CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, as Issuer, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO, as Guarantors, AND DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee INDENTURE Dated as of October 5, 2016 5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026
EX-4.1 2 a41indenture.htm EXHIBIT 4.1 Exhibit
Exhibit 4.1
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, as Issuer, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO, as Guarantors, AND DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee INDENTURE Dated as of October 5, 2016 5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. | Definitions | 1 | |
SECTION 1.02. | References to Interest | 14 |
ARTICLE 2
Issue, Description, Execution, Registration and Exchange of Notes
SECTION 2.01. | Designation and Amount | 14 | |
SECTION 2.02. | Form of Notes | 14 | |
SECTION 2.03. | Date and Denomination of Notes, Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts | 15 | |
SECTION 2.04. | Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes | 17 | |
SECTION 2.05. | Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes, Restrictions on Transfer, Depositary | 17 | |
SECTION 2.06. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes | 24 | |
SECTION 2.07. | Temporary Notes | 25 | |
SECTION 2.08. | Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc. | 25 | |
SECTION 2.09. | CUSIP Numbers | 25 | |
SECTION 2.10. | Additional Notes, Repurchases | 25 |
ARTICLE 3
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 3.01. | Satisfaction and Discharge | 26 |
ARTICLE 4
Particular Covenants of the Company
SECTION 4.01. | Payment of Principal and Interest | 26 | |
SECTION 4.02. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 27 | |
SECTION 4.03. | Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office | 27 | |
SECTION 4.04. | Provisions as to Paying Agent | 27 |
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SECTION 4.05. | Existence | 29 | |
SECTION 4.06. | Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports | 29 | |
SECTION 4.07. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 30 | |
SECTION 4.08. | Compliance Certificate, Statements as to Defaults | 31 |
ARTICLE 5
List of Holders and Reports by the Company and the Trustee
SECTION 5.01. | List of Holders | 31 | |
SECTION 5.02. | Preservation of Disclosure of Lists | 31 |
ARTICLE 6
Defaults and Remedies
SECTION 6.01. | Events of Default | 31 | |
SECTION 6.02. | Acceleration, Rescission and Annulment | 33 | |
SECTION 6.03. | [Reserved] | 34 | |
SECTION 6.04. | Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor | 34 | |
SECTION 6.05. | Application of Monies Collected by Trustee | 36 | |
SECTION 6.06. | Proceedings by Holders | 36 | |
SECTION 6.07. | Proceedings by Trustee | 37 | |
SECTION 6.08. | Remedies Cumulative and Continuing | 38 | |
SECTION 6.09. | Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders | 38 | |
SECTION 6.10. | Notice of Defaults | 39 | |
SECTION 6.11. | Undertaking to Pay Costs | 39 |
ARTICLE 7
Concerning the Trustee
SECTION 7.01. | Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 39 | |
SECTION 7.02. | Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc. | 41 | |
SECTION 7.03. | No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. | 42 | |
SECTION 7.04. | Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes | 42 | |
SECTION 7.05. | Monies and Shares of Common Stock to Be Held in Trust | 43 | |
SECTION 7.06. | Compensation and Expenses of Trustee | 43 |
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SECTION 7.07. | Officers' Certificate as Evidence | 44 | |
SECTION 7.08. | Eligibility of Trustee | 44 | |
SECTION 7.09. | Resignation or Removal of Trustee | 44 | |
SECTION 7.10. | Acceptance by Successor Trustee | 45 | |
SECTION 7.11. | Succession by Merger, Etc. | 46 | |
SECTION 7.12. | Trustee's Application for Instructions from the Company | 46 |
ARTICLE 8
Concerning the Holders
SECTION 8.01. | Action by Holders | 47 | |
SECTION 8.02. | Proof of Execution by Holders | 48 | |
SECTION 8.03. | Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners | 48 | |
SECTION 8.04. | Company-Owned Notes Disregarded | 48 |
ARTICLE 9
Holders' Meetings
SECTION 9.01. | Purpose of Meetings | 49 | |
SECTION 9.02. | Call of Meetings by Trustee | 49 | |
SECTION 9.03. | Call of Meetings by Company or Holders | 49 | |
SECTION 9.04. | Qualifications for Voting | 50 | |
SECTION 9.05. | Regulations | 50 | |
SECTION 9.06. | Voting | 50 | |
SECTION 9.07. | No Delay of Rights by Meeting | 51 |
ARTICLE 10
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 10.01. | Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders | 51 | |
SECTION 10.02. | Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders | 52 | |
SECTION 10.03. | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 53 | |
SECTION 10.04. | Notation on Notes | 54 | |
SECTION 10.05. | Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished Trustee | 54 |
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ARTICLE 11
Consolidation, Merger, Sale, Conveyance and Lease
SECTION 11.01. | Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms | 54 | |
SECTION 11.02. | Successor to Be Substituted | 54 | |
SECTION 11.03. | Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee | 55 |
ARTICLE 12
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors
SECTION 12.01. | Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations | 55 |
ARTICLE 13
Guarantees
SECTION 13.01. | Unconditional Guarantee | 55 | |
SECTION 13.02. | Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms | 56 | |
SECTION 13.03. | Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors | 57 | |
SECTION 13.04. | Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor | 57 | |
SECTION 13.05. | Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor's Liability | 57 | |
SECTION 13.06. | Contribution | 58 | |
SECTION 13.07. | Severability | 58 |
ARTICLE 14
Conversion of Notes
SECTION 14.01. | Conversion of Privilege | 58 | |
SECTION 14.02. | Conversion of Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion | 61 | |
SECTION 14.03. | Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes | 65 | |
SECTION 14.04. | Adjustment of Conversion Rate | 68 | |
SECTION 14.05. | Adjustments of Prices | 77 | |
SECTION 14.06. | Reservation of Shares | 77 | |
SECTION 14.07. | Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Common Stock | 78 | |
SECTION 14.08. | Certain Covenants | 79 |
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SECTION 14.09. | Responsibility of Trustee | 80 | |
SECTION 14.10. | Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions | 80 | |
SECTION 14.11. | Stockholder Rights Plans | 81 |
ARTICLE 15
Repurchase of Notes at Option of Holders
SECTION 15.01. | [Reserved] | 81 | |
SECTION 15.02. | Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change | 81 | |
SECTION 15.03. | Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice | 84 | |
SECTION 15.04. | Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price | 84 | |
SECTION 15.05. | Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes | 85 | |
SECTION 15.06. | Satisfaction of Company's Fundamental Change Repurchase Obligations | 85 |
ARTICLE 16
Optional Redemption
SECTION 16.01. | Right to Redeem | 86 | |
SECTION 16.02. | Redemption Price | 86 | |
SECTION 16.03. | Redemption Notice | 87 | |
SECTION 16.04. | Payment of Notes Called for Redemption | 88 | |
SECTION 16.05. | Redemptions in Part | 88 | |
SECTION 16.06. | Restrictions on Redemption | 88 |
SECTION 17
Miscellaneous Provisions
SECTION 17.01. | [Reserved] | 89 | |
SECTION 17.02. | Official Acts by Successor | 89 | |
SECTION 17.03. | Addresses for Notices, Etc. | 89 | |
SECTION 17.04. | Governing Law; Jurisdiction | 90 | |
SECTION 17.05. | Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee | 91 | |
SECTION 17.06. | Legal Holidays | 91 | |
SECTION 17.07. | No Security Interest Created | 91 |
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SECTION 17.08. | Benefits of Indenture | 91 | |
SECTION 17.09. | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. | 91 | |
SECTION 17.10. | Authenticating Agent | 92 | |
SECTION 17.11. | Execution in Counterparts | 93 | |
SECTION 17.12. | Severability | 93 | |
SECTION 17.13. | Waiver of Jury Trial | 93 | |
SECTION 17.14. | Force Majeure | 93 | |
SECTION 17.15. | Calculations | 93 | |
SECTION 17.16. | USA PATRIOT Act | 94 |
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INDENTURE dated as of October 5, 2016 among CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION, an Oklahoma corporation, as issuer (the “Company,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01), the SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS party hereto and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as trustee (the “Trustee,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01).
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its 5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”), initially in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,250,000,000, and in order to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Form of Note, the certificate of authentication to be borne by each Note, the Form of Notice of Conversion, the Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and the Form of Assignment and Transfer to be borne by the Notes are to be substantially in the forms hereinafter provided; and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies, and the Subsidiary Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the issuance of the Notes; and
WHEREAS, accordingly, each Subsidiary Guarantor has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for its guarantee of the Notes the terms of which provide for such guarantee, to the extent provided in or pursuant to this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture the valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have been done and performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, each of the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Definitions
SECTION 1.01. Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings
specified in this Section 1.01. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article include the plural as well as the singular.
“Additional Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 4.06(c) and Section 4.06(d), as applicable.
“Additional Shares” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(a).
“Adjusted Net Assets of a Subsidiary Guarantor” at any date shall mean the lesser of (i) the amount by which the fair value of the property of such Subsidiary Guarantor exceeds the total amount of liabilities, including, without limitation, contingent liabilities (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date), but excluding liabilities under the Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date and (ii) the amount by which the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor at such date exceeds the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor on its debts (after giving effect to all other fixed and contingent liabilities incurred or assumed on such date and after giving effect to any collection from any Subsidiary of such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such Subsidiary under the Guarantee), excluding debt in respect of the Guarantee, as they become absolute and matured.
“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 specified Person means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the determination of whether one Person is an “Affiliate” of another Person for purposes of this Indenture shall be made based on the facts at the time such determination is made or required to be made, as the case may be, hereunder.
“Bankruptcy Custodian” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Bankruptcy Law” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Bid Solicitation Agent” means the Person appointed by the Company to solicit bids for the Trading Price of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.01(b)(i). The Company shall initially act as the Bid Solicitation Agent.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any Person, the board of directors or other governing body of such Person or a committee or subcommittee of such board or body duly authorized to act for it.
“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
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“Business Day” means, with respect to any Note, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed.
“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities (including, without limitation, beneficial interests in or other securities of a trust) and any and all warrants, options and rights with respect thereto (whether or not currently exercisable), including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person.
“Cash Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).
“Clause A Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).
“Clause B Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).
“Clause C Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).
“close of business” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).
“Combination Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).
“Commission” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Equity” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled (a) to vote in the election of directors of such Person or (b) if such Person is not a corporation, to vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.
“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, at the date of this Indenture, subject to Section 14.07.
“Company” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, until a successor replaces such Person in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, and thereafter means such successor.
“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers of the Company, or by one Officer of the Company and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Conversion Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.02.
“Conversion Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(c).
“Conversion Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).
“Conversion Price” means as of any time, $1,000, divided by the Conversion Rate as of such time.
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“Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business related to this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at Trust Agency Services, 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10005, Attention: Corporates Deal Team Manager—Chesapeake Energy Corporation, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, 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 Company).
“Credit Facilities” means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Company’s existing credit facility) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks, investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds and/or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from (or sell receivables to) such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, extended, restated, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether contemporaneously or otherwise) or refinanced (in each case with Credit Facilities), supplemented or otherwise modified (in whole or in part and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time.
“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.
“Daily Conversion Value” means, for each of the 25 consecutive Trading Days during the Observation Period, 1/25th of the product of (a) the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day and (b) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day.
“Daily Measurement Value” means the Specified Dollar Amount (if any), divided by 25.
“Daily Settlement Amount,” for each of the 25 consecutive Trading Days during the Observation Period, shall consist of:
(a) cash in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Daily Measurement Value and (ii) the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day; and
(b) if the Daily Conversion Value on such Trading Day exceeds the Daily Measurement Value, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and the Daily Measurement Value, divided by (ii) the Daily VWAP for such Trading Day.
“Daily VWAP” means, for each of the 25 consecutive Trading Days during the relevant Observation Period, the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “CHK <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day
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(or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of the Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company). The “Daily VWAP” shall be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.
“De Minimis Guaranteed Amount” means a principal amount of Indebtedness that does not exceed $25,000,000.
“Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time, or both, would be, an Event of Default.
“Defaulted Amounts” means any amounts on any Note (including, without limitation, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, principal and interest) that are payable but are not punctually paid or duly provided for.
“Depositary” means, with respect to each Global Note, the Person specified in Section 2.05(c) as the Depositary with respect to such Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.
“Distributed Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).
“Dollar-Denominated Production Payments” means production payment obligations recorded as liabilities in accordance with GAAP, together with all undertakings and obligations in connection therewith.
“Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c), except that, as used in Section 14.04 and Section 14.05, “Effective Date” means the first date on which shares of the Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.
“Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
“Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date on which shares of the Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question, from the Company or, if applicable, from the seller of Common Stock on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Form of Assignment and Transfer” means the “Form of Assignment and Transfer” attached as Attachment 3 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
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“Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” means the “Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” attached as Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
“Form of Note” means the “Form of Note” attached hereto as Exhibit A.
“Form of Notice of Conversion” means the “Form of Notice of Conversion” attached as Attachment 1 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.
“Fundamental Change” shall be deemed to have occurred at the time after the Notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:
(a) (1) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s Common Equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s Common Equity; provided, however, that a “person” or “group” shall not be deemed a beneficial owner of, or to own beneficially, (x) any securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such “person” or “group” pursuant to a Schedule TO until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange thereunder or (y) any securities to the extent such beneficial ownership (i) arises solely as a result of a revocable proxy delivered to such “person” or “group” by a shareholder that is not, for the avoidance of doubt, a member of such “group” in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and disclosed in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, and (ii) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G (or any successor schedule) under the Exchange Act; and (2) such “person” or “group” files, or the Company files, a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that such an event described in the immediately preceding clause (1) has occurred;
(b) the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than the Company and/or one or more of the Company’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (b);
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(c) the stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(d) the Common Stock (or other common stock underlying the Notes) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) and is not listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) concurrently with such cessation;
provided, however, that a transaction or transactions described in clause (a) or clause (b) above shall not constitute a Fundamental Change, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by the common stockholders of the Company, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ or appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions and as a result of such transaction or transactions the Notes become convertible into such consideration or a unit including such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares (subject to the provisions of Section 14.02(a)). If a transaction constitutes a Fundamental Change pursuant to both clause (a) and clause (b) of this definition, such transaction will be treated as a Fundamental Change pursuant to solely clause (b) for purposes of the carve-out described in this paragraph.
“Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(c).
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(b)(i).
“Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).
“Funding Guarantor” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.06.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America from time to time.
“given,” with respect to any notice to be given to a Holder pursuant to this Indenture, shall mean notice (x) given to the Depositary (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with accepted practices or procedures at the Depositary (in the case of a Global Note) or (y) mailed to such Holder by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register (in the case of a Physical Note), in each case, in accordance with Section 17.03. Notice so
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“given” shall be deemed to include any notice to be “mailed” or “delivered,” as applicable, under this Indenture.
“Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).
“Guarantee” shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.01.
“Holder,” as applied to any Note, or other similar terms (but excluding the term “beneficial holder”), means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Register.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, (a) all obligations of such Person, including those evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments, for the repayment of money borrowed (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof); (b) all liabilities of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (a) that such Person has guaranteed; and (c) Indebtedness (as otherwise defined in this definition) of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, the amount of such obligations being deemed to be the lesser of (1) the full amount of such obligations so secured, and (2) the fair market value of such asset, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of such Person, which determination shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution. For the avoidance of doubt, neither Dollar-Denominated Production Payments nor Volumetric Production Payments shall be deemed to be Indebtedness.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Interest Payment Date” means each March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on March 15, 2017.
“Issue Date” means October 5, 2016.
“Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock on any date means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization selected by the Company. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” shall be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for the Common Stock on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.
“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, easement, restriction, charge or adverse claim affecting title or resulting in an encumbrance against real or personal property of such Person, or a security interest of any kind
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(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof or other similar agreement to sell, in each case securing obligations of such Person).
“Make-Whole Fundamental Change” means any transaction or event that constitutes a Fundamental Change (as defined herein and determined after giving effect to any exceptions to or exclusions from such definition, but without regard to the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof).
“Market Disruption Event” means, for the purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion (a) a failure by the primary U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading to open for trading during its regular trading session or (b) the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the Common Stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the relevant stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock.
“Maturity” means, with respect to any Note, the date on which the principal of such Note or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Maturity Date or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Maturity Date” means September 15, 2026.
“Measurement Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(b)(i).
“Merger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).
“Note” or “Notes” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the recitals of this Indenture.
“Note Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).
“Note Registrar” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).
“Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(b).
“Observation Period” with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion means: (i) subject to clause (ii) of this paragraph, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs prior to June 15, 2026, the 25 consecutive Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the second Trading Day immediately succeeding such Conversion Date; (ii) subject to clause (iii) of this paragraph, with respect to Notices of Conversion received on or after the date the Company has given a Redemption Notice and prior to the corresponding Redemption Date, the 25 consecutive Trading Days beginning on, and including, the 27th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date; and (iii) if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the period beginning on, and including, June 15, 2026, and ending at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, the 25 consecutive Trading Days
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beginning on, and including, the 27th scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date.
“Offering Circular” means the preliminary offering circular dated September 29, 2016, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet dated September 30, 2016, relating to the offering and sale of the Notes.
“Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Secretary or the Treasurer of such Person.
“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer of such Person. One of the Officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 4.08 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Person delivering such certificate.
“open of business” means 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee (who is an attorney) of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor.
“outstanding,” when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:
(a) Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or accepted by the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Notes, or portions thereof, that have become due and payable and in respect of which monies in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent);
(c) Notes that have been paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or Notes in lieu of which, or in substitution for which, other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Notes are held by protected purchasers in due course;
(d) Notes converted pursuant to Article 14 and required to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.08; and
(e) Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to Section 2.10(b).
“Paying Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.02.
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“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, a joint venture, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or a political subdivision thereof.
“Physical Notes” means permanent certificated Notes in registered form issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples in excess thereof.
“Physical Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).
“Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in lieu of or in exchange for a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note that it replaces.
“Record Date” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of Common Stock (or other applicable security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock (or such other security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of the Common Stock (or such other security) entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company, by statute, by contract or otherwise).
“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Note to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
“Redemption Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 16.03 hereof.
“Redemption Price” has the meaning specified in Section 16.02 hereof.
“Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).
“Regular Record Date,” with respect to any Interest Payment Date, means March 1 or September 1 (whether or not such day is a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable March 15 or September 15 Interest Payment Date, respectively.
“Resale Restriction Termination Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter relating to this Indenture is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
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“Restricted Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).
“Rule 144” means Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading. If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Scheduled Trading Day” means a Business Day.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Settlement Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a)(iv).
“Settlement Method” means, with respect to any conversion of Notes, Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement, as elected (or deemed to have been elected) by the Company.
“Settlement Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a)(iii).
“Specified Dollar Amount” means the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes to be received upon conversion as specified in the Settlement Notice related to any converted Notes.
“Spin-Off” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).
“Stock Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Stock is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person, (ii) a partnership in which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if such Person or its subsidiary is entitled to receive more than 50 percent of the assets of such partnership upon its dissolution, or (iii) any other Person (other than a corporation or partnership) in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof, has (x) at least a majority ownership interest or (y) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the Board of Directors of such Person.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means (i) each of the Subsidiaries of the Company that executes this Indenture as a subsidiary guarantor until such time as such Subsidiary shall no longer be a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Notes pursuant to Article 13; and (ii) each other Subsidiary of the Company that becomes a guarantor of the Notes in compliance with the provisions of Article 13 until such time as such Subsidiary shall no longer be a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Article 13.
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“Successor” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a).
“Trading Day” means a day on which (i) trading in the Common Stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on The New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then listed or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then traded and (ii) a Last Reported Sale Price for the Common Stock (or closing sale price for such other security) is available on such securities exchange or market; provided that if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day; and provided, further, that for purposes of determining amounts due upon conversion only, “Trading Day” means a day on which (x) there is no Market Disruption Event and (y) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on The New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted for trading, except that if the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.
“Trading Price” of the Notes on any date of determination means the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent for $5,000,000 principal amount of Notes at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Company selects for this purpose; provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, that one bid shall be used. If the Bid Solicitation Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $5,000,000 principal amount of Notes from a nationally recognized securities dealer on any determination date, then the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes on such determination date shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the applicable Conversion Rate.
“transfer” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(c).
“Trigger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as it was in force at the date of execution of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after the date hereof, the term “Trust Indenture Act” shall mean, to the extent required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.
“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions
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of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.
“unit of Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).
“Valuation Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).
“Volumetric Production Payments” means sales of limited-term overriding royalty interests in natural gas and oil reserves that (i) entitle the purchaser to receive scheduled production volumes over a period of time from specific lease interests; (ii) are free and clear of all associated future production costs and capital expenditures; (iii) are nonrecourse to the seller (i.e., the purchaser’s only recourse is to the reserves acquired); (iv) transfer title of the reserves to the purchaser; and (v) allow the seller to retain all production beyond the specified volumes, if any, after the scheduled production volumes have been delivered.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, securities of any class or classes of Capital Stock in such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has voting power by reason of contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary of such Person, except that, solely for purposes of this definition, the reference to “majority” or “more than 50 percent” in the definition of “Subsidiary” shall be deemed replaced by a reference to “100%”.
SECTION 1.02. References to Interest. Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note in this Indenture shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to either of Section 4.06(c) and Section 4.06(d). Unless the context otherwise requires, any express mention of Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
ARTICLE 2
Issue, Description, Execution, Registration and Exchange of Notes
SECTION 2.01. Designation and Amount. The Notes shall be designated as the “5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026.” The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is initially limited to $1,250,000,000, subject to Section 2.10(a) and except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes to the extent expressly permitted hereunder.
SECTION 2.02. Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially in the respective forms set forth in Exhibit A, the terms and provisions of which shall constitute, and are hereby expressly incorporated in and made, a part of this Indenture. To the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and
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provisions and to be bound thereby. In the case of any conflict between this Indenture and the Notes, the provisions of this Indenture shall control and govern to the extent of such conflict.
Any Global Note may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture as may be required by the Custodian or the Depositary, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Notes may be listed or traded or designated for issuance or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.
Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the Officer executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.
Each Global Note shall represent such principal amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent 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 increased or reduced to reflect repurchases, cancellations, conversions, transfers or exchanges permitted hereby. Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in such manner and upon instructions given by the Holder of such Notes in accordance with this Indenture. Payment of principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, a Global Note shall be made to the Holder of such Note on the date of payment, unless a record date or other means of determining Holders eligible to receive payment is provided for herein.
SECTION 2.03. Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts. (a) The Notes shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication and shall bear interest from the date specified on the face of such Note. Accrued interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for partial months, on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed in a 30-day month.
(b) The Person in whose name any Note (or its Predecessor Note) is registered on the Note Register at the close of business on any Regular Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date. The principal amount of any Note (x) in the case of any Physical Note, shall be payable at the office or agency designated by the Company for such purposes in the continental United States, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office, and (y) in the case of any Global
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Note, shall be payable by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Paying Agent for further distributions to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. The Company shall pay interest (i) on any Physical Notes (A) to Holders holding Physical Notes having an aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 or less, by check mailed to the Holders of these Notes at their address as it appears in the Note Register and (B) to Holders holding Physical Notes having an aggregate principal amount of more than $2,000,000, either by check mailed to each Holder or, upon application by such a Holder to the Note Registrar not later than the relevant Regular Record Date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to that Holder’s account within the United States, which application shall remain in effect until the Holder notifies, in writing, the Note Registrar to the contrary or (ii) on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.
(c) Any Defaulted Amounts shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant payment date but shall accrue interest per annum at the rate borne by the Notes, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, such relevant payment date, and such Defaulted Amounts together with such interest thereon shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:
(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Amounts to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of the Defaulted Amounts proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall be not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Trustee of such notice, unless the Trustee shall consent to an earlier date), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Amounts or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Amounts as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment, and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify in writing the Trustee of such special record date and the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor to be delivered to each Holder at its address as it appears in the Note Register (or, in the case of Global Notes, by electronic means through the Depositary) not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor having been so delivered such Defaulted Amounts shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such special record date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 2.03(c).
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(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Amounts in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for trading, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
SECTION 2.04. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes. The Notes shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by two Officers thereof.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes.
Only such Notes as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth on the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto, executed manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee as provided by Section 17.10), shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee (or such an authenticating agent) upon any Note executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Note so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
In case any Officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Notes shall cease to be such Officer before the Notes so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Notes nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Notes had not ceased to be such Officer of the Company; and any Note may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Note, shall be the Officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an Officer.
SECTION 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary. (a) The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and of transfers and exchanges of Notes. Such register shall be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable period of time. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed the “Note Registrar” for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers and exchanges of Notes as herein provided. The Company may appoint one or more co-Note Registrars in accordance with Section 4.02.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note to the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this
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Section 2.05, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.
Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing registration numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
All Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, repurchase, redemption, or conversion shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and Note Registrar and duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar, any co-Note Registrar or the Paying Agent for any exchange or registration of transfer of Notes, but the Company may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law in connection therewith.
None of the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar shall be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the open of business 15 days before any selection for redemption of Notes and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant Redemption Notice is deemed to have been given to all Holders of Notes to be redeemed; or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange (a) any Notes so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Notes being redeemed in part; (b) any Notes surrendered for conversion or, if a portion of any Note is surrendered for conversion, such portion thereof surrendered for conversion or (c) any Notes, or a portion of any Note, surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in accordance with Article 15.
All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with this Indenture shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(b) So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary, unless otherwise required by law, subject to the fourth paragraph from the end of Section 2.05(c) all Notes shall be represented by one or more Notes in global form (each, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note that does not involve the issuance of a Physical Note shall be effected through the Depositary (but not the Trustee or
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the Custodian) in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor.
(c) Every Note that bears or is required under this Section 2.05(c) to bear the legend set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (together with any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes that is required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), collectively, the “Restricted Securities”) shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.05(c) (including the legend set forth below), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be eliminated or otherwise waived by written consent of the Company, and the Holder of each such Restricted Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer. As used in this Section 2.05(c) and Section 2.05(d), the term “transfer” encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition whatsoever of any Restricted Security.
Until the date (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) that is one year (or such shorter period as is prescribed by Rule 144 as then in effect or any successor rule without any volume or manner of sale restrictions or compliance by the Company with any current public information requirements thereunder) after the later of the Issue Date and the last date on which the Company or any of its Affiliates were the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor thereto), any certificate evidencing such Note (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof, other than Common Stock, if any, issued upon conversion thereof, which shall bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(d), if applicable) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Notes have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee):
THIS SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY, THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY OR THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE
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RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE ISSUER WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO) ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER 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, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR 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 IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 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; PROVIDED, THAT THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.
No transfer of any Note prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date will be registered by the Note Registrar unless the applicable box on the Form of Assignment and Transfer has been checked.
Any Note (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) (i) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms, (ii) that has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become effective or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer or (iii) that has been sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, may, upon surrender of such Note for exchange to the Note Registrar in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.05, be exchanged for a new Note or Notes, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not bear the restrictive legends required by this Section 2.05(c) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian in writing to so surrender any Global Note as to which any of the conditions set forth in clause (i) through (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence have been satisfied, and, upon such instruction, the Custodian shall so surrender such Global Note for exchange; and any new Global Note so exchanged therefor shall not bear the restrictive legend specified in this Section 2.05(c) and shall
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not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall promptly notify in writing the Trustee upon the occurrence of the Resale Restriction Termination Date and promptly after a registration statement, if any, with respect to the Notes or any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in this Section 2.05(c)), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole or in part except (i) 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 and (ii) for exchange of a Global Note or a portion thereof for one or more Physical Notes in accordance with the second immediately succeeding paragraph.
The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as Depositary with respect to each Global Note. Initially, each Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee as custodian for Cede & Co.
Members of, or participants in, the Depositary, and any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Note, shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to or under such Global Note, and the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to treat the Depositary or its nominee as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.
If (i) the Depositary (a) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the applicable Global Notes or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days; (ii) the Company, at its option and subject to the procedures of the Depositary, notifies the Trustee in writing that the Company elects to cause the issuance of Physical Notes; or (iii) there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Notes and the Depositary requests the issuance of Physical Notes, then such Global Notes may be exchanged by such Depositary for Physical Notes of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Notes or portions thereof may be registered to, such Persons as such Depositary shall direct, and upon delivery of the Global Notes to the Trustee such Global Notes shall be canceled. Upon execution and authentication, the Trustee shall deliver such Physical Notes to the Persons in whose names such Physical Notes are so registered.
At such time as all interests in a Global Note have been converted, canceled, repurchased or transferred, such Global Note shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Trustee in accordance with standing procedures and existing instructions between the Depositary and the Custodian. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Physical Notes, converted, canceled, repurchased or transferred to a transferee who receives Physical Notes therefor or any Physical Note is exchanged or transferred for part of such Global Note, the principal amount of such Global Note shall, in accordance with the standing procedures and instructions existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, be
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appropriately reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction or increase.
