes (“covenant defeasance option”). The Issuer at its option at any time may exercise its full defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. In the event that the Issuer terminates all of its obligations with respect to the Notes and this Indenture by exercising its full defeasance option, the obligations under the Note Guarantee shall be terminated simultaneously with the termination of such obligations.
If the Issuer exercises its full defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, the Guarantor will be released from all its obligations under the Note Guarantee.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Issuer terminates.
(c) Notwithstanding Sections 8.01(a) and (b) above, the Issuer’s and the Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Notes in Sections 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 2.09, 2.10, 2.11, 7.01, 7.02, 7.03, 7.07, 7.08 and this Article 8, as applicable, shall survive until the Notes have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Issuer’s and Guarantor’s obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.05 and 8.06, as applicable, shall survive.
Section 8.02. Conditions to Defeasance
(a) The Issuer may exercise its full defeasance option with respect to the Notes only if:
(1) the Issuer has irrevocably deposited in trust (the “defeasance trust”) with the Trustee (or such entity designated by the Trustee for this purpose) for the benefit of all Holders of the Notes money or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, as applicable, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
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(2) no Default or Event of Default, including by reason of the above deposit of money or U.S. Government Obligations with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(3) the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, stating either that the Issuer has received, or there has been published, a ruling by the Internal Revenue Service or that, since the Issue Date, there had been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss as a result of such full defeasance option and that such full defeasance option will not cause Holders to be taxed on the Notes any differently than if such full defeasance option had not occurred and the Issuer had just repaid the Notes at maturity;
(4) the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the deposit of funds or bonds would not require registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or that all necessary registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, had been effected; and
(5) the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, stating that all conditions precedent to the full defeasance option, as set forth in this Section 8.02(a), have been complied with.
(b) The Issuer may exercise its covenant defeasance option with respect to the Notes only if:
(1) the Issuer has irrevocably deposited in the defeasance trust with the Trustee (or such entity designated by the Trustee for this purpose) for the benefit of all Holders of the Notes money or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, as applicable, in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit (in the case of Notes that have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(2) no Default or Event of Default, including by reason of the above deposit of money or U.S. Government Obligations with respect to the Notes shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(3) the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, beneficial owners of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss as a result of such covenant defeasance option and that such covenant defeasance option will not cause Holders to be taxed on the Notes any differently than if such covenant defeasance option had not occurred and the Issuer had just repaid the Notes at maturity;
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(4) the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the deposit of funds or bonds would not require registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or that all necessary registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, had been effected; and
(5) the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, stating that all conditions precedent to the covenant defeasance option, as set forth in this Section 8.02(b), have been complied with.
(c) Before or after a deposit, the Issuer may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Notes at a future date in accordance with Article 3.
Section 8.03. Application of Trust Money
The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from the U.S. Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Notes.
Section 8.04. Repayment to Issuer
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Issuer upon request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in this Article 8 which, in the written opinion of an internationally recognized firm of independent public accountants delivered to the Trustee (which delivery shall only be required if U.S. Government Obligations have been so deposited), are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent discharge or defeasance in accordance with this Article 8.
Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Issuer upon written request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors, and the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.
Section 8.05. Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations
The Issuer and the Guarantor, jointly and severally, shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.
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Section 8.06. Reinstatement
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or Governmental Authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; provided, however, that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
Article 9
Amendments
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders
The Issuer, the Trustee and the other parties thereto may amend or supplement any Note Documents with respect to the Notes without notice to or consent of any Holder to:
(1) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect, error or inconsistency, conform any provision to the “Description of the Notes and the Note Guarantee” in the Offering Memorandum, or reduce the minimum denomination of the Notes;
(2) provide for the assumption by a successor company or a successor parent company of the obligations of the Issuer under any Note Document, as permitted by this Indenture;
(3) provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes);
(4) add to the covenants or provide for a guarantee for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer;
(5) make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect;
(6) comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA, if such qualification is required;
(7) make such provisions as are necessary (as determined by an Officer or the Board of Directors in good faith) for the issuance of Additional Notes;
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(8) add guarantees with respect to the Notes, or to confirm and evidence the release, termination, discharge or retaking of any guarantee with respect to the Notes when such release, termination, discharge or retaking is provided for under this Indenture;
(9) provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;
(10) make any change to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by this Indenture, including to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes or comply with the procedures of any securities depositary (provided that (a) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in the Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities laws and (b) such change does not materially and adversely affect the rights of the Holders to transfer Notes);
(11) provide for the assumption by a successor parent company of the obligations of the Parent under the Note Guarantee, as permitted by this Indenture; or
(12) evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee pursuant to the requirements thereof or to provide for the accession by the Trustee to any Note Document.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders
(a) The Issuer, the Trustee and the other parties thereto, as applicable, may amend, supplement or otherwise modify the Note Documents with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes) and, subject to certain exceptions, any default or compliance with any provisions thereof may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, the Notes). However, without the consent of Holders holding not less than 100% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes, an amendment or waiver may not, with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting Holder:
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or interest on, the Notes;
(2) reduce the principal amount of, or premium, if any, or interest on, or any other amounts due on the Notes;
(3) reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of maturity of the Notes;
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(4) make any change that adversely affects the rights of Holders to receive payment on, to convert, to exchange or to require the Issuer to purchase, as applicable, the Notes;
(5) change the place or currency of payment on the Notes;
(6) impair the Holders’ right to sue for payment on the Notes;
(7) reduce the percentage of Holders of outstanding Notes whose consent is needed to modify or amend this Indenture;
(8) reduce the percentage of Holders of outstanding Notes whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or to waive certain Defaults of this Indenture; or
(9) modify any other aspect of the provisions of this Indenture dealing with modification and waiver of past Defaults, changes to the quorum or voting requirements or the waiver of certain covenants relating to the Notes.