None of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
(d) Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any stock certificate representing Common Stock issued upon conversion of a Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Common Stock has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or such Common Stock has been issued upon conversion of a Note that has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company with written notice thereof to the Trustee and any transfer agent for the Common Stock):
THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE ISSUER WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF OCTOBER 5, 2016 AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO) ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER
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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, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR 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 IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 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; PROVIDED, THAT THE ISSUER AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.
Any such Common Stock (i) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms, (ii) that has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer or (iii) that has been sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, may, upon surrender of the certificates representing such shares of Common Stock for exchange in accordance with the procedures of the transfer agent for the Common Stock, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(d).
(e) Any Note or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exchange of a Note that is repurchased or owned by any Affiliate of the Company (or any Person who was an Affiliate of the Company at any time during the three months preceding) may not be resold by such Affiliate (or such Person, as the case may be) unless registered under the Securities Act or resold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in a transaction that results in such Note or Common Stock, as the case may be, no longer being a “restricted security” (as defined under Rule 144).
(f) None of the Trustee, the Note Registrar or the Conversion Agent shall have any duty to monitor the Company’s compliance with or have any responsibility with respect to the Company’s compliance with any federal or state securities laws in connection with registrations of and transfers and exchanges or conversions of the Notes. The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to
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do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
(g) Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. In case any Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon its written request the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note, bearing a registration number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.
The Trustee or such authenticating agent may authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the receipt of such security or indemnity as the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, such authenticating agent may require. No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar, any co-Note Registrar or the Paying Agent upon the issuance of any substitute Note, but the Company may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law in connection therewith. In case any Note that has matured or is about to mature or has been surrendered for required repurchase or is about to be converted in accordance with Article 14 shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, in its sole discretion, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of or convert or authorize the conversion of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note), as the case may be, if the applicant for such payment or conversion shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless for any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent evidence of their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.
Every substitute Note issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any Note is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, all Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement, payment, conversion or repurchase of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or
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hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement, payment, conversion or repurchase of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
SECTION 2.07. Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of Physical Notes, the Company may execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall, upon written request of the Company, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the Physical Notes but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or such authenticating agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Physical Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee or such authenticating agent Physical Notes (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02 and the Trustee or such authenticating agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of Physical Notes. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Physical Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.
SECTION 2.08. Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc. The Company shall cause all Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment, registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or conversion, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee (including any of the Company’s agents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates), to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. All Notes delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled promptly by it. The Trustee shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures and, after such disposition, shall deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company, at the Company’s written request in a Company Order.
SECTION 2.09. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use one or more “CUSIP” numbers (or the equivalent thereof) (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in all notices issued to Holders as a convenience to such Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or on such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.
SECTION 2.10. Additional Notes; Repurchases. (a) The Company may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders and notwithstanding Section 2.01, reopen this Indenture and issue additional Notes hereunder with the same terms as the Notes initially issued hereunder (other than differences in the issue price and interest accrued prior to the issue date of such additional Notes) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes initially issued hereunder for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Notes shall have a separate CUSIP number. Prior to the issuance of any such additional Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a
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Company Order, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to cover such matters, in addition to those required by Section 17.05, as the Trustee shall reasonably request.
(b) In addition, the Company may, to the extent permitted by law, and directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Company), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Company or its Subsidiaries or through a private or public tender or exchange offer, through counterparties to private agreements or otherwise, including by cash-settled swaps or other derivatives. The Company will cause any Notes so repurchased by the Company (other than Notes repurchased pursuant to cash-settled swaps or other derivatives that are not physically settled) (x) to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and they will no longer be considered “outstanding” upon their repurchase or (y) if such Notes represent beneficial interests in one or more Global Notes, to be exchanged for Physical Notes and, regardless of the format of such Notes, to be subject to the limitations set forth in the following sentence. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or such repurchased Notes, in no event shall any such repurchased Notes described in clause (y) of the immediately preceding sentence be (i) offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred or (ii) converted, in each case, whether by the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of its respective agents or affiliates.
ARTICLE 3
Satisfaction and Discharge
SECTION 3.01. Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture shall upon request of the Company contained in an Officers’ Certificate cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute such instruments reasonably requested by the Company acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when (a) (i) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced, paid or converted as provided in Section 2.06) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or (ii) the Company has deposited with the Trustee or delivered to Holders, as applicable, after the Notes have become due and payable, whether on the Maturity Date, any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, upon conversion, redemption or otherwise, cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, as applicable, solely to satisfy the Company’s Conversion Obligation, sufficient to pay all of the outstanding Notes and all other sums due and payable under this Indenture by the Company; and (b) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.06 shall survive.
ARTICLE 4
Particular Covenants of the Company
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Principal and Interest. The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be paid the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase
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Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on, each of the Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes.
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain in the continental United States an office or agency where the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment, redemption, or repurchase (“Paying Agent”) or for conversion (“Conversion Agent”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office.
The Company may also from time to time designate as co-Note Registrars one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the United States for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The terms “Paying Agent” and “Conversion Agent” include any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.
The Company hereby initially designates the Trustee as the Paying Agent, Note Registrar, Custodian and Conversion Agent and the Corporate Trust Office as the office or agency in the United States where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for presentation for payment or repurchase or for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served; provided that, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee shall not be an office or agency of the Company for the purpose of effecting service of legal process on the Company.
SECTION 4.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.09, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 4.04. Provisions as to Paying Agent. (a) If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04:
(i) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes;
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(ii) that it will give the Trustee prompt notice of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and
(iii) that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it will forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.
The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) or accrued and unpaid interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action; provided that if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit must be received by the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and accrued and unpaid interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.
(c) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay, cause to be paid or deliver to the Trustee all sums or amounts held in trust by the Company or any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section 4.04, such sums or amounts to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment or delivery by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability but only with respect to such sums or amounts.
(d) Any money and shares of Common Stock deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, accrued and unpaid interest on and the consideration due upon conversion of any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable), interest or consideration due upon conversion has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on request of the Company contained in an Officers’ Certificate, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money and shares of Common Stock, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.
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SECTION 4.05. Existence. Subject to Article 11, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence.
SECTION 4.06. Rule 144A Information Requirement and Annual Reports. (a) At any time the Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall, so long as any of the Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, promptly provide to the Trustee and, upon written request, any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes or shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144A. The Company shall take such further action as any Holder or beneficial owner of such Notes or such Common Stock may reasonably request to the extent from time to time required to enable such Holder or beneficial owner to sell such Notes or shares of Common Stock in accordance with Rule 144A, as such rule may be amended from time to time.
(b) The Company, within 15 days after it files the same with the Commission, shall deliver to the Trustee copies of the annual reports and the information, documents and other reports (or copies of any such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided that any such annual reports, information, documents or other reports filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (or “EDGAR”) system shall be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee as of the time such information, documents or reports are filed or furnished via EDGAR; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such information, documents or reports have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor). Notwithstanding that the Company may not be required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall file with the Commission (to the extent such filings are accepted by the Commission) and provide the Trustee with such annual reports and such information, documents and other reports specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subject to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
(c) If, at any time during the six-month period beginning on, and including, the date that is six months after the last date of original issuance of the Notes offered by the Offering Circular, the Company fails to timely file any document or report that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable (after giving effect to all applicable grace periods thereunder and other than reports on Form 8-K), or such Notes are not freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately
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preceding (as a result of restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes), the Company shall pay Additional Interest on such Notes. Such Additional Interest shall accrue on such Notes at the rate of 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of such Notes outstanding for each day during such period for which the Company’s failure to file has occurred and is continuing or such Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates (or Holders that have been the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding) without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes. As used in this Section 4.06(c), documents or reports that the Company is required to “file” with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act do not include documents or reports that the Company furnishes to the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(d) If, and for so long as, the restrictive legend on the Notes specified in Section 2.05(c) has not been removed, the Notes are assigned a restricted CUSIP or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes) as of the 380th day after the last date of original issuance of the Notes offered by the Offering Circular, the Company shall pay Additional Interest on such Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of such Notes outstanding until the restrictive legend on such Notes has been removed in accordance with Section 2.05(c), the Notes are assigned an unrestricted CUSIP and the Notes are freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates (or Holders that were the Company’s Affiliates at any time during the three months immediately preceding) (without restrictions pursuant to U.S. securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes).
(e) Additional Interest will be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date following accrual in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes.
(f) If Additional Interest is payable by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06(c) or Section 4.06(d), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to that effect stating (i) the amount of such Additional Interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such Additional Interest is payable. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such Additional Interest is payable. If the Company has paid Additional Interest directly to the Persons entitled to it, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment. The Trustee shall have no duty to determine or verify the Company’s determination of whether and to what extent Additional Interest is payable.
SECTION 4.07. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury law that would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or interest on the Notes as contemplated herein, wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, or that may
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affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law.
SECTION 4.08. Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company (beginning with the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2016) an Officers’ Certificate stating whether the signers thereof have knowledge of any failure by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to comply with all conditions and covenants then required to be performed under this Indenture and, if so, specifying each such failure and the nature thereof and the action that the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, are taking or proposing to take in respect thereof.
In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible, and in any event within 30 days after any Officer of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor becomes aware of any Default or Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, as applicable, propose to take with respect thereto.
ARTICLE 5
Lists of Holders and Reports by the Company and the Trustee
SECTION 5.01. Lists of Holders. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee, semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each March 1 and September 1 in each year beginning with March 15, 2017, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request (or such lesser time as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to enable it to timely provide any notice to be provided by it hereunder), a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15 days (or such other date as the Trustee may reasonably request in order to so provide any such notices) prior to the time such information is furnished, except that no such list need be furnished so long as the Trustee is acting as Note Registrar.
SECTION 5.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists. The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 or maintained by the Trustee in its capacity as Note Registrar, if so acting. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
ARTICLE 6
Defaults and Remedies
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. Each of the following events shall be an “Event of Default” with respect to the Notes:
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(a) default by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable, if the default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) default by the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in the payment of principal of any Note when due and payable on the Maturity Date, upon any required repurchase, upon optional redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;
(c) failure by the Company to comply with its obligation to convert the Notes in accordance with this Indenture upon exercise of a Holder’s conversion right and such failure continues for a period of 5 Business Days;
(d) failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice in accordance with Section 15.02(c) or notice of a specified corporate event in accordance with Section 14.01(b)(ii) or 14.01(b)(iii), in each case, when due and such failure continues for a period of 5 Business Days;
(e) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article 11;
(f) failure by the Company for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding has been received by the Company to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture; provided, however, that the Company will have 90 days (rather than 60 days) after the receipt of such written notice to remedy, or receive a waiver for, any failure to comply with the Company’s obligations under this Indenture so long as the Company is attempting to cure such failure as promptly as reasonably practicable;
(g) default by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed if either:
(i) such default results in the acceleration of the maturity of any such indebtedness having a principal amount of $75 million or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other such indebtedness the maturity of which has been so accelerated, in the aggregate, or
(ii) such default results from the failure to pay when due principal of any such indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period (a “payment default”), having a principal amount of $75 million or more individually or, taken together with the principal amount of any other indebtedness under which there has been a payment default, in the aggregate;
provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration is rescinded, or such indebtedness is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond any applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequent acceleration of the Notes will be
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rescinded, so long as any such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree or applicable provision of law;
(h) [Reserved];
(i) the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding, (C) consents to the appointment of a Bankruptcy Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or (E) admits in writing that it generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due;
(j) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief (with respect to the petition commencing such case) against the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in an involuntary case or proceeding, (B) appoints a Bankruptcy Custodian of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or for all or substantially all of its property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, and in each case the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or
(k) a Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect or a Subsidiary Guarantor denies (other than by reason of the release of the guarantee in accordance with the terms of this Indenture) or disaffirms its obligations with respect thereto.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Bankruptcy Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment. If one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company), unless the principal of all of the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders shall, declare 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable, anything contained in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all Notes shall become and shall automatically be immediately due and payable.
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The immediately preceding paragraph, however, is subject to the conditions that if, at any time after the principal of the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay installments of accrued and unpaid interest upon all Notes and the principal of any and all Notes that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, and on such principal at the rate borne by the Notes at such time) and amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06, and if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) any and all existing Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on Notes that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.09, then and in every such case (except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence) the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Notes and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences and such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any Default or Event of Default resulting from (i) the nonpayment of the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, any Notes, (ii) a failure to repurchase any Notes when required or (iii) a failure to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes.
SECTION 6.03. [Reserved].
SECTION 6.04. Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor. If an Event of Default described in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 shall have occurred, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on any overdue principal and interest, if any, at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06. If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.
In the event there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Notes under any Bankruptcy Law, or in case a Bankruptcy Custodian shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company or such other obligor, the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the
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event of any other judicial proceedings relative to the Company or such other obligor upon the Notes, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.04, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in respect of the Notes, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such other actions as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Notes, its or their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any Bankruptcy Custodian is hereby authorized by each of the Holders to make such payments to the Trustee, as administrative expenses, 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 reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements, including agents and counsel fees, and including any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06, incurred by it up to the date of such distribution. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, monies, securities and other property that the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting such Holder or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.
In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and in any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Notes parties to any such proceedings.
In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of any waiver pursuant
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to Section 6.09 or any rescission and annulment pursuant to Section 6.02 or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Holders and the Trustee shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Holders and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
SECTION 6.05. Application of Monies Collected by Trustee. Any monies or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 6 with respect to the Notes shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such monies or property, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:
First, to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.06;
Second, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on, and any cash due upon conversion of, the Notes in default in the order of the date due of the payments of such interest and cash due upon conversion, as the case may be, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon such overdue payments at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;
Third, in case the principal of the outstanding Notes shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, and be unpaid to the payment of the whole amount (including, if applicable, the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) then owing and unpaid upon the Notes for principal and interest, if any, with interest on the overdue principal and, to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee, upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and in case such monies shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Notes, then to the payment of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and the cash due upon conversion) and interest without preference or priority of principal over interest, or of interest over principal or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Note over any other Note, ratably to the aggregate of such principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and any cash due upon conversion) and accrued and unpaid interest; and
Fourth, to the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company.