(b) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment of the Note Documents, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. A consent to any amendment or waiver under this Indenture by any Holder of Notes given in connection with a tender of such Holder’s Notes will not be rendered invalid by such tender.
After an amendment under this Section 9.02 becomes effective, in case of Holders of Definitive Notes, the Issuer shall send to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Holders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section 9.02.
The Notes issued on the Issue Date, and any Additional Notes, will be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture, including with respect to waivers and amendments, except as the relevant amendment, waiver, consent, modification or similar action affects the rights of the Holders of the Notes dissimilarly. For the purposes of calculating the aggregate principal amount of Notes that have consented to or voted in favor of any amendment, waiver, consent, modifications or other similar action, the Issuer (acting reasonably and in good faith) shall be entitled to select a record date as of which the principal amount of any Notes shall be calculated in such consent or voting process.
Section 9.03. Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers
(a) A written consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Notes that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the written consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Issuer certifying that the requisite number of consents have been received. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the (i) receipt by the Issuer or the Trustee of the requisite number of consents, (ii) satisfaction of conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture and any indenture supplemental hereto containing such amendment or waiver and (iii) execution of such amendment or waiver (or supplemental indenture) by the Issuer and the Trustee.
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(b) The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their written consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding Section 9.03(a), those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.
Section 9.04. Notation on or Exchange of Notes
If an amendment changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Issuer or the Trustee so determine, the Issuer in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment.
Section 9.05. Trustee to Sign Amendments
The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not impose any personal obligations on the Trustee or adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee under this Indenture. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not sign it. In signing such amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment complies with this Indenture and that such amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer and the Guarantor enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions.
Section 9.06. Payment for Consent
None of the Issuer nor any Affiliate of the Issuer shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Note Documents (or the appointment of any proxy in relation to any of the foregoing) unless such consideration is offered (subject to limitations of applicable law) to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement or proxies in relation thereto.
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Article 10
Note Guarantee
Section 10.01. Note Guarantee
(a) Subject to this Article 10, the Guarantor hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees (the “Note Guarantee”), as primary obligor and not merely as surety, on a senior unsecured basis to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns, irrespective of the validity and enforceability of this Indenture, the Notes or the obligations of the Issuer hereunder or thereunder, (i) the full and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all payment obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, or interest and all other monetary obligations of the Issuer under this Indenture or in respect of the Notes and (ii) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Issuer whether for payment obligations resulting from a Change of Control Repurchase Event, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise under this Indenture and the Notes (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). The Guarantor further agrees that the Guaranteed Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from such Guarantor, and that the Guarantor shall remain bound under this Article 10 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Guaranteed Obligation.
(b) The Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of payment from and protest to the Issuer of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. The Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Notes or the Guaranteed Obligations. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (i) the failure of any Holder, or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Issuer or any other Person under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement or otherwise; (ii) any extension or renewal of any thereof; (iii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement; (iv) the release of any Notes held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Guaranteed Obligations or any of them; (v) the failure of any Holder or Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations; or (vi) any change in the ownership of the Guarantor, except as provided in Section 10.02.
(c) The Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have its obligations hereunder divided, such that the Guarantor’s obligations would be less than the full amount claimed. The Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to have the assets of the Issuer first be used and depleted as payment of the Issuer’s or the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder prior to any amounts being claimed from or paid by the Guarantor hereunder. The Guarantor hereby waives any right to which it may be entitled to require that the Issuer be sued prior to an action being initiated against the Guarantor. For the avoidance of doubt, the Guarantor irrevocably waives and abandons any and all rights under the laws of Jersey (i) whether by virtue of the droit de division or otherwise, to require that any liability under any Note Guarantee or any other claim against the Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations be divided or apportioned with any other person or reduced in any manner whatsoever; and (ii) whether by virtue of the droit de discussion or otherwise, to require that recourse be had to the assets of any other person before any liability under any Note Guarantee or any other claim against the Guarantor in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations is enforced against the Guarantor under such Note Guarantee.
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(d) The Guarantor further agrees that the Note Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any Note held for payment of the Guaranteed Obligations.
(e) The Guarantor agrees that the Note Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations. Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b) and 10.02, the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Notes or any other agreement, by any waiver or modification of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of the Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of the Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.
(f) The Guarantor agrees that the Note Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Issuer or otherwise unless the Note Guarantee has been released in accordance with this Indenture.
(g) Subject to the limitations set forth in this Article 10, in furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against the Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Issuer to pay the principal of or interest on any Guaranteed Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Guaranteed Obligation, the Guarantor hereby promises to and shall, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (i) the unpaid principal amount of the Notes, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Issuer to the Holders and the Trustee, including any other unpaid principal amount of such Guaranteed Obligations and accrued and unpaid interest on such Guaranteed Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by law).
(h) The Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to exercise any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Guaranteed Obligations. The Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (i) the maturity of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of the Guarantee herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (ii) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such Guaranteed Obligations as provided in Article 6, such Guaranteed Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for the purposes of this Section 10.01.
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(i) The Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section 10.01.
(j) Upon request of the Trustee, the Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as the Trustee may reasonably require to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.
Section 10.02. Release of Note Guarantee
(a) The Note Guarantee as to the Guarantor shall terminate and release and be of no further force or effect with respect to the Notes and the Guarantor shall be deemed to be released from all obligations under this Article 10 with respect to the Notes:
(i) upon any sale, exchange or transfer (by merger, amalgamation, consolidation, business combination or otherwise) of (i) the capital stock of the Issuer, after which the Issuer is no longer an Affiliate of the Parent or (ii) all or substantially all the assets of the Issuer (other than a sale, exchange or transfer to the Parent or a subsidiary of the Parent), in each case if such sale, exchange or transfer is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Indenture to the extent required to be satisfied as of the date of the transaction;
(ii) upon the Issuer or the Parent consolidating with, merging into or transferring all of its properties or assets to the Parent or the Issuer, as applicable, and as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction the Issuer or the Parent, as applicable, dissolves or otherwise ceases to exist;
(iii) upon the exercise by the Issuer of its defeasance option, or the discharge of the Issuer’s and the Parent’s obligations under the Indenture, in each case, as described in Sections 8.01 or 8.02; or
(iv) at the sole discretion of the Issuer, upon the release of the Issuer’s guarantee under the Credit Facility.
(b) In all cases, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel certifying compliance with Section 10.02(a). At the request of the Issuer, the Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release (in the form provided by the Issuer).
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Section 10.03. Successors and Assigns
This Article 10 shall be binding upon the Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Notes shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.
Section 10.04. No Waiver
Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of, the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 10 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 10 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.
Section 10.05. Modification
No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 10, nor the consent to any departure by the Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on the Guarantor in any case shall entitle the Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.
Section 10.06. Non-Impairment
The failure to endorse the Note Guarantee on any Note shall not affect or impair the validity thereof.
Article 11
Miscellaneous
Section 11.01. Trust Indenture Act of 1939
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of TIA Sections 310 through 317, inclusive, through the operation of TIA Section 318(c), such imposed duties shall control.
Section 11.02. Noteholder Communications; Noteholder Actions
(a) Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes. The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
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(b) (1) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent to amendment, supplement or waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a Holder (an “act”) may be evidenced by an instrument signed by the Holder delivered to the Trustee. The fact and date of the execution of the instrument, or the authority of the person executing it, may be proved in any manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.
(2) The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders, which will be binding on all the Holders.
(c) Any act by the Holder of any Note binds that Xxxxxx and every subsequent Holder of a Note that evidences the same debt as the Note of the acting Holder, even if no notation thereof appears on the Note. Subject to paragraph (d) below, a Holder may revoke an act as to its Notes, but only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver or other consequence of the act becomes effective.
(d) The Issuer may, but is not obligated to, fix a record date (which need not be within the time limits otherwise prescribed by TIA Section 316(c)) for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to act with respect to any amendment or waiver or in any other regard, except that during the continuance of an Event of Default, only the Trustee may set a record date as to notices of default, any declaration or acceleration or any other remedies or other consequences of the Event of Default. If a record date is fixed, those Persons that were Holders at such record date and only those Persons will be entitled to act, or to revoke any previous act, whether or not those Persons continue to be Holders after the record date. No act will be valid or effective for more than 90 days after the record date.
Section 11.03. Notices
Any notice or communication given hereunder shall be in writing and delivered in person, mailed by first-class mail, facsimile transmission, given by electronic mail in PDF format or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery addressed as follows:
if to the Issuer or the Parent:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Group plc
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 XXX
Attn: Treasurer
Email: [REDACTED]
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with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx, Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
One Manhattan West
New York, New York 10001
Email: Xxxxx.Xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
if to the Trustee, Paying Agent, Registrar or Transfer Agent:
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 0000X
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Each of the Issuer, the Parent or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication sent to a Holder of Definitive Notes shall be in writing and shall be made by first-class mail, postage prepaid, by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery or by hand delivery to the Holder at the Holder’s address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar, with a copy to the Trustee.
If and so long as any Notes are represented by one or more Global Notes and ownership of book-entry interests therein are shown on the records of DTC or any successor securities clearing agency appointed by the Depositary at the request of the Issuer, notices will be delivered to such securities clearing agency electronically, to the extent permitted or required by applicable securities clearing agency procedures or regulations, for communication to the owners of such book-entry interests, delivery of which shall be deemed to satisfy the notice requirements of this Section 11.03.
Notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, will be deemed given seven calendar days after mailing. Notices sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery will be deemed given the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier. Notices by hand, if personally delivered, will be deemed given at the time delivered by hand. Notices given by publication will be deemed given on the first date on which any of the required publications is made, or if published more than once on different dates, on the first date on which publication is made; provided that, if notices are mailed, such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the later of such publication and the fifth calendar day after being so mailed. Notices transmitted by facsimile or delivered by electronic mail (in PDF format) will be deemed given when receipt acknowledged. Failure to mail, cause to be delivered or otherwise transmit a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is delivered, mailed, transmitted or sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
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Section 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent
Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and any other matters that the Trustee may reasonably request; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with and any other matters that the Trustee may reasonably request.
Section 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 4.06) shall include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, such Person has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
Section 11.06. When Notes Disregarded
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, the Guarantor or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or the Guarantor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Subject to the foregoing, only Notes outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.
Section 11.07. Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Holders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.
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Section 11.08. Legal Holidays
If a payment date is a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is not a Business Day, the record date shall not be affected.
Section 11.09. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial
This Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A NOTE BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
Section 11.10. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service
The Issuer and the Guarantor irrevocably (i) agree that any legal suit, action or proceeding against the Issuer or the Guarantor arising out of or based upon this Indenture, the Notes or the Note Guarantee or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any U.S. Federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York court and (ii) waive, to the fullest extent they may effectively do so, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor has appointed the Issuer, as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon whom process may be served in any such action arising out of or based on this Indenture, the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby which may be instituted in any New York court, expressly consent to the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such action, and waive any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. Such appointment shall be irrevocable. Each of the Issuer and the Guarantor represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as such agent for service of process and agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Issuer and the Guarantor shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Issuer and the Guarantor.