SECTION 6.06. Proceedings by Holders. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal (including, if applicable, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) or interest when due, or the right to receive payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, no Holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of
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an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof, as herein provided;
(b) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee such security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense to be incurred therein or thereby;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of such security or indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and
(e) no direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding within such 60-day period pursuant to Section 6.09,
it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Note with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holder, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such Holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders (except as otherwise provided herein). For the protection and enforcement of this Section 6.06, each and every Holder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture and any provision of any Note, the right of any Holder to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, of (x) the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price, if applicable) of, (y) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and (z) the consideration due upon conversion of, such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note or in this Indenture, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be, and such right to receive payment or delivery, as the case may be, on or after such respective dates shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, no amendment to, or deletion or waiver of any of, the covenants set forth in this Indenture or any action taken by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor not prohibited by this Indenture (in each case other than with respect to actions described Article 10 that require the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected) shall be deemed to impair or affect any rights of any Holder to receive such payment or delivery.
SECTION 6.07. Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as are necessary to protect and enforce any of
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such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
SECTION 6.08. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. Except as provided in Section 6.06, all powers and remedies given by this Article 6 to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or any acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, every power and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.
SECTION 6.09. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders. Subject to the Trustee’s right to receive security or indemnity satisfactory to it from the Holders as described in this Indenture, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04 shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes; provided, however, that (a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and (b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that it determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (determined in accordance with Section 8.04 and including waivers obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, the Notes) may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes and by notice to the Trustee, waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, other than a Default or Event of Default (i) in the payment of principal of, or interest on, any Note or in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price, (ii) arising from the Company’s failure to pay or deliver the consideration due upon conversion of any Note in accordance with this Indenture or (iii) in respect of any provision under this Indenture that under Article 10 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holders of each outstanding Note affected. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.09, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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SECTION 6.10. Notice of Defaults. The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence and continuance of a Default of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge, send to all Holders as the names and addresses of such Holders appear upon the Note Register, notice of all Defaults known to a Responsible Officer, unless such Defaults shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice; provided that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable), or accrued and unpaid interest on, any of the Notes or a Default in the payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
SECTION 6.11. Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, 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 Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section 6.11 (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined in accordance with Section 8.04, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on any Note (including, but not limited to, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) on or after the due date expressed or provided for in such Note or to any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Note, or receive the consideration due upon conversion, in accordance with the provisions of Article 14.
ARTICLE 7
Concerning the Trustee
SECTION 7.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiver of all Events of Default that may have occurred, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In the event an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of 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; provided that if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
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(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred:
(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations 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 gross negligence and willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);
(b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined as provided in Section 8.04 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;
(d) whether or not therein provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01;
(e) the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the Company or any Paying Agent or any records maintained by any co-Note Registrar with respect to the Notes;
(f) if any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee had actual knowledge of such event;
(g) 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
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limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(h) in the absence of written investment direction from the Company, all cash received by the Trustee shall be placed in a non-interest bearing trust account, and in no event shall the Trustee be liable for the selection of investments or for investment losses incurred thereon or for losses incurred as a result of the liquidation of any such investment prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investments prior to its maturity date or the failure of the party directing such investment to provide timely written investment direction, and the Trustee shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any amounts held hereunder in the absence of such written investment direction from the Company; and
(i) in the event that the Trustee is also acting as Custodian, Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or transfer agent hereunder, the rights, privileges and immunities afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article 7 shall also be afforded to such Custodian, Note Registrar, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or transfer agent.
None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers. The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties under this Indenture.
SECTION 7.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, Etc. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, coupon or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;
(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel and require an Opinion of Counsel and any advice of such counsel or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
(d) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or
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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 Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;
(e) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, custodians, nominees or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, custodian, nominee or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder;
(f) the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties;
(g) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or by any Holder of the Notes;
(h) the Trustee shall not be obligated to take possession of any Common Stock, whether upon conversion or in connection with any discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Article 3 hereof, but shall satisfy its obligation as Conversion Agent by working through the stock transfer agent of the Company from time to time as directed by the Company; and
(i) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
SECTION 7.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent will be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or the proceeds thereof, or for any funds received and disbursed in accordance with this Indenture. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability with respect to any information, statement or recital in the Offering Circular or other disclosure material prepared or distributed with respect to the issuance of the Notes.
SECTION 7.04. Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes. Subject to Section 8.04, the Trustee, any Paying
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Agent, any Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar.
SECTION 7.05. Monies and Shares of Common Stock to Be Held in Trust. All monies and shares of Common Stock received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Money and shares of Common Stock held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money or shares of Common Stock received by it hereunder except as may be agreed from time to time by the Company and the Trustee.
SECTION 7.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to in writing between the Trustee and the Company, and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture in any capacity hereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall have been caused by its gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee in any capacity under this Indenture and any other document or transaction entered into in connection herewith and its agents and any authenticating agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee (as determined by a final non-appealable order of a court of competent jurisdiction), its officers, directors, agents or employees, or such agent or authenticating agent, as the case may be, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or in any other capacity hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06 to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except, subject to the effect of Section 6.05, funds held in trust herewith for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company. The obligation of the Company under this Section 7.06 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal or the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent. The indemnification provided in this Section 7.06 shall extend to the officers, directors, agents and employees of the Trustee.
Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee and its agents and any authenticating agent incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or Section 6.01(j) occurs, the
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expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.
SECTION 7.07. Officers’ Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such Officers’ Certificate, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture in reliance thereon.
SECTION 7.08. Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act (as if the Trust Indenture Act were applicable hereto) to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.08, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article 7.
SECTION 7.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee. (a) The Trustee may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by delivering notice thereof to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Company, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the delivering of such notice of resignation to the Holders, the resigning Trustee may, upon ten Business Days’ notice to the Company and the Holders, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months (or since the date of this Indenture) may, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur:
(i) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or
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(ii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in either case, the Company may by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Company, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months (or since the date of this Indenture) may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, as determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may at any time remove the Trustee by notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing not less than 30 days prior to the effective date of such removal, and nominate a successor trustee that shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee unless within ten days after notice to the Company of such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case the Trustee so removed or any Holder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in Section 7.09(a) provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor trustee.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.09 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.10.
SECTION 7.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.09 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a senior claim to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by such trustee as such, except for funds held in trust for the benefit of Holders of particular Notes, to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.
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No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 7.10 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.
Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 7.10, each of the Company and the successor trustee, at the written direction and at the expense of the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 7.11. Succession by Merger, Etc. Any corporation or other entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of this Indenture), shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that in the case of any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee such corporation or other entity shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.
In case at the time such successor 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 or authenticating agent appointed by such 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 or an authenticating agent appointed by such successor trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor 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; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
SECTION 7.12. Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company. Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company (other than with regard to any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Trustee that affects the rights of the Holders of the Notes under this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any officer of the Company has received such application (determined in accordance with Section 17.03), unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date), unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of any omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in
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accordance with this Indenture in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.
ARTICLE 8
Concerning the Holders
SECTION 8.01. Action by Holders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action, the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article 9, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver or to take any other action under this Indenture. The right of any Holder to participate in any action or consent required or sought pursuant to any provision of this Indenture (and the obligation of the Company to obtain any such consent otherwise required from such Holder) may be subject to the requirement that such Holder shall have been the Holder of record of any Notes with respect to which such action or consent is required or sought as of the record date identified by the Company in a notice furnished to Holders in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the provisions of the immediately succeeding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated agents or proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consents from Holders of the principal amount of Notes required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.
Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his or her Note or portion of a Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before a date and time therefor identified by the Company in a notice furnished to such Holder in accordance with the terms of this Indenture or, if no such date and time shall be identified, the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
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After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (j) of Section 10.02 hereof. In such case, the amendment, supplement or waiver shall bind each Holder who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note.
SECTION 8.02. Proof of Execution by Holders. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, Section 7.02 and Section 9.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or its agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register or by a certificate of the Note Registrar. The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.
SECTION 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. The Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent and any Note Registrar may deem the Person in whose name a Note shall be registered upon the Note Register to be, and may treat it as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by any Person other than the Company or any Note Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and (subject to Section 2.03) accrued and unpaid interest on such Note, for conversion of such Note and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Conversion Agent nor any Note Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments or deliveries so made to any Holder for the time being, or upon its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sums or shares of Common Stock so paid or delivered, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for monies payable or shares deliverable upon any such Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes, with respect to any Global Note, nothing in this Indenture shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any Depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such Global Notes or impair, as between such Depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such Global Note, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such Global Note.
SECTION 8.04. Company-Owned Notes Disregarded. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company, by any Subsidiary thereof or by any Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent, waiver or other action only Notes that a Responsible Officer actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 8.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to so act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Subsidiary thereof or an Affiliate of the Company or a Subsidiary thereof. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers’ Certificate listing
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and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers’ Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.
ARTICLE 9
Holders’ Meetings
SECTION 9.01. Purpose of Meetings. A meeting of Holders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article 9 for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee or to give any directions to the Trustee permitted under this Indenture, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder (in each case, as permitted under this Indenture) and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Holders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article 6;
(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 7;
(c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Notes under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
SECTION 9.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Holders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting and the establishment of any record date pursuant to Section 8.01, shall be delivered to Holders of such Notes at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Notes. Such notice shall also be sent to the Company. Such notices shall be delivered not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
Any meeting of Holders shall be valid without notice if the Holders of all Notes then outstanding are present in person or by proxy or if notice is waived before or after the meeting by the Holders of all Notes then outstanding, and if the Company and the Trustee are either present by duly authorized representatives or have, before or after the meeting, waived notice.
SECTION 9.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Holders. In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate
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principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Holders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have delivered the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Holders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by delivering notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.
SECTION 9.04. Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more Notes on the record date pertaining to such meeting. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
SECTION 9.05. Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders, in regard to proof of the holding of Notes and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.
The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Holders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes represented at the meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, at any meeting of Holders each Holder or proxyholder shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held or represented by him or her; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Note challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Notes held by it or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating it as the proxy to vote on behalf of other Holders. Any meeting of Holders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or Section 9.03 may be adjourned from time to time by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Notes represented at the meeting, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
SECTION 9.06. Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders shall be by written ballot on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders or of their representatives by proxy and the outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in
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duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was delivered as provided in Section 9.02. The record shall show the aggregate principal amount of the Notes voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
SECTION 9.07. No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing contained in this Article 9 shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Holders or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Notes.
ARTICLE 10
Supplemental Indentures
SECTION 10.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. The Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by applicable Board Resolutions, and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for the assumption by a successor entity of the Company’s obligations or the obligations of a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture in accordance with Article 11 or Article 13;
(c) to add or release guarantees with respect to the Notes, as provided for by this Indenture;
(d) to secure the Notes;
(e) to add to the covenants or Events of Default of the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or the Subsidiary Guarantors;
(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect;
(g) in connection with any Merger Event, to provide that the Notes are
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convertible into Reference Property, subject to the provisions of Section 14.02, and make such related changes to the terms of the Notes to the extent expressly required by Section 14.07;
(h) to increase the Conversion Rate;
(i) to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes to the “Description of the Notes” Section of the Offering Circular, as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee;
(j) to provide for the issuance of additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.10(a);
(k) to elect one or more or eliminate any of the Settlement Methods or elect a Specified Dollar Amount for all conversions; and
(l) to provide for a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article 7.
Upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 10.01 may be executed by the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 10.02.
SECTION 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article 8) of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (determined in accordance with Article 8 and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes), the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors, when authorized by applicable Board Resolutions, and the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders; provided, however, that, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no such supplemental indenture shall:
(a) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment of this Indenture or to waive any past Default or Event of Default;
(b) reduce the rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;
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(c) reduce the principal of or extend the Maturity Date of any Note;
(d) make any change that impairs or adversely affects the conversion rights of any Notes or to institute suit for the enforcement of such conversion rights;
(e) reduce the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of any Note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the Holders the Company’s obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;
(f) make any Note payable in a currency, or at a place of payment, other than that stated in the Note;
(g) contractually subordinate the Notes in right of payment to any of the Company’s other unsecured Indebtedness;
(h) release any Subsidiary Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or this Indenture other than in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(i) modify the provisions with respect to the redemption of any Notes in a manner adverse to the Holders of Notes; or
(j) make any change in this Article 10 that requires each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions in Section 6.02 or Section 6.09.
Upon the written request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid and subject to Section 10.05, the Trustee shall join with the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.
Holders do not need under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture. It shall be sufficient if such Holders approve the substance thereof. After any such supplemental indenture becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture, unless a current report on Form 8-K (or any successor form thereto) is timely filed by the Company describing the amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the supplemental indenture.
SECTION 10.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the
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terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 10.04. Notation on Notes. Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 may, at the Company’s expense, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may, at the Company’s expense, be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee (or an authenticating agent duly appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 17.10) and delivered in exchange for the Notes then outstanding, upon surrender of such Notes then outstanding.
SECTION 10.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to Be Furnished Trustee. In addition to the documents required by Section 17.05, the Trustee shall receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article 10 and is permitted or authorized by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 11
Consolidation, Merger, Sale, Conveyance and Lease
SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into any Person, or sell, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any Person, unless:
(a) the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall be made (collectively, the “Successor”), is a corporation, limited liability company, general partnership or limited partnership organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor assumes by supplemental indenture in a form satisfactory to the Trustee all of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes; provided, that unless the Successor is a corporation, a corporate co-issuer of the Notes will be added to this Indenture by such supplemental indenture; and
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
SECTION 11.02. Successor to Be Substituted. Upon any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, lease or disposition in accordance with Section 11.01, the Trustee shall be notified by the Company or the Successor, and the Successor formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, conveyance, lease or disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such Successor had been named as the
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Company herein and thereafter (except in the case of a lease) the predecessor will be relieved of all further obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes. Such Successor thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company any or all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Notes that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the Officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Notes that such Successor thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Notes so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Notes theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Notes had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.
In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Notes thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee. No such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or disposition shall be effective unless the Trustee shall receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or disposition and any such assumption and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, complies with the provisions of this Article 11.
ARTICLE 12
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors
SECTION 12.01. Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on any Note, nor for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Note or Guarantee, nor because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any director, officer, employee or shareholder, as such, of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor or of any Affiliate of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor, either directly or through the Company or any Successor or any Subsidiary Guarantor, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Notes.
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ARTICLE 13
Guarantees
SECTION 13.01. Unconditional Guarantee. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guarantees, as principal obligor and not only as surety (such guarantee to be referred to herein as the “Guarantee”), to each Holder the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any premium and interest on, the Notes and all other amounts due and payable under this Indenture and the Notes by the Company whether at Maturity or otherwise, including, without limitation, interest on the overdue principal of, and any premium and interest on, the Notes, to the extent lawful, all in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof; subject, however, to the limitations set forth in Section 13.05.
Failing payment when due of any amount so guaranteed for whatever reason, the Subsidiary Guarantors will be jointly and severally obligated to pay the same immediately. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be unconditional, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of the Notes or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, any waiver or consent by any Holder of the Notes with respect to any provisions hereof or thereof, the recovery of any judgment against the Company, any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of insolvency or bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest, notice and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Notes, this Indenture and in this Guarantee. If any Holder or the Trustee is required by any court or otherwise to return to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor, any amount paid by the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Trustee or such Holder, this Guarantee, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect. Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in relation to the Holders in respect of any obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all obligations guaranteed hereby. Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that, as between each Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the obligations guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of this Guarantee, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6, such obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by each Subsidiary Guarantor for the purpose of this Guarantee.
SECTION 13.02. Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. (a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this Section 13.02, no Subsidiary Guarantor (other than a Subsidiary Guarantor whose Guarantee is to be released in accordance with this Indenture) may consolidate or merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person) another Person unless (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary
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Guarantor under this Indenture and the Notes pursuant to a supplemental indenture, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and (ii) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists. In connection with any consolidation or merger contemplated by this Section 13.02, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture, if any, comply with this Indenture. This Section 13.02(a) is not applicable to a merger between Subsidiary Guarantors or a merger between the Company and a Subsidiary Guarantor.
(b) In the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any Subsidiary Guarantor or a sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor, in any case by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, then such Subsidiary Guarantor (in the event of a sale or other disposition, by way of such a merger, consolidation or otherwise, of all of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor) or the Person acquiring the assets (in the event of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor) will be automatically released and relieved of any obligations under its Guarantees.
SECTION 13.03. Addition of Subsidiary Guarantors.
(a) The Company shall cause each domestic Subsidiary of the Company that shall become a Subsidiary of the Company after the Issue Date and that guarantees any other Indebtedness of the Company or a Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary of the Company shall guarantee the payment of the Notes pursuant to the terms hereof within 180 days after the later of (i) the date that Subsidiary becomes a domestic Subsidiary and (ii) the date that Subsidiary guarantees such other Indebtedness; provided that no guarantee shall be required if the Subsidiary merges into the Company or merges into an existing Subsidiary Guarantor and the surviving entity remains a Subsidiary Guarantor.
(b) Any Person that was not a Subsidiary Guarantor on the date of this Indenture may become a Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Trustee (i) a supplemental indenture in form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee, which subjects such Person to the provisions of this Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor, and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized and executed by such Person and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Person (subject to such customary exceptions concerning creditors’ rights and equitable principles as may be acceptable to the Trustee in its discretion and provided that no opinion need be rendered concerning the enforceability of the Guarantee) and complying with the requirements of Section 17.05.
SECTION 13.04. Release of a Subsidiary Guarantor. Upon (i) the sale or disposition of a Subsidiary Guarantor (or all or substantially all of its assets) or (ii) the cessation by a Subsidiary Guarantor to guarantee any other Indebtedness of the Company or any other Subsidiary Guarantor other than a De Minimis Guaranteed Amount, in each case which is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Indenture, including but not limited to the provisions of Section 13.02, such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be automatically released from all
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of its Guarantee and related obligations in this Indenture without any further action by the Trustee, the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor. The Trustee shall deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing any such release upon receipt of a written request by the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate. Any Subsidiary Guarantor not so released remains liable for the full amount of principal of and interest on the Notes as provided in this Article 13.
SECTION 13.05. Limitation of Subsidiary Guarantor’s Liability. Each Subsidiary Guarantor, and by its acceptance hereof each Holder, hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such parties that the guarantee by such Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to its Guarantee not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of any federal, state or foreign law. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Holders and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby irrevocably agree that the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee shall be limited to the maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Subsidiary Guarantor under its Guarantee or pursuant to Section 13.06, result in the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under the Guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal, state or foreign law. This Section 13.05 is for the benefit of the creditors of each Subsidiary Guarantor, and, for purposes of applicable fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance law, any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to Credit Facilities shall be deemed to have been incurred prior to the incurrence by such Subsidiary Guarantor of its liability under the Guarantee.
SECTION 13.06. Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution among the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors agree, inter se, that in the event any payment or distribution is made by any Subsidiary Guarantor (a “Funding Guarantor”) under the Guarantee, such Funding Guarantor shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in a pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets of each Subsidiary Guarantor (including the Funding Guarantor) for all payments, damages and expenses incurred by the Funding Guarantor in discharging the Company’s obligations with respect to the Notes or any other Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guarantee.
SECTION 13.07. Severability. In case any provision of this Guarantee shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that portion of such provision that is not invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall remain in effect, and the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
ARTICLE 14
Conversion of Notes
SECTION 14.01. Conversion Privilege. (a) Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article 14, each Holder of a Note shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is a minimum of $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) of such Note (i) subject to satisfaction of the conditions described in Section 14.01(b), at any time prior to the close of business on the
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Business Day immediately preceding June 15, 2026 under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 14.01(b), and (ii) regardless of the conditions described in Section 14.01(b), on or after June 15, 2026 and prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in each case, at an initial conversion rate of 116.7134 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in this Article 14, the “Conversion Rate”) per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (subject to, and in accordance with, the settlement provisions of Section 14.02, the “Conversion Obligation”).
(b) (i) Prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding June 15, 2026, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes for conversion at any time during the five Business Day period immediately after any five consecutive Trading Day period (the “Measurement Period”) in which the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, as determined following a request by a Holder of Notes in accordance with this subsection (b)(i), for each Trading Day of the Measurement Period was less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on each such Trading Day and the Conversion Rate on each such Trading Day. The Trading Prices shall be determined by the Bid Solicitation Agent pursuant to this subsection (b)(i) and the definition of Trading Price set forth in this Indenture. At such time as the Company directs the Bid Solicitation Agent in writing to solicit bid quotations, the Company shall provide the Bid Solicitation Agent with the names and contact details of the three independent nationally recognized securities dealers selected by the Company pursuant to the definition of Trading Price, and the Company shall direct those securities dealers to provide bids to the Bid Solicitation Agent. The Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes unless the Company has requested such determination, and the Company shall have no obligation to make such request (or, if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price) unless a Holder of Notes provides the Company with written notice that includes reasonable evidence that the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes on any Trading Day would be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on such Trading Day and the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day, at which time the Company shall instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) to determine, or if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall determine, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes beginning on the next Trading Day and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate. If (x) the Company is not acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Company does not, when it is required to, instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent to obtain bids, or the Company gives such instruction to the Bid Solicitation Agent, and the Bid Solicitation Agent fails to make such determination, or (y) the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent and the Company fails to make such determination, then, in each case, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each Trading Day of such failure. If the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Company shall so notify in writing the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee). If, at any time after the Trading Price condition set forth above has been met, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the
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Common Stock and the Conversion Rate for such date, the Company shall so notify in writing the Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee). The Company initially shall act as Bid Solicitation Agent.
(ii) If, prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding June 15, 2026, the Company elects to:
(A) issue to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance; or
(B) distribute to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock the Company’s assets, securities or rights to purchase securities of the Company, which distribution has a per share value, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, exceeding 10% of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day preceding the date of announcement for such distribution,
then, in either case, the Company shall notify all Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) at least 35 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution. Once the Company has given such notice, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes for conversion at any time until the earlier of (1) the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution and (2) the Company’s announcement that such issuance or distribution will not take place, in each case, even if the Notes are not otherwise convertible at such time. Holders of the Notes may not exercise the conversion right set forth in this Section 14(b)(ii) if such Holders will participate (as a result of holding the Notes, and at the same time and on the same terms as holders of Common Stock participate) in any of the transactions described in this Section 14(b)(ii) as if such Holders of the Notes held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate, multiplied by the principal amount of Notes held by such Holders divided by $1,000, without having to convert their Notes.
(iii) If a transaction or event that constitutes a Fundamental Change or a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding June 15, 2026, regardless of whether a Holder has the right to require the Company to repurchase the Notes pursuant to Section 15.02, or if the Company is a party to a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange, sale, conveyance, lease or other disposal of all or substantially all of its assets prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding June 15, 2026, in each case, pursuant to which the Common Stock would be converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other assets, all or any portion of a Holder’s Notes may be surrendered for conversion at any time from or after the date that is 40 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the anticipated effective date of the transaction (or, if later, the Business Day after the Company gives notice of such transaction) until 35 Trading Days after the actual effective
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date of such transaction or, if such transaction also constitutes a Fundamental Change, until the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) (x) as promptly as practicable following the date the Company publicly announces such transaction but in no event less than 40 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction or (y) if the Company does not have knowledge of such transaction at least 40 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the anticipated effective date of such transaction, within one Business Day of the date upon which the Company receives notice, or otherwise becomes aware, of such transaction, but in no event later than the actual effective date of such transaction.
(iv) Prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding June 15, 2026, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes for conversion at any time during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on December 31, 2016 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on, and including, the last Trading Day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter exceeds 130% of the Conversion Price on each of such 20 Trading Days. The Company shall determine at the beginning of each calendar quarter commencing after December 31, 2016 whether the Notes may be surrendered for conversion in accordance with this clause (iv) and shall notify in writing the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) if the Notes become convertible in accordance with this clause (iv).
(v) If the Company calls a Holder’s Notes for redemption pursuant to Article 16, such Holder shall have the right to convert such Holder’s Notes until the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the applicable Redemption Date (or, if the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price in respect of such redemption, such date on which such default is no longer continuing), after which time such right to convert will expire.
SECTION 14.02. Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion. (a) Subject to this Section 14.02, Section 14.03(b) and Section 14.07(a), upon conversion of any Note, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the converting Holder, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, cash (“Cash Settlement”), shares of Common Stock, together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of delivering any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section 14.02 (“Physical Settlement”) or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of delivering any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with subsection (j) of this Section 14.02 (“Combination Settlement”), at its election, as set forth in this Section 14.02.
(i) All conversions (i) for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after June 15, 2026 or (ii) of Notes called for redemption shall, in each case, be settled using the same Settlement Method.
(ii) Except for any conversions described in Section 14.02(a)(i), the Company shall use the same Settlement Method for all conversions with the same Conversion Date, but the Company shall not have any obligation to use the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions with different Conversion Dates.
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(iii) If, in respect of any Conversion Date or Notes called for redemption (or the period described in the third immediately succeeding set of parentheses, as the case may be), the Company elects to deliver a notice (the “Settlement Notice”) of the relevant Settlement Method in respect of such Conversion Date (or such period, as the case may be), the Company shall deliver such Settlement Notice in writing to converting Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) no later than the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date (or (i) in the case of any conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after June 15, 2026, no later than the close of business on the Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding June 15, 2026 and (ii) in the case of any conversions for Notes called for redemption, the date the Company delivers the Redemption Notice). If the Company does not elect a Settlement Method for a conversion prior to the deadline set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, the Company shall no longer have the right to elect Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement for such conversion and the Company shall be deemed to have elected Physical Settlement in respect of its Conversion Obligation. Such Settlement Notice shall specify the relevant Settlement Method and in the case of an election of Combination Settlement for a conversion, the relevant Settlement Notice shall indicate the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes. If the Company delivers a Settlement Notice electing Combination Settlement in respect of its Conversion Obligation but does not timely notify converting Holders of the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be deemed to be $1,000.
(iv) The cash, shares of Common Stock or combination of cash and shares of Common Stock in respect of any conversion of Notes (the “Settlement Amount”) shall be computed as follows:
(A) if the Company elects (or is deemed to have elected) to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Physical Settlement, the Company shall deliver to the converting Holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date;
(B) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Cash Settlement, the Company shall pay to the converting Holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted cash in an amount equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each of the 25 consecutive Trading Days during the related Observation Period; and
(C) if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Combination Settlement, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted, a Settlement Amount equal to the sum of the Daily Settlement Amounts for each of the 25 consecutive Trading Days during the related Observation Period.
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(v) The Daily Settlement Amounts (if applicable) and the Daily Conversion Values (if applicable) shall be determined by the Company promptly following the last day of the Observation Period. Promptly after such determination of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash payable in lieu of delivering any fractional share of Common Stock, the Company shall notify the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and the amount of cash payable in lieu of delivering fractional shares of Common Stock. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall have no responsibility for any such determination.
(b) Subject to Section 14.02(e), before any Holder of a Note shall be entitled to convert a Note as set forth above, such Holder shall (i) in the case of a Global Note, comply with the procedures of the Depositary in effect at that time and, if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(h) and (ii) in the case of a Physical Note (1) complete, manually sign and deliver an irrevocable notice to the Conversion Agent as set forth in the Form of Notice of Conversion (or a facsimile thereof) (a “Notice of Conversion”) at the office of the Conversion Agent and state in writing therein the principal amount of Notes to be converted and the name or names (with addresses) in which such Holder wishes the certificate or certificates for any shares of Common Stock to be delivered upon settlement of the Conversion Obligation to be registered, (2) surrender such Notes, duly endorsed to the Company or in blank (and accompanied by appropriate endorsement and transfer documents), at the office of the Conversion Agent, (3) if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and (4) if required, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(h). The Trustee (and if different, the Conversion Agent) shall notify the Company of any conversion pursuant to this Article 14 on the Conversion Date for such conversion. No Notice of Conversion with respect to any Notes may be surrendered by a Holder thereof if such Holder has also delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to the Company in respect of such Notes and has not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with Section 15.03.
If more than one Note shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the Conversion Obligation with respect to such Notes shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted thereby) so surrendered.
(c) A Note shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the date (the “Conversion Date”) that the Holder has complied with the requirements set forth in subsection (b) above. Except as set forth in Section 14.03(b) and Section 14.07(a), the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, the consideration due in respect of the Conversion Obligation on the third Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date, if the Company elects Physical Settlement, or on the third Business Day immediately following the last Trading Day of the Observation Period, in the case of any other Settlement Method. If any shares of Common Stock are due to converting Holders, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued, and deliver (if applicable) to the Conversion Agent
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or to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, the full number of shares of Common Stock to which such Holder shall be entitled, in certificate form or in book-entry format, in satisfaction of the Company’s Conversion Obligation.
(d) In case any Note shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Holder of the Note so surrendered a new Note or Notes in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Note, without payment of any service charge by the converting Holder but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or similar governmental charge required by law or that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such conversion being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such conversion.