Section 11.11. No Recourse Against Others
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of any of the Parent, the Issuer or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates as such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Note Documents, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
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Section 11.12. Successors
All agreements of the Issuer and the Guarantor in this Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 11.13. Multiple Originals; Electronic Signatures
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture. The words “execution,” signed,” signature,” and words of like import in this Indenture shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile, e-mail or other electronic format (including “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code. Without limitation to the foregoing, and anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) any Officer’s Certificate, Opinion of Counsel, Definitive Note, Global Note, Note Guarantee, certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note, supplemental indenture or other certificate, instrument, agreement, notice or other document delivered pursuant to this Indenture may be executed, attested and transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means and formats, and (b) all references in Section 2.03 (Execution and Authentication) or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any Definitive Note Global Note to the execution, attestation or authentication of any Note or any certificate of authentication appearing on or attached to any Note by means of a manual or facsimile signature shall be deemed to include signatures that are made or transmitted by any of the foregoing electronic means or formats.
Section 11.14. Table of Contents; Headings
The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 11.15. Applicable Law; Provision of Information to Trustee
In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering, including Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act of the United States (“Applicable Law”), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee, upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with Applicable Law.
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Section 11.16. Force Majeure
The Trustee, Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent shall not incur any liability for not performing any act or fulfilling any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder by reason of any occurrence beyond the control of the Trustee (including, but not limited to any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, any act of God or war, civil unrest, local or national disturbance or disaster, pandemic, epidemic, any act of terrorism, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or facsimile or other wire or communication facility).
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX US (HOLDINGS) INC. | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Treasurer |
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX GROUP PLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page to Indenture]
APPENDIX A
PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE NOTES
1. | Definitions. |
Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Appendix A shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Regulation S Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Note, DTC, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
“Definitive Note” means a certificated Note that does not include the Global Note Legend.
“Depositary” means DTC.
“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
“Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in Exhibit A to the Indenture.
“Notes Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Note (as appointed by the applicable Depositary) or any successor person thereto.
“Private Placement Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in Exhibit A to the Indenture.
“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.
“Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
“Regulation S Notes” means all Notes offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.
“Restricted Period,” with respect to any Notes, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (a) the day on which such Notes are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S, notice of which day shall be promptly given by the Issuer to the Trustee, and (b) the Issue Date with respect to such Notes.
“Restricted Notes Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in Exhibit A to the Indenture.
A-1
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A Notes” means all Notes offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.
“Transfer Restricted Notes” means Definitive Notes and any other Notes that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Notes Legend.
2. | The Notes. |
2.1 Form and Dating.
(a) The Notes issued on the date hereof will be (i) offered and sold by the Issuer pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 5, 2024, among the Issuer, the Parent and the representatives of the initial purchasers named therein and (ii) resold, initially only to (1) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (2) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Notes may thereafter be transferred to, among others, QIBs and purchasers in reliance on Regulation S. Additional Notes offered after the date hereof may be offered and sold by the Issuer from time to time pursuant to one or more purchase agreements in accordance with applicable law.
(b) Notes issued in global form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Indenture (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Increases or Decreases in the Global Note” attached thereto). Notes issued in definitive form will be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to the Indenture (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Increases or Decreases in the Global Note” attached thereto). Each Global Note will represent such of the outstanding Notes as will be specified therein and each shall provide that it represents the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2 hereof.
(c) Book-Entry Provisions. This Section 2.1(c) shall apply only to a Global Note deposited with or on behalf of the Depositary.
The Issuer shall execute and the Trustee or an authentication agent shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(c) and Section 2.2 of this Appendix A and pursuant to an order of the Issuer signed by one Officer, authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Notes that (i) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Note or Global Notes or the nominee of such Depositary and (ii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions or held by the Notes Custodian.
Members of, or participants in, DTC (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Note held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Notes Custodian or under such Global Note, and the Depositary may be treated by the Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Note for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by DTC or impair, as between DTC and their respective Agent Members, the operation of customary practices thereof governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Note.
A-2
(d) Definitive Notes. Except as provided in Section 2.3 or 2.4 of this Appendix A, owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Notes.
2.2 Authentication. The Trustee or an authentication agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery upon a written order of the Issuer signed by one of its Officers (a) Original Notes for original issue on the date hereof in an aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000 and (b) subject to the terms of the Indenture, Additional Notes. Such order shall (a) specify the amount of the Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the original issue of Notes is to be authenticated, (b) direct the Trustee or an authentication agent to authenticate such Notes and (c) certify that all conditions precedent to the issuance of such Notes have been complied with in accordance with the terms hereof.
2.3 Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes. (a) A Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Issuer for Definitive Notes if:
(1) the Issuer delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the U.S. Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;
(2) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or
(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes and Holders have requested Definitive Notes.
Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (1),(2) or (3) above, Definitive Notes shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.08 and 2.10 of the Indenture. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.3 or Section 2.08 or 2.10 of the Indenture, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.3, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.3(b), (c) or (f) of this Appendix A upon prior written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of the Depositary.
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(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer comparable to those set forth herein to the extent required by the Securities Act. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note. Beneficial interests in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Restricted Global Note in accordance with the transfer restrictions set forth in the Private Placement Legend. Beneficial interests in any Unrestricted Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section.
(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes. In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.3(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:
(A) both:
(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or
(B) both:
(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
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(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in Section 2.3(b)(1) above.
Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in the Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.3(h) of this Appendix A.
(3) Transfer of Beneficial Interests to Another Restricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Restricted Global Note if the transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.3(b)(2) above and the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the 144A Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof; and
(B) if the transferee will take delivery in the form of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Note, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof.
(4) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in a Restricted Global Note for Beneficial Interests in an Unrestricted Global Note. A beneficial interest in any Restricted Global Note may be exchanged by any holder thereof for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transferred to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note if the exchange or transfer complies with the requirements of Section 2.3(b)(2) above and:
(A) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3) thereof; or
(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
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and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
If any such transfer is effected pursuant to subparagraph (A) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of beneficial interests transferred pursuant to subparagraph (A) above.