(e) If a Holder submits a Note for conversion, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax that may be imposed by the United States or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority thereof or therein due on the issue of any shares of Common Stock upon conversion, unless the tax is due because the Holder requests such shares to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name, in which case the Holder shall pay that tax. The Company shall not be required to make any payment with respect to any other tax, assessment or governmental charge imposed by any other government or political subdivision or taxing authority thereof. The Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver or refuse to instruct the stock transfer agent to deliver the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock being issued in a name other than the Holder’s name until the Trustee receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax that is due by such Holder in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.
(f) Except as provided in Section 14.04, no adjustment shall be made for dividends on any shares of Common Stock issued upon the conversion of any Note as provided in this Article 14.
(g) Upon the conversion of an interest in a Global Note, the Trustee, or the Custodian at the direction of the Trustee, shall make a notation on such Global Note as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversion of Notes effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.
(h) Upon conversion, a Holder shall not receive any separate cash payment for accrued and unpaid interest, if any, except as set forth below. The Company’s settlement of the full Conversion Obligation shall be deemed to satisfy in full its obligation to pay the principal amount of the Note and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date. As a result, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date shall be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. Upon a conversion of Notes into a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be deemed to be paid first out of the cash paid upon such conversion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Notes are
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converted after the close of business on a Regular Record Date, Holders of such Notes as of the close of business on such Regular Record Date will receive the full amount of interest payable on such Notes on the corresponding Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion. Notes surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the open of business on the immediately following Interest Payment Date must be accompanied by funds equal to the amount of interest payable on the Notes so converted; provided that no such payment shall be required (1) for conversions following the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date; (2) if the Company has specified a Redemption Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately following the corresponding Interest Payment Date and the relevant Conversion Date occurs after such Record Date and on or prior to such Interest Payment Date; (3) if the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately following the corresponding Interest Payment Date and the relevant Conversion Date occurs after such Record Date and on or prior to such Interest Payment Date; or (4) to the extent of any Defaulted Amounts, if any Defaulted Amounts exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Note. Therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, all Holders of record at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date shall receive the full interest payment due on the Maturity Date regardless of whether their Notes have been converted following such Regular Record Date.
(i) The Person in whose name the shares of Common Stock shall be issuable upon conversion shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the close of business on the relevant Conversion Date (if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation by Physical Settlement) or the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period (if the Company elects to satisfy the related Conversion Obligation by Combination Settlement), as the case may be. Upon a conversion of Notes, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such Notes surrendered for conversion.
(j) The Company shall not issue any fractional share of Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes and shall instead pay cash in lieu of delivering any fractional share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion based on the Daily VWAP for the relevant Conversion Date (in the case of Physical Settlement) or based on the Daily VWAP for the last Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period (in the case of Combination Settlement). For each Note surrendered for conversion, if the Company has elected Combination Settlement, the full number of shares that shall be issued upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate Daily Settlement Amounts for the relevant Observation Period and any fractional shares remaining after such computation shall be paid in cash.
(k) Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall have any duty to determine whether any of the conditions to conversion set forth in Section 14.01 have been satisfied.
SECTION 14.03. Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Surrendered in Connection with Make-Whole Fundamental Changes. (a) If the Effective Date of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs prior to the Maturity Date and a Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company
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shall, under the circumstances described below, increase the Conversion Rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”), as described in this Section 14.03. A conversion of Notes shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such Make-Whole Fundamental Change if the relevant Notice of Conversion is received by the Conversion Agent from, and including, the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change up to, and including, the Business Day immediately prior to the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (or, in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change that would have been a Fundamental Change but for the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof, the 35th Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change).
(b) Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change pursuant to Section 14.01(b)(iii), the Company shall, at its option, satisfy the related Conversion Obligation by Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement in accordance with Section 14.02; provided, however, that if, at the effective time of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Reference Property following such Make-Whole Fundamental Change consists entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Conversion Obligation shall be calculated based solely on the Stock Price for the transaction and shall be deemed to be an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to the Conversion Rate (including any adjustment for Additional Shares), multiplied by such Stock Price. In such event, the Conversion Obligation shall be determined and paid to Holders in cash on the third Business Day following the Conversion Date. The Company shall notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the Effective Date of any Make-Whole Fundamental Change and issue a press release announcing such Effective Date no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date.
(c) The number of Additional Shares, if any, by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased shall be determined by reference to the table below, based on the date on which the Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs or becomes effective (the “Effective Date”) and the price (the “Stock Price”) paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of the Common Stock in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. If the holders of the Common Stock receive in exchange for their Common Stock only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Stock Price shall be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the Stock Price shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the five Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. The Board of Directors of the Company shall make appropriate adjustments to the Stock Price, in its good faith determination, to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date, Effective Date (as such term is used in Section 14.04) or expiration date of the event occurs during such five consecutive Trading Day period.
(d) The Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table below shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate of the Notes is otherwise adjusted.
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The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares set forth in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 14.04.
(e) The following table sets forth the number of Additional Shares of Common Stock by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased per $1,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to this Section 14.03 for each Stock Price and Effective Date set forth below:
Stock Price | |||||||||||
Effective Date | $6.12 | $7.00 | $8.00 | $8.57 | $9.50 | $11.14 | $15.00 | $20.00 | $30.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
October 5, 2016 | 46.6852 | 36.9744 | 27.1819 | 23.0403 | 17.3685 | 11.7841 | 6.3683 | 3.7498 | 1.5974 | 0.5947 | 0.1153 |
September 15, 2017 | 46.6852 | 34.7337 | 24.6987 | 20.4183 | 14.7572 | 9.2745 | 4.6861 | 2.7665 | 1.2081 | 0.4625 | 0.0885 |
September 15, 2018 | 46.6852 | 32.3099 | 21.9380 | 17.4197 | 11.5013 | 6.1311 | 2.5300 | 1.5110 | 0.6782 | 0.2667 | 0.0435 |
September 15, 2019 | 46.6852 | 30.8440 | 19.9535 | 14.8634 | 7.6955 | 0.1536 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
September 15, 2020 | 46.6852 | 29.8429 | 19.5468 | 14.6458 | 7.7092 | 0.1606 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
September 15, 2021 | 46.6852 | 29.2323 | 18.7279 | 14.2174 | 7.5829 | 0.1410 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
September 15, 2022 | 46.6852 | 28.8273 | 17.8083 | 13.3550 | 7.2365 | 0.1417 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
September 15, 2023 | 46.6852 | 28.7350 | 17.3169 | 12.6397 | 6.6235 | 0.1427 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
September 15, 2024 | 46.6852 | 28.6085 | 16.6667 | 11.8018 | 5.7171 | 0.1487 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
September 15, 2025 | 46.6852 | 27.8342 | 15.2918 | 10.3905 | 4.4404 | 0.1029 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
September 15, 2026 | 46.6852 | 26.1438 | 8.2866 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 | 0.0000 |
The exact Stock Prices and Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:
(i) if the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table above or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices and the earlier and later Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year;
(ii) if the Stock Price is greater than $50.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate; and
(iii) if the Stock Price is less than $6.12 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above pursuant to subsection (d) above), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate per $1,000 principal amount of Notes exceed 163.3986 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04.
(f) Nothing in this Section 14.03 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.
(g) For the avoidance of doubt, if a Holder converts its Notes prior to the Effective Date of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, then, whether or not such Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs, the Holder shall not be entitled to an increased Conversion Rate in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change.
SECTION 14.04. Adjustment of Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company if any of the following events occurs, except that the Company shall not make any adjustments to the Conversion Rate if Holders of the Notes have the right to participate (other than in the case of (x) a share split or share combination or (y) a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in any of the transactions described in this Section 14.04, without having to convert their Notes, as if they held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the effective time for such adjustment, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder.
(a) If the Company exclusively issues shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on shares of the Common Stock, or if the Company effects a share split or share combination, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:
CR1 = CR0 x | OS1 |
OS0 |
where,
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the Effective Date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date; and
OS1=the number of shares of Common Stock that would be outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.
Any adjustment made under this Section 14.04(a) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or
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distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the Effective Date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 14.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors of the Company determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.
(b) If the Company issues to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock any rights, options or warrants (other than in connection with a shareholder rights plan) entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:
CR1 = CR0 x | OS0 + X |
OS0 + Y |
where,
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
X=the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and
Y=the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants.
Any increase made under this Section 14.04(b) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance. To the extent that shares of the Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the
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Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance had not occurred.
For purposes of this Section 14.04(b) and for the purpose of Section 14.01(b)(ii)(A), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement for such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company in good faith.
(c) If the Company distributes shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness, other assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire its Capital Stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, excluding (i) dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 14.04(a) or Section 14.04(b), (ii) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which the provisions set forth in Section 14.04(d) shall apply, and (iii) Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this Section 14.04(c) shall apply (any of such shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, other assets or property or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock or other securities, the “Distributed Property”), then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:
CR1 = CR0 x | SP0 |
SP0 – FMV |
where,
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;
SP0=the average of the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and
FMV=the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) of the Distributed Property with respect to each outstanding share of the Common Stock on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.
Any increase made under the portion of this Section 14.04(c) above shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock receive the Distributed Property, the amount and kind of Distributed Property such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Ex-Dividend Date for the distribution. If the Board of Directors of the Company determines the “FMV” of any distribution for purposes of this Section 14.04(c) by reference to the actual or when-issued trading market for any securities, it shall in doing so consider the prices in such market over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.
With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 14.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company, that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:
CR1 = CR0 x | FMV0 + MP0 |
MP0 |
where,
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the end of the Valuation Period;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the end of the Valuation Period;
FMV0=the average of the Daily VWAP of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Common Stock applicable to one share of the Common Stock (determined by reference to the definition of Daily VWAP as set forth in Section 1.01 as if references therein to Common Stock were to such Capital Stock or similar equity interest) over the first 10 consecutive Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and
MP0=the average of the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock over the Valuation Period.
The increase to the Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph shall be determined on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period but will be given effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off; provided that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Physical Settlement is applicable, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the Valuation Period, references in the portion of this Section 14.04(c) related to Spin-Offs to 10 Trading Days shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Dividend Date of such Spin-Off and the Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate and (y) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement is applicable, for any Trading Day that falls within the relevant Observation Period for such conversion and within the Valuation Period, references in the portion of this Section 14.04(c) related to Spin-Offs to 10
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Trading Days shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Dividend Date of such Spin-Off and such Trading Day in determining the Conversion Rate as of such Trading Day. If the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off is after the 10th Trading Day immediately preceding, and including, the end of any Observation Period in respect of a conversion of Notes, references in the preceding paragraph and this paragraph to 10 Trading Days will be deemed to be replaced, solely in respect of that conversion of Notes, with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off to, and including, the last Trading Day of such Observation Period.
For purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and subject in all respect to Section 14.11), rights, options or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of the Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, including Common Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights, options or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”): (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of the Common Stock; (ii) are not exercisable; and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of the Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under this Section 14.04(c). If any such right, option or warrant, including any such existing rights, options or warrants distributed prior to the date of this Indenture, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights, options or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and Ex-Dividend Date with respect to new rights, options or warrants with such rights (in which case the existing rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to terminate and expire on such date without exercise by any of the holders thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights, options or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the immediately preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) was made, (1) in the case of any such rights, options or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or purchased without exercise by any holders thereof, upon such final redemption or purchase (x) the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options or warrants had not been issued and (y) the Conversion Rate shall then again be readjusted to give effect to such distribution, deemed distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or purchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights, options or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights, options or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or purchase, and (2) in the case of such rights, options or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options and warrants had not been issued.
For purposes of Section 14.04(a), Section 14.04(b) and this Section 14.04(c), if any dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable also includes one or both of (A) a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock to which Section 14.04(a) is applicable (the “Clause A Distribution”); or (B) a dividend or distribution of rights, options or
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warrants to which Section 14.04(b) is applicable (the “Clause B Distribution”), then, in either case, (1) such dividend or distribution, other than the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution, shall be deemed to be a dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable (the “Clause C Distribution”) and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by this Section 14.04(c) with respect to such Clause C Distribution shall then be made, and (2) the Clause A Distribution and Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to immediately follow the Clause C Distribution and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 14.04(a) and Section 14.04(b) with respect thereto shall then be made, except that, if determined by the Company (I) the “Ex-Dividend Date” of the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to be the Ex-Dividend Date of the Clause C Distribution and (II) any shares of Common Stock included in the Clause A Distribution or Clause B Distribution shall be deemed not to be “outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or Effective Date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(a) or “outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(b).
(d) If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:
CR1 = CR0 x | SP0 |
SP0 − C |
where,
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;
SP0=the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and
C=the amount in cash per share the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock.
Any increase pursuant to this Section 14.04(d) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors of the Company determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of the Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate on the Ex-Dividend Date for such cash dividend or distribution.
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(e) If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries make a payment in respect of a tender or exchange offer for the Common Stock, to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of the Common Stock exceeds the average of the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:
CR1 = CR0 x | AC + (SP1 x OS1) |
OS0 x SP1 |
where,
CR0=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
CR1=the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires;
AC=the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company) paid or payable for shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer;
OS0=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);
OS1=the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to the purchase of all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and
SP1=the average of the Daily VWAP of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires.
The increase to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(e) shall be determined at the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires but will be given effect immediately after the open of business on the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires; provided that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Physical Settlement is applicable, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references in this Section 14.04(e) with respect to 10 Trading Days and 10th Trading Day shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the date that such tender or exchange offer expires and such Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate and (y) in respect of any conversion
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of Notes for which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement is applicable, for any Trading Day that falls within the relevant Observation Period for such conversion and within the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the expiration date of any tender or exchange offer, references in this Section 14.04(e) with respect to 10 Trading Days and 10th Trading Day shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the expiration date of such tender or exchange offer and such Trading Day in determining the Conversion Rate as of such Trading Day. In addition, if the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires is after the 10th Trading Day immediately preceding, and including, the end of any Observation Period in respect of a conversion of Notes, references in the preceding paragraph and this paragraph to 10 Trading Days and 10th Trading Day shall be deemed to be replaced, solely in respect of that conversion of Notes, with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires to, and including, the last Trading Day of such Observation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this subsection (e), the term “tender offer” is used as such term is used in the Exchange Act and the term “exchange offer” means an exchange offer that constitutes a tender offer.