Beneficial interests in an Unrestricted Global Note cannot be exchanged for, or transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of, a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes.
(1) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Restricted Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof;
(C) if such beneficial interest is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof; or
(D) if such beneficial interest is being transferred to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3) thereof,
the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.3(h) of this Appendix A, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.3(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(1) shall bear the Private Placement Legend and shall be subject to all restrictions on transfer contained therein.
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(2) Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A holder of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note may exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or may transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note only if:
(A) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3) thereof; or
(ii) if the holder of such beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note proposes to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(3) Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.3(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.3(h) hereof, and the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(3) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.3(c)(3) will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
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(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.
(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Restricted Global Notes. If any Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note proposes to exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note or to transfer such Restricted Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Restricted Global Note, then, upon receipt by the Registrar of the following documentation:
(A) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred to a Non-U.S. Person in an offshore transaction in accordance with Rule 903 or Rule 904, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; or
(C) if such Restricted Definitive Note is being transferred pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 144, a certificate to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item 4 thereof;
the Trustee will cancel the Restricted Definitive Note, increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of, in the case of subparagraph (A) above, the 144A Global Note, and in the case of subparagraphs (B) and (C) above, the Regulation S Global Note.
(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of a Restricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Restricted Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note only if:
(A) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3) thereof; or
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(ii) if the Holder of such Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the Unrestricted Global Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar so requests or if the Applicable Procedures so require, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
Upon satisfaction of the conditions of any of the subparagraphs in this Section 2.3(d)(2), the Trustee will cancel the Definitive Notes and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the Unrestricted Global Note.
(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Beneficial Interests in Unrestricted Global Notes. A Holder of an Unrestricted Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in an Unrestricted Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Unrestricted Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Unrestricted Global Notes.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to Section 2.3(d)(1), (d)(2) or (d)(3) above at a time when an Unrestricted Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Unrestricted Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.3(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder must provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.3(e).
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(1) Restricted Definitive Notes to Restricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be transferred to and registered in the name of Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a Restricted Definitive Note if the Registrar receives the following:
(A) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 144A, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (1) thereof;
(B) if the transfer will be made pursuant to Rule 903 or Rule 904, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (2) thereof; and
(C) if the transfer will be made pursuant to any other exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, then the transferor must deliver a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications, certificates and Opinion of Counsel required by item (3) thereof, if applicable.
(2) Restricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. Any Restricted Definitive Note may be exchanged by the Holder thereof for an Unrestricted Definitive Note or transferred to a Person or Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note if:
(A) the Registrar receives the following:
(i) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to exchange such Notes for an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (3) thereof; or
(ii) if the Holder of such Restricted Definitive Notes proposes to transfer such Notes to a Person who shall take delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note, a certificate from such Holder in the form of Exhibit B hereto, including the certifications in item (4) thereof;
and, in each such case set forth in this subparagraph (A), if the Registrar so requests, an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably acceptable to the Registrar to the effect that such exchange or transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and that the restrictions on transfer contained herein and in the Private Placement Legend are no longer required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act.
(3) Unrestricted Definitive Notes to Unrestricted Definitive Notes. A Holder of Unrestricted Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of an Unrestricted Definitive Note. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Unrestricted Definitive Notes pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.
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(f) Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued under the Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in this subsection (f) or the applicable provisions of the Indenture.
(1) Private Placement Legend.
(A) Except as permitted by subparagraph (B) below, each Global Note and each Definitive Note (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear the legend in substantially the following form:
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, THE PARENT OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND TO COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. THE ISSUER WILL CAUSE THIS LEGEND TO BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]
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(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Global Note or Definitive Note issued pursuant to subparagraphs (b)(4), (c)(2), (c)(3), (d)(2), (d)(3), (e)(2) or (e)(3) of this Section 2.3 (and all Notes issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof), any Regulation S Global Note and any Additional Notes issued in transactions registered with the SEC will not bear the Private Placement Legend.
(2) Global Note Legend. Each Global Note will bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO APPENDIX A OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO APPENDIX A OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.
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UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (00 XXXXX XXXXXX, XXX XXXX, XXX XXXX) (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”
(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 of the Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.2 of this Appendix A or at the Registrar’s request.
(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange pursuant to the Indenture).
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(3) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.
(4) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(5) Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer will be required:
(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 of the Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or
(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.
(6) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Appendix A.
(8) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.3 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
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EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF NOTE]
5.450% Senior Notes due 2034
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”), TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ITS AUTHORIZED NOMINEE, OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO ITS AUTHORIZED NOMINEE, OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, ITS AUTHORIZED NOMINEE, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
[[FOR GLOBAL NOTES ONLY] TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL NOTE SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]
[[FOR REGULATION S GLOBAL NOTE ONLY] UNTIL 40 DAYS AFTER THE CLOSING OF THE OFFERING, AN OFFER OR SALE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES BY A DEALER (AS DEFINED IN THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT) MAY VIOLATE THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT IF SUCH OFFER OR SALE IS MADE OTHERWISE THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A THEREUNDER.]
[Restricted Note Legend]
E-A-1 |
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, SUCH REGISTRATION. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)) OR (B) IT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN “OFFSHORE TRANSACTION” PURSUANT TO RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT HAS PURCHASED SECURITIES, TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS [IN THE CASE OF RULE 144A NOTES: ONE YEAR] [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: 40 DAYS] AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ISSUER WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF SUCH SECURITY), ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, THE PARENT OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 501(a)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS NOT A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER AND THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, IN EACH CASE IN A MINIMUM PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF THE SECURITIES OF $250,000, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OF LAW THAT THE DISPOSITION OF ITS PROPERTY OR THE PROPERTY OF SUCH INVESTOR ACCOUNT OR ACCOUNTS BE AT ALL TIMES WITHIN ITS OR THEIR CONTROL AND TO COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE ISSUER’S AND THE TRUSTEE’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/ OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. THE ISSUER WILL CAUSE THIS LEGEND TO BE REMOVED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE HOLDER AFTER THE RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE. [IN THE CASE OF REGULATION S NOTES: BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER HEREOF REPRESENTS THAT IT IS NOT A U.S. PERSON NOR IS IT PURCHASING FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A U.S. PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.]