(f) Notwithstanding this Section 14.04 or any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes, if a Conversion Rate adjustment becomes effective on any Ex-Dividend Date, and a Holder that has converted its Notes on or after such Ex-Dividend Date and on or prior to the related Record Date would be treated as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock as of the related Conversion Date as described under Section 14.02(i) based on an adjusted Conversion Rate for such Ex-Dividend Date, then, notwithstanding the Conversion Rate adjustment provisions in this Section 14.04, the Conversion Rate adjustment relating to such Ex-Dividend Date shall not be made for such converting Holder. Instead, such Holder shall be treated as if such Holder were the record owner of the shares of Common Stock on an unadjusted basis and participate in the related dividend, distribution or other event giving rise to such adjustment.
In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if, in the case of any conversion of a Note to which Combination Settlement applies:
(i) the record date for any issuance, dividend or distribution, the effective date for any share split or combination or the expiration date for any tender or exchange offer by the Company or its Subsidiaries that, in each case, would require an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to any of Section 14.04(a) through (e) occurs on or after the first Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period and on or prior to the last Trading Day of such Observation Period; and
(ii) the Daily Settlement Amount for any Trading Day in such Observation Period that occurs on or prior to such record date, effective date or expiration date includes shares of the Common Stock that do not entitle their holder to participate in such event and is calculated based on a Conversion Rate that is not adjusted on account of such event;
then, on account of such conversion, the Company shall, on such record date, effective date or expiration date, treat the Holder, as a result of having converted such Notes, as though it were the
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record holder of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the total number of shares of Common Stock that (x) are deliverable as part of the Daily Settlement Amount for each Trading Day in such Observation Period that occurs on or prior to such record date, effective date or expiration date and that is calculated based on a Conversion Rate that is not adjusted for such event; and (y) if not for this provision, would not entitle the Holder to participate in such event.
(g) Except as stated herein, the Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate for the issuance of shares of the Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of the Common Stock or the right to purchase shares of the Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities.
(h) In addition to those adjustments required by clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 14.04, and subject to the applicable rules of any exchange on which any of the Company’s securities are then listed, the Company from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least 20 Business Days if the Board of Directors of the Company determines that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest. In addition, subject to the applicable rules of any exchange on which any of the Company’s securities are then listed, the Company may (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase Common Stock in connection with a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock (or rights to acquire shares of Common Stock) or similar event. Whenever the Conversion Rate is increased pursuant to either of the preceding two sentences, the Company shall mail to the Holder of each Note at its last address appearing on the Note Register, or otherwise send in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Notes, a notice of the increase at least 15 days prior to the date the increased Conversion Rate takes effect, and such notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period during which it will be in effect.
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 14, the Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted:
(i) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any plan;
(ii) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit, compensation or stock purchase plan or program of or assumed by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;
(iii) upon the issuance of any shares of the Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in clause (ii) of this subsection and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued;
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(iv) upon the repurchase of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an open-market share repurchase program or other buyback transaction that is not a tender offer or exchange offer of the nature described in Section 14.04(e);
(v) solely for a change in the par value of the Common Stock; or
(vi) for accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
(j) All calculations and other determinations under this Article 14 shall be made by the Company and shall be made to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to make an adjustment to the Conversion Rate unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least one percent in the then effective Conversion Rate; provided, however, that any such minor adjustments that are not required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment; provided, further, that any such adjustment of less than one percent that has not been made shall be made upon the occurrence of (i) the Effective Date of any Make-Whole Fundamental Change or any Fundamental Change, (ii) in the case of any Note to which Physical Settlement applies, the relevant Conversion Date, and, in the case of any Note to which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement applies, each Trading Day of the applicable Observation Period and (iii) every one year anniversary of the first date of original issuance of the Notes. In addition, the Company shall not account for such deferrals when determining whether any of the conditions to conversion as described in Section 14.01 have been satisfied or what number of shares of Common Stock a Holder would have held on a given day had it converted its Notes.
(k) Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee (and the Conversion Agent if not the Trustee) an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any duty to deliver the Officers’ Certificate referred to in this paragraph or otherwise notify Holders of any adjustments to the Conversion Rate. For purposes of this Section 14.04, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company so long as the Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, but shall include shares of Common Stock issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock.
SECTION 14.05. Adjustments of Prices. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Company to calculate the Last Reported Sale Prices, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values or the Daily Settlement Amounts over a span of multiple days (including an Observation Period and the period for determining the Stock Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change), the Board of Directors of the Company shall make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-
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Dividend Date, Effective Date or expiration date, as the case may be, of the event occurs, at any time during the period when the Last Reported Sale Prices, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values or the Daily Settlement Amounts are to be calculated.
SECTION 14.06. Reservation of Shares. The Company shall reserve, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares or shares held in treasury, sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion (assuming delivery of the maximum number of Additional Shares pursuant to Section 14.03, that at the time of computation of such number of shares, all such Notes would be converted by a single Holder and that Physical Settlement were applicable).
SECTION 14.07. Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Common Stock. (a) In the case of:
(i) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination),
(ii) any consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company,
(iii) any sale, conveyance, lease or other disposal of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any Person, or
(iv) any statutory share exchange,
in each case, as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “Merger Event”), then, at and after the effective time of such Merger Event, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) that a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such Merger Event would have owned or been entitled to receive (the “Reference Property,” with each “unit of Reference Property” meaning the kind and amount of Reference Property that a holder of one share of Common Stock is entitled to receive) upon such Merger Event and, prior to or at the effective time of such Merger Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture permitted under Section 10.01(g) providing for such change in the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes; provided, however, that at and after the effective time of the Merger Event (A) the Company shall continue to have the right to determine the form of consideration to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, upon conversion of Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 and (B) (I) any amount payable in cash upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall continue to be payable in cash, (II) any shares of Common Stock that the Company would have been required to deliver upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall instead be deliverable in the amount and type of Reference Property that a holder of that number of shares of Common Stock would have been entitled to receive in such Merger Event and (III) the Daily VWAP shall be calculated based on the value of a unit of Reference Property.
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If the Merger Event causes the Common Stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), then (i) the Reference Property into which the Notes will be convertible or used to calculate the Daily VWAP, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be (x) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Common Stock that affirmatively make such an election or (y) if no holders of Common Stock affirmatively make such an election, the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of Common Stock, and (ii) the unit of Reference Property for purposes of the immediately preceding paragraph shall refer to the consideration referred to in clause (i) attributable to one share of Common Stock. If the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in such Merger Event, then for all conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs after the effective date of such Merger Event (A) the consideration due upon conversion of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the effective date of such Merger Event (as may be increased by any Additional Shares pursuant to Section 14.03), multiplied by the price paid per share of Common Stock in such Merger Event and (B) the Company shall satisfy the Conversion Obligation by paying cash to converting Holders on the third Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.
Such supplemental indenture described in the second immediately preceeding paragraph shall provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as is possible to the adjustments provided for in this Article 14. If, in the case of any Merger Event, the Reference Property includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) of a Person other than the successor or purchasing corporation, as the case may be, in such Merger Event, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other Person and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Notes as the Board of Directors of the Company shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing, including the provisions providing for the purchase rights set forth in Article 15.
(b) When the Company executes a supplemental indenture pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 14.07, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of cash, securities or property or asset that will comprise a unit of Reference Property after any such Merger Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent have been complied with, and shall promptly mail notice thereof to all Holders. The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each Holder, at its address appearing on the Note Register, or otherwise send in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Notes, provided for in this Indenture, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.
(c) The Company shall not become a party to any agreement providing for any Merger Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 14.07. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a holder of Notes to convert its Notes into cash, shares of
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Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, as set forth in Section 14.01 and Section 14.02 prior to the effective date of such Merger Event.
(d) The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Merger Events.
SECTION 14.08. Certain Covenants. (a) The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Notes will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Company and free from all taxes, liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof.
(b) The Company further covenants that if at any time the Common Stock shall be listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system the Company will list and keep listed, so long as the Common Stock shall be so listed on such exchange or automated quotation system, any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes.
SECTION 14.09. Responsibility of Trustee. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock or Reference Property, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article 14. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 14.07 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 14.07 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officers’ Certificate (which the Company shall be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event contemplated by Section 14.01(b) has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent the notices referred to in Section 14.01(b) with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notices to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent immediately after the occurrence of any such event or at such other times as shall be provided for in Section 14.01(b).
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SECTION 14.10. Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions. In case of any:
(a) action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 or Section 14.11;
(b) Merger Event; or
(c) voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
then, in each case (unless notice of such event is otherwise required pursuant to another provision of this Indenture), the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) and to be mailed to each Holder at its address appearing on the Note Register, or otherwise send in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Notes, as promptly as possible but in any event at least 20 days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record are to be determined for the purposes of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) the date on which such Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, Merger Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.
SECTION 14.11. Stockholder Rights Plans. If the Company has a stockholder rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Notes, each share of Common Stock, if any, issued upon such conversion shall be entitled to receive the appropriate number of rights, if any, and the certificates representing the Common Stock issued upon such conversion shall bear such legends, if any, in each case as may be provided by the terms of any such stockholder rights plan, as the same may be amended from time to time. However, if, prior to any conversion of Notes, the rights have separated from the shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable stockholder rights plan, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock Distributed Property as provided in Section 14.04(c), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights. For the avoidance of doubt, no adjustment shall be made to the Conversion Rate in connection with a dividend or distribution in respect of a shareholder rights plan except as set forth in this Section 14.11.
ARTICLE 15
Repurchase of Notes at Option of Holders
SECTION 15.01. [Reserved].
SECTION 15.02. Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change. (a) If a Fundamental Change occurs at any time, each Holder shall have the right, at such
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Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion thereof that is equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, on the date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) specified by the Company that is not less than 20 calendar days or more than 35 calendar days following the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”), unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date falls after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the Interest Payment Date to which such Regular Record Date relates, in which case the Company shall instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to Holders of record as of such Regular Record Date, and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased pursuant to this Article 15.
(b) Repurchases of Notes under this Section 15.02 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon delivery to the Paying Agent on or before the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date:
(i) of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth in Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, if the Notes are Physical Notes, or in compliance with the Depositary’s procedures for surrendering interests in Global Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes; and
(ii) of the Notes, if the Notes are Physical Notes (together with all necessary endorsements for transfer), or book-entry transfer of the Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary, in each case such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor.
The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in respect of any Notes to be repurchased shall state:
(i) in the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be delivered for repurchase;
(ii) the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be at least $1,000 or an integral multiple in excess thereof; and
(iii) that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;
provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with appropriate Depositary procedures.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 15.02 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the
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Fundamental Change Repurchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 15.03.
The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.
(c) On or before the 20th day after the occurrence of the effective date of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall provide to all Holders of Notes and the Trustee and the Paying Agent (in the case of a Paying Agent other than the Trustee) a notice (the “Fundamental Change Company Notice”) of the occurrence of the effective date of the Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof. Simultaneously with providing such notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing the information set forth in the Fundamental Change Company Notice in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time. Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:
(i) the events causing the Fundamental Change;
(ii) the date of the Fundamental Change;
(iii) the last date on which a Holder may exercise the repurchase right pursuant to this Article 15;
(iv) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;
(v) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;
(vi) the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent, if applicable;
(vii) if applicable, the Conversion Rate and any adjustments to the Conversion Rate;
(viii) that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and
(ix) the procedures that Holders must follow to require the Company to repurchase their Notes.
No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 15.02.
At the Company’s request to the Trustee made at least five Business Days prior to the date on which such notice is to be sent (or such shorter period as agreed by the Trustee), the
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Trustee shall give such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Fundamental Change Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company on any date at the option of the Holders upon a Fundamental Change if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes). The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Notes held by it during the acceleration of the Notes (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes), or any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary shall be deemed to have been cancelled, and, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.
SECTION 15.03. Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. (l) A Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn (in whole or in part) by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 15.03 at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, specifying:
(i) the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted,
(ii) if Physical Notes have been issued, the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and
(iii) the principal amount, if any, of such Note that remains subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which portion must be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000;
provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the notice must comply with appropriate procedures of the Depositary.
SECTION 15.04. Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. (a) The Company will deposit with the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company, or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04) on or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date an amount of money sufficient to repurchase all of the Notes to be repurchased at the appropriate Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Subject to receipt of funds and/or Notes by the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), payment for Notes surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date) will be made on the later of (i) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (provided the Holder has satisfied the conditions in Section 15.02) and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the
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Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 15.02 by mailing checks for the amount payable to the Holders of such Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear in the Note Register; provided, however, that payments to the Depositary shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. The Trustee shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.
(b) If by 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) holds money sufficient to make payment on all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be repurchased on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, then, with respect to the Notes that have been properly surrendered for repurchase and have not been validly withdrawn, (i) such Notes will cease to be outstanding, (ii) interest will cease to accrue on such Notes (whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes has been made or the Notes have been delivered to the Trustee or Paying Agent) and (iii) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes will terminate (other than the right to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and, if applicable, accrued and unpaid interest).
(c) Upon surrender of a Note that is to be repurchased in part pursuant to Section 15.02, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unrepurchased portion of the Note surrendered.
SECTION 15.05. Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes. In connection with any repurchase offer pursuant to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the Company will:
(a) if required, comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable; and
(b) if required, file a Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange Act;
in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this Article 15 to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in this Article 15. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that compliance with this Article 15 would result in a violation of any federal or state securities laws or other applicable laws or regulations, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and other laws or regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations by virtue of such conflict.
SECTION 15.06. Satisfaction of Company’s Fundamental Change Repurchase Obligations. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company may satisfy certain of its obligations under this Article 15 as follows: in the case of a Fundamental Change pursuant to clauses (a) and/or (b) of the definition thereof, the Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase Notes upon the occurrence of such Fundamental Change as would otherwise be required under this Article 15 to the extent, and solely to the extent, that the other party to such
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Fundamental Change (or its affiliate) (i) makes such an offer to purchase the Notes in the same manner, at the same time and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Article 15 that would be applicable to such an offer by the Company (including, without limitation, the requirement to comply with applicable securities laws under the provisions in this Article 15) and (ii) purchases all Notes properly tendered and not validly withdrawn under such offer to purchase all in compliance with the requirements set forth under this Article 15 (including, without limitation, the requirement to pay the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Price on the later of the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of the relevant Notes); provided that, the Company will continue to be obligated to (x) deliver the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice to the Holders, the Trustee and the Paying Agent (which Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, in addition to the requirements under Section 15.02, states that such party will make such an offer to purchase the Notes) and to, simultaneously with such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, publish a notice containing such information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time, (y) comply with applicable securities laws under the provisions of this Article 15 in connection with any such purchase and (z) pay the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Price on the later of the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of the relevant Notes in the event such party fails to make such payment in such amount at such time. The provisions of this Section 15.06 described above will be limited to the matters set forth above and shall not be deemed or otherwise construed to (a) limit any of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture or the Notes (except solely to the extent expressly set forth in the provisions of this Indenture described above in this Section 15.06 and subject to the conditions set forth above in this Section 15.06) or (b) prejudice any right, power or remedy which the Trustee or Holders of the Notes may then have or may have in the future under or in connection with thus Indenture or the Notes.
ARTICLE 16
Optional Redemption
SECTION 16.01. Right to Redeem. The Company shall not redeem the Notes prior to September 15, 2019, and no sinking fund is provided for the Notes.
(a) On or after September 15, 2019, the Company may from time to time redeem any or all of the Notes in cash at the applicable Redemption Price if the Last Reported Sale Price per share of the Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of the Redemption Notice exceeds 130% of the applicable Conversion Price for the Notes on each of such 20 Trading Days.
(b) The Company may elect to redeem any or all of the Notes pursuant to this Section 16.01 by providing a Redemption Notice pursuant to Section 16.03, not more than 55 Scheduled Trading Days but not less than 35 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that 15 calendar days prior to delivery of any Redemption Notice (or such shorter period agreed to by the Trustee) to the Holders, the Company will deliver an
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Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee (upon which the Trustee may conclusively rely) certifying that the Company is entitled to redeem the Notes in accordance with this Section 16.01. Within one Business Day after with providing such Redemption Notice, the Company shall issue a press release and publish such information on the Company’s website.
SECTION 16.02. Redemption Price. The “Redemption Price” for the Notes to be redeemed on any Redemption Date shall be calculated by the Company and be an amount equal to (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed; plus (ii) any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the Redemption Date. If the Redemption Date falls after a Regular Record Date for the payment of interest and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Company shall not pay accrued and unpaid interest to the Holder of Notes being redeemed, and will instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, payable on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of record as of the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date and the Redemption Price shall be an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed.
SECTION 16.03. Redemption Notice. Notice of redemption (a “Redemption Notice”) shall be given in accordance with Section 17.03, to each Holder of Notes (with a copy to the Trustee) to be redeemed not more than 55 Scheduled Trading Days but not less than 35 Scheduled Trading Days (in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of any Global Note) prior to the Redemption Date.
(a) The Redemption Notice shall state:
(i) the Redemption Date;
(ii) the Redemption Price;
(iii) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Note, and that interest thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on and after said date;
(iv) the place or places where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;
(v) that Holders have a right to convert the Notes called for redemption upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in this Indenture;
(vi) the time at which the Holders’ right to convert the Notes called for redemption will expire, which will be the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date;
(vii) the procedures a converting Holder must follow to convert its Notes;
(viii) the Conversion Rate; and
(ix) the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if any, assigned to such Notes.
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(b) A Redemption Notice shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company; provided that the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least five Business Days before the Redemption Notice is required to be given (or such shorter period agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and attaching the form of Redemption Notice and including the information to be stated in such notice.
(c) A Redemption Notice, if given in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not a Holder receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such Redemption Notice or any defect in the Redemption Notice to the Holder of any Notes shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Notes.
(d) A Redemption Notice shall be irrevocable.
SECTION 16.04. Payment of Notes Called for Redemption. (a) If any Redemption Notice has been given in respect of the Notes in accordance with Section 16.03, the Notes shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date at the place or places stated in the Redemption Notice and at the applicable Redemption Price. On presentation and surrender of the Notes at the place or places stated in the Redemption Notice, the Notes shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price. Any Notes redeemed by the Company shall be paid in cash.
(b) Prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent or, if the Company is acting as the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 7.05, an amount of cash (in immediately available funds if deposited on the Redemption Date) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price for all of the Notes to be redeemed on such Redemption Date. Subject to the Paying Agent holding money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price for all of the Notes to be redeemed on such Redemption Date, upon surrender of any Note for redemption in accordance with the Redemption Notice, payment for the Notes to be redeemed shall be made on the Redemption Date for such Notes.
(c) Any cash amounts due upon redemption in respect of the Notes presented for redemption shall be paid by the Company to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees. The Paying Agent shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Redemption Price.
SECTION 16.05. Redemptions in Part. If less than all of the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select the Notes to be redeemed in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, by lot, on a pro rata basis or by another method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate, subject, in each case, to compliance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary in the case of Global Notes. If a portion of the Notes is selected for partial redemption and the Holder of such Notes converts a portion of its Notes, the converted portion shall be deemed to be from the portion selected for redemption, except to the extent of the excess, if any, of such converted portion over such portion selected for redemption.
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SECTION 16.06. Restrictions on Redemption. The Company may not redeem the Notes on any date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or prior to the Redemption Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the applicable Redemption Price with respect to such Notes).
ARTICLE 17
Miscellaneous Provisions
SECTION 17.01. [Reserved].
SECTION 17.02. Official Acts by Successor. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or Officer of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation or other entity that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable.
SECTION 17.03. Addresses for Notices, Etc. Any notice or communication to the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee shall be sufficiently given if in writing in English and delivered in person or mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), e-mail in PDF format, facsimile, telecopier or overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery, addressed as follows:
If to the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor: | |||
Chesapeake Energy Corporation 6100 North Western Avenue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73118 Attention: Treasurer Facsimile: (405) 849-6119 | |||
If to the Trustee: | |||
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas Trust & Agency Services 60 Wall Street, 16th Floor Mail Stop: NYC60-1630 New York, New York 10005 Attention: Corporates Deal Team Manager - Chesapeake Energy Corporation Facsimile: (732) 578-4635 | |||
with a copy to: | |||
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas c/o Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Trust & Agency Services 100 Plaza One |
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Mail Stop: JCY03-0699 Jersey City, New Jersey 07311 Attention: Corporates Deal Team Manager - Chesapeake Energy Corporation Facsimile: (732) 578-4635 | |||
The Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail in PDF format, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail in PDF format or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its reasonable discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s reasonable understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reasonable reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of incidents of actual use by the Company of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception by third parties.
All notices and communications described above shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when sent, if by e-mail in PDF format; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed or telecopied; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight courier guaranteeing next day delivery.
Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed to it by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register and shall be sufficiently given to it if so mailed within the time prescribed; provided that, in the case of Global Notes, notices given to Holders and beneficial owners may be given through the facilities of the Depositary.
Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
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SECTION 17.04. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE AND EACH GUARANTEE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE, EACH GUARANTEE AND EACH NOTE, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF THAT WOULD APPLY THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION).
SECTION 17.05. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that such action is permitted by the terms of this Indenture.
Each Officers’ Certificate provided for, by or on behalf of the Company in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with this Indenture (other than the Officers’ Certificates provided for in Section 4.08) shall include (a) a statement that the person signing such certificate is familiar with the requested action and this Indenture; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement contained in such certificate is based; (c) a statement that, in the judgment of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed judgment as to whether or not such action is permitted by this Indenture; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the judgment of such person, such action is permitted by this Indenture.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 17.05, if any provision in this Indenture specifically provides that the Trustee shall or may receive an Opinion of Counsel in connection with any action to be taken by the Trustee or the Company hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to, or entitled to request, such Opinion of Counsel.
SECTION 17.06. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.
SECTION 17.07. No Security Interest Created. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.
SECTION 17.08. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the Holders, the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, any authenticating agent, any Note Registrar and their successors hereunder, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
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SECTION 17.09. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 17.10. Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that shall be authorized to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Notes in connection with the original issuance thereof and transfers and exchanges of Notes hereunder, including under Section 2.04, Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 10.04 and Section 15.04 as fully to all intents and purposes as though the authenticating agent had been expressly authorized by this Indenture and those Sections to authenticate and deliver Notes. For all purposes of this Indenture, the authentication and delivery of Notes by the authenticating agent shall be deemed to be authentication and delivery of such Notes “by the Trustee” and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement hereunder or in the Notes for the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. Such authenticating agent shall at all times be a Person eligible to serve as trustee hereunder pursuant to Section 7.08.
Any corporation or other entity into which any authenticating agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any authenticating agent shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to the corporate trust business of any authenticating agent, shall be the successor of the authenticating agent hereunder, if such successor corporation or other entity is otherwise eligible under this Section 17.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or the authenticating agent or such successor corporation or other entity.
Any authenticating agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any authenticating agent by giving written notice of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 17.10, the Trustee may appoint a successor authenticating agent (which may be the Trustee), shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall deliver notice of such appointment to all Holders as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the Note Register.
The Company agrees to pay to the authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services although the Company may terminate the authenticating agent, if it determines such agent’s fees to be unreasonable.
The provisions of Section 7.02, Section 7.03, Section 7.04, Section 8.03 and this Section 17.10 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.
If an authenticating agent is appointed pursuant to this Section 17.10, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:
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as Authenticating Agent, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within-named Indenture. | |||
By: | |||
Authorized Signatory |
SECTION 17.11. Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
SECTION 17.12. Severability. In the event any provision of this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then (to the extent permitted by law) the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.
SECTION 17.13. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY, EACH SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION 17.14. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
SECTION 17.15. Calculations. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Stock Price, the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values, the Daily Settlement Amounts, accrued interest payable on the Notes, any Additional Interest payable on the Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, the Redemption Price and the Conversion Rate of the Notes. The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations shall be final and binding on Holders of Notes. The Company shall provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and Conversion Agent is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will
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forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder of Notes upon the request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Company.
SECTION 17.16. USA PATRIOT Act. In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including, without limitation, 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 and Agents are required to obtain, verify, record and update certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee and Agents. Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee and Agents, upon their request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee and Agents to comply with Applicable Law.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION | |
By: | /s/ Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr. |
Name: Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr. | |
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC, CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC., SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC., WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE PLAZA, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C., CHK-MAC, L.L.C., CHK UTICA, L.L.C., COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C., EMLP, L.L.C., EMPRESS, L.L.C., GSF, L.L.C., MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C., MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C., MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C., NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C., NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P., By: Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., its General Partner EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P. By: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner | |
By: | /s/ Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr. |
Name: Domenic J. Dell'Osso, Jr. | |
Title: Authorized Signatory |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee By: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company | |
By: | /s/ Robert S. Peschler |
Name: Robert S. Peschler | |
Title: Vice President | |
By: | /s/ Annie Jaghatspanyan |
Name: Annie Jaghatspanyan | |
Title: Vice President |
2
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]
[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A GLOBAL NOTE]
[UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE, OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREUNDER IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS SECURITY 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 SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF.]
NO AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY OR PERSON THAT HAS BEEN AN AFFILIATE (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OF THE COMPANY DURING THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THREE MONTHS MAY SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN UNLESS SUCH SALE OR TRANSFER IS REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR MADE PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IN A TRANSACTION THAT RESULTS IN THIS SECURITY NO LONGER BEING A “RESTRICTED SECURITY” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT).
[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A RESTRICTED SECURITY]
[THIS SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “U.S. SECURITIES ACT”) OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION. NEITHER THIS SECURITY, THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY BE OFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY
A-1
BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT (“RULE 144A”)), (2) AGREES ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ANY INVESTOR FOR WHICH IT HAS ACQUIRED SECURITIES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY OR THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF SUCH SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE “RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE”) THAT IS ONE YEAR (OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD AS IS PRESCRIBED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT AS THEN IN EFFECT OR ANY SUCCESSOR RULE WITHOUT ANY VOLUME OR MANNER OF SALE RESTRICTIONS OR COMPLIANCE BY THE ISSUER WITH ANY CURRENT PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS THEREUNDER) AFTER THE LATER OF THE ISSUE DATE AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE ISSUER OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES WERE THE OWNER OF SUCH SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR THERETO) ONLY (A) TO THE ISSUER, THE SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, (C) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER 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, OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES TO ANY REQUIREMENT OR 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 IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AND ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS 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; PROVIDED, THAT THE ISSUER, THE TRUSTEE AND THE TRANSFER AGENT SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (I) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (II) IN EACH OF THE FOREGOING CASES, TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEROR TO THE TRUSTEE.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH HOLDER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OF A PLAN, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR
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REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF ERISA OR THE CODE (“SIMILAR LAWS”), OR OF AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY SUCH PLAN, ACCOUNT OR ARRANGEMENT, (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY 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 OR (3) NO ADVICE PROVIDED BY US OR ANY OF OUR AFFILIATES HAS FORMED A PRIMARY BASIS FOR MAKING ANY INVESTMENT OR OTHER DECISION FOR OR ON BEHALF OF SUCH PLAN OR PLAN IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOTES OR THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO THE NOTES.]
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Chesapeake Energy Corporation
5.5% Convertible Senior Note due 2026
No. [_____][Initially]1 $[●]
CUSIP No. [_________]
Chesapeake Energy Corporation, a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Oklahoma (the “Company,” which term includes any successor company or other entity under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to [CEDE & CO.]2 [_______]3, or registered assigns, the principal sum [as set forth in the “Schedule of Transfers and Exchanges of Notes” attached hereto]4 [of ____ DOLLARS ($[_______])]5, which amount, taken together with the principal amounts of all other outstanding Notes, shall not, unless permitted by the Indenture, exceed $1,250,000,000 in the aggregate at any time, on September 15, 2026, and interest thereon as set forth below.
This Note shall bear interest at the rate of 5.5% per year from October 5, 2016, or from the most recent date to which interest had been paid or provided for to, but excluding, the next scheduled Interest Payment Date until September 15, 2026. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each March 15 and September 15, commencing on March 15, 2017, to Holders of record at the close of business on the preceding March 1 and September 1 (whether or not such day is a Business Day), respectively. Accrued interest on this Note shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for partial months, on the basis of actual days elapsed over a 30-day month. Additional Interest will be payable as set forth in Section 4.06(c) and Section 4.06(d) of the within-mentioned Indenture, and, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note therein shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to any of such Section 4.06(c) or Section 4.06(d), and, unless the context otherwise requires, any express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any provision therein shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions thereof where such express mention is not made. If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.
Any Defaulted Amounts shall accrue interest per annum at the rate borne by the Notes, subject to the enforceability thereof under applicable law, from, and including, the relevant payment date to, but excluding, the date on which such Defaulted Amounts shall have been paid by the Company, at its election, in accordance with Section 2.03(c) of the Indenture.
_______________________________
1 Include if a global note
2 Include if a global note
3 Include if a physical note
4 Include if a global note
5 Include if a physical note
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The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on this Note, if and so long as such Note is a Global Note, in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of such Note. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall pay the principal of any Notes (other than Notes that are Global Notes) at the office or agency designated by the Company for that purpose. The