E-A-2 |
BY ACCEPTANCE OF A NOTE (INCLUDING ANY INTEREST IN A NOTE), EACH HOLDER WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (A) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE NOTES (OR INTEREST THEREIN) CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS, RULES OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT OR (B) THE PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THE NOTES (OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN) BY SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.
[Each Definitive Note shall bear the following additional legend:]
IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.
E-A-3 |
Common Code. [ ]
ISIN No. [ ]
CUSIP [ ]
5.450% Senior Notes due 2034
No. _______
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX US (HOLDINGS) INC.
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to Cede & Co. or its registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Note attached hereto, subject to the adjustments listed therein]1 [of $[ ]], on September 10, 2034.
Interest Payment Dates: March 10 and September 10, commencing on March 10, 2025.
Record Dates: February 25 and August 25.
Additional provisions of this Note are set forth on the other side of this Note.
(Signature page to follow.)
1 Use the Schedule of Increases and Decreases language if Note is in Global Form.
E-A-4 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc. has caused this Note to be signed manually, by facsimile or electronically by its duly authorized officer.
Dated: | XXXXX XXXXXXXXX US (HOLDINGS) INC. | |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
This is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture.
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Trustee
By: |
(Authorized Signatory)
[Signature Page to Note]
E-A-5 |
[FORM OF BACK OF NOTE]
5.450% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2034
1. | Interest |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Note at the rate of 5.450% per annum. The Issuer shall pay interest semi-annually on March 10 and September 10 of each year commencing on March 10, 2025. The Issuer will make each interest payment to Holders of record of the Notes on the immediately preceding February 25 and August 25, respectively. Interest on the Notes shall accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, from September 10, 2024 until the principal hereof is due. Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Each interest period shall end on (but not include) the relevant interest payment date.
2. | Method of Payment |
Holders must surrender Notes to the relevant Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Issuer shall pay principal, premium, if any, and interest in money of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Global Notes will be payable at the specified office or agency of one or more Paying Agents; provided that all such payments with respect to Notes represented by one or more Global Notes registered in the name of or held by a nominee of DTC will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by the Holder or Holders thereof.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest on any Definitive Notes will be payable at the specified office or agency of one or more Paying Agents in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, maintained for such purposes. In addition, interest on the Definitive Notes may be paid by check mailed to the person entitled thereto as shown on the register for the Definitive Notes; provided, however, that cash payments on the Notes may also be made, in the case of a Holder of at least $1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, by wire transfer to a dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States of America if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 15 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion).
If the due date for any payment in respect of any Note is not a Business Day at the place in which such payment is due to be paid, the Holder thereof will not be entitled to payment of the amount due until the next succeeding Business Day at such place, and will not be entitled to any further interest or other payment as a result of any such delay.
3. | Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent |
Initially, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. will act as Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent. The Issuer may appoint and change any Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent. The Issuer may act as Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent.
E-A-6 |
4. | Indenture |
The Issuer issued the Notes under the Indenture dated as of September 10, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among the Issuer, the Parent and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee”). The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture. Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Notes are subject to all terms and provisions of the Indenture, and Holders (as defined in the Indenture) are referred to the Indenture for a statement of such terms and provisions. In the event of a conflict, the terms of the Indenture control.
The Notes are senior obligations of the Issuer. This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Indenture. The Notes and the Additional Notes are treated as a single class under the Indenture. The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Issuer and its Significant Subsidiaries to, among other things, create or incur Liens. The Indenture also imposes limitations on the ability of the Issuer to consolidate or merge with any other entity or sell all or substantially all its property.
5. | Optional Redemption |
(a) At any time prior to June 10, 2034 (the date three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes) (the “Par Call Date”), the Notes will be redeemable in whole or in part, at the Issuer’s option at any time or from time to time, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
● | 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, and |
● | (i) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes being redeemed discounted to the redemption date (assuming the Notes being redeemed matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a rate equal to the sum of the Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points less (ii) interest accrued to, but excluding, the redemption date, |
plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes being redeemed, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.
(b) On or after the Par Call Date, the Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Issuer’s option at any time, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes being redeemed, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.
(c) Any redemption and notice of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, including completion of a corporate transaction.
E-A-7 |
6. | Sinking Fund |
The Issuer is not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.
7. | Notice of Redemption |
At least 10 days but not more than 60 days before a date for redemption of Notes, the Issuer shall transmit a notice of redemption in accordance with Section 11.03 of the Indenture and as provided below.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Notes will be selected for redemption in compliance with the requirements of the principal securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed, as certified to the Trustee or the Registrar, as applicable, by the Issuer, and in compliance with the requirements of DTC, or if the Notes are not so listed or such exchange prescribes no method of selection and the Notes are not held through DTC, or DTC prescribes no method of selection, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair; provided, however, that no Note of $2,000 in aggregate principal amount or less shall be redeemed in part and only Notes in integral multiples of $1,000 will be redeemed. Neither the Trustee nor the Registrar will be liable for any selections made by it in accordance with this Section.
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, in which case a new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Note will be issued in the name of the Holder of the Note upon surrender for cancellation of the original Note. In the case of a Global Note, an appropriate notation will be made on such Note to decrease the principal amount thereof to an amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof. Subject to the terms of the applicable redemption notice (including any conditions contained therein), 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, unless the redemption price is not paid on the redemption date.
8. | Repurchase of Notes at the Option of Holders upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event |
If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs, each Holder will have the right, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture, to require the Issuer to repurchase all of the Notes of such Holder at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.
9. | Denominations; Transfer; Exchange |
The Notes are in registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. In connection with any such transfer or exchange, the Indenture will require the transferring or exchanging Holder to, among other things, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, to furnish information regarding the account of the transferee at DTC, where appropriate, to furnish certain certificates and opinions, and to pay any taxes, duties and governmental charges in connection with such transfer or exchange. Any such transfer or exchange will be made without charge to the Holder, other than any taxes, duties and governmental charges payable in connection with such transfer.
E-A-8 |
10. | Persons Deemed Owners |
Except as provided in paragraph 2 of this Note, the registered Holder of this Note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
11. | Unclaimed Money |
If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Issuer at its written request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Issuer for payment as general creditors and the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have no further liability with respect to such monies.
12. | Discharge and Defeasance |
Subject to certain conditions, the Issuer at any time may terminate some of or all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture if the Issuer, among other things, deposits or causes to be deposited with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations in such amounts as will be sufficient for the payment of the entire indebtedness including principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of redemption or maturity, as the case may be.
13. | Amendment, Waiver |
The Indenture and the Notes may be amended as set forth in the Indenture.
14. | Defaults and Remedies |
(a) The following events constitute “Events of Default” under the Indenture: An “Event of Default” occurs if or upon:
(1) default in any payment of the principal of, or any premium on, the Notes on the due date;
(2) default in the payment of interest on the Notes within 30 days of its due date;
(3) failure to comply with a covenant with respect to the Notes for 90 days after the Issuer receives a written notice of default stating that the Issuer or the Guarantor is in breach. The notice must be sent by either the Trustee or Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes; and
E-A-9 |
(4) the Parent or the Issuer institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar office with respect to an event of bankruptcy, insolvency or court protection; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator, administrator, administrative receiver or similar office with respect to an event of bankruptcy, insolvency or court protection is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 90 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property or assets is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 90 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding.
(b) A default under Section 6.01(a)(3) of the Indenture will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes under the Indenture notify the Issuer and Trustee (as applicable) of the default and the Issuer does not cure such default within the time specified in Section 6.01(a)(3) of the Indenture after receipt of such notice.
(c) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in Section 6.01(a)(4) of the Indenture) has occurred and has not been cured within the applicable time period, the Trustee by notice to the Issuer or the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes under the Indenture by written notice to the Issuer and the Trustee, may declare the entire principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, on all the Notes under the Indenture to be immediately due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under Section 6.01(4) of the Indenture, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes under the Indenture will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders.
15. | Trustee Dealings with the Issuer |
The Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Issuer or its Affiliates and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.
16. | No Recourse Against Others |
No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of any of the Parent, the Issuer or any of their respective Subsidiaries shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer or the Parent with respect to the Notes or the Indenture, or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.
E-A-10 |
17. | Authentication |
This Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent acting on its behalf) manually, by facsimile or electronically signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the security has been authenticated under the Indenture.
Notwithstanding the above, facsimile, documents executed, authenticated, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, shall be deemed manual signatures for purposes of this Indenture, the Notes and other related documents and all matters and instruments, agreements, documents and certificates related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as manual signatures.
18. | Abbreviations |
Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act).
19. | Governing Law |
THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
20. | CUSIP Numbers, Common Codes and ISIN Numbers |
The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP Numbers, Common Codes and ISIN numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP Numbers, Common Codes and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
The Issuer will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge to the Holder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Note.
E-A-11 |
[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT FORM]
To assign this Note, fill in the form below:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to:
(Print or type assignee’s legal name) |
(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.) |
(Insert assignee’s name, address and zip code) |
and irrevocably appoint
to transfer this Note on the books of the Issuer. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date: |
Your Signature:
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.
Signature Guarantee*: |
*(Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee)
E-A-12 |
[FORM OF
CERTIFICATE TO BE DELIVERED UPON EXCHANGE OR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER RESTRICTED NOTES]
This certificate relates to $_________ principal amount of Notes held in (check applicable box) o book-entry or o definitive registered form by the undersigned.
The undersigned (check one box below):
¨ | has requested the Trustee by written order to deliver, in exchange for its beneficial interest in the Global Note held by the Depositary, a Definitive Note in definitive, registered form of authorized denominations and an aggregate principal amount equal to its beneficial interest in such Global Note (or the portion thereof indicated above); |
¨ | has requested the Trustee by written order to exchange or register the transfer of a Note. |
In connection with any transfer of any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the undersigned confirms that such Notes are being transferred in accordance with its terms:
CHECK ONE BOX BELOW
(1) | ¨ to the Issuer; or |
(2) | ¨ to the Registrar for registration in the name of the Holder, without transfer; or |
(3) | ¨ pursuant to an effective registration statement under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933; or |
(4) | ¨ inside the United States to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or |
(5) | ¨ outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933 and such Note shall be held immediately after the transfer through DTC until the expiration of the Restricted Period (as defined in the Indenture); or |
(6) | ¨ pursuant to Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 or another available exemption from registration. |
Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any Person other than the registered Holder thereof, provided, however, that if box (5) or (6) is checked, the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Trustee or the Issuer have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.
E-A-13 |
Date: |
Your Signature:
Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note.
Signature Guarantee*: |
*(Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee)
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (4) ABOVE IS CHECKED.
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Issuer as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Date: |
Signature: |
(to be executed by an executive officer of purchaser)
E-A-14 |
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]
[FORM OF SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE]
The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $[●]. The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Date of Increase/Decrease |
Amount of Decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Amount of Increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note |
Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase |
Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee |
E-A-15 |
[FORM OF OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE]
If you want to elect to have this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.02 (Offer to Repurchase upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event) of the Indenture, check the box:
Change of Control ¨
If you want to elect to have only part of this Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.02 of the Indenture, state the amount (minimum amount of $2,000):
$ |
Date: |
Your Signature:
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of the Note)
Signature Guarantee*: |
*(Signature must be guaranteed by a participant in a recognized signature guaranty medallion program or other signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee)
E-A-16 |
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER]
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Suite 6200B
Chicago, IL 60606
Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
Re: 5.450% Senior Notes due 2034 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc. (the “Notes”)
Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of September 10, 2024, among Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc., as Issuer, the guarantor party thereto and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Indenture”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.
(the “Transferor”) owns and proposes to transfer the Note/Notes or interest in such Note/Notes (the “Book-Entry Interest”) specified in Annex A hereto, in the principal amount of $____________ in such Note/Notes or interests (the “Transfer”), to ___________(the “Transferee”), as further specified in Annex A hereto. In connection with the Transfer, the Transferor hereby certifies that:
[CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]
1. ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Rule 144A. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that the Book- Entry Interest or Definitive Note is being transferred to a Person that the Transferor reasonably believed and believes is purchasing the Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Note for its own account, or for one or more accounts with respect to which such Person exercises sole investment discretion, and such Person and each such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A to whom notice was given that the Transfer was being made in reliance on Rule 144A and such Transfer is in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Restricted Notes Legend printed on the Rule 144A Global Note and/or the Rule 144A Definitive Note and in the Indenture and the Securities Act.
E-B-1 |
2. ¨ Check if Transfer is pursuant to Regulation S. The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act and, accordingly, the Transferor hereby further certifies that (i) the Transfer is not being made to a person in the United States and (A) at the time the buy order was originated, the Transferee was outside the United States or such Transferor and any Person acting on its behalf reasonably believed and believes that the Transferee was outside the United States or (B) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated offshore securities market and neither such Transferor nor any Person acting on its behalf knows that the transaction was prearranged with a buyer in the United States; (ii) no directed selling efforts have been made in contravention of the requirements of Regulation S under the Securities Act; (iii) the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act; and (iv) the transfer is not being made to a U.S. Person or for the account or benefit of a U.S. Person. Upon consummation of the proposed transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will be subject to the restrictions on transfer printed on the Regulation S Global Note and/or the Regulation S Definitive Note and contained in the Securities Act, the Indenture and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.
3. ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Other Exemption. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in compliance with an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act other than Rule 144 or Regulation S and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable blue sky securities laws of any State of the United States and (ii) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred beneficial interest or Definitive Note will not be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Restricted Notes Legend.
4. ¨ Check if Transfer is Pursuant to Rule 144. (i) The Transfer is being effected pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act and in compliance with the transfer restrictions contained in the Indenture and any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction; (ii) the Transferor is not (and during the three months preceding the Transfer was not) an Affiliate of the Issuer, (iii) at least one year has elapsed since such Transferor (or any previous transferor of such Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Note that was not an Affiliate of the Issuer) acquired such Book-Entry Interest or Definitive Note from the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer, and (iv) the restrictions on transfer contained in the Indenture and the Restricted Notes Legend are not required in order to maintain compliance with the Securities Act. Upon consummation of the proposed Transfer in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, the transferred Book-Entry Interest or Rule 144A Definitive Note will no longer be subject to the restrictions on transfer enumerated in the Restricted Notes Legend printed on the Rule 144A Global Note and/or the Rule 144A Definitive Note and in the Indenture.
This certificate and the statements contained herein are made for your benefit and the benefit of the Issuer and the Trustee.
[Insert Name of Transferor] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Dated: |
E-B-2 |
ANNEX A TO CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER
1. The Transferor owns and proposes to transfer the following: [CHECK ONE]
(a) | ¨ a Book-Entry Interest held through DTC Account No. _____, in the: |
(i) ¨ Rule 144A Global Note ([CUSIP/ISIN/COMMON CODE]_________); or
(ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP/ISIN/COMMON CODE]; or
(b) | o a Rule 144A Definitive Note; or |
(c) | ¨ a Regulation S Definitive Note. |
2. After the Transfer the Transferee will hold:
[CHECK ONE]
(a) | ¨ a Book-Entry Interest through DTC Account No. _____ in the: |
(i) ¨ Rule 144A Global Note ([CUSIP/ISIN/COMMON CODE] ); or
(ii) ¨ Regulation S Global Note ([CUSIP/ISIN/COMMON CODE] or
(b) | ¨ a Rule 144A Definitive Note; or |
(c) | ¨ a Regulation S Definitive Note. |
E-B-3 |
EXHIBIT C
[FORM OF
OFFICER’S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 4.06 OF THE INDENTURE]
OFFICER’S COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE OF XXXXX XXXXXXXXX US (HOLDINGS) INC.
Pursuant to Section 4.06 of the Indenture, dated as of September 10, 2024 (the “Indenture”), among Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx US (Holdings) Inc. (the “Issuer”), the guarantor party thereto (the “Guarantor”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, the undersigned, [●], [officer], of the Issuer, does hereby certify on behalf of the Issuer that:
1. | a review of the activities of the Issuer and the Guarantor during the preceding fiscal year has been made under my supervision with a view to determining whether the Issuer and the Guarantor have kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under the Indenture; and |
2. | as to the best of my knowledge, each of the Issuer and the Guarantor has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Indenture [or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describe all such Defaults or Events of Default of which you have knowledge and what action the Issuer or the Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto] and to the best of my knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest on the Notes is prohibited [or if such event has occurred, give a description of the event and what action the Issuer or the Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto]. |
E-C-1 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate this [ ] day of [ ], 20[ ].
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX US (HOLDINGS) INC. | ||
by | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
E-C-2 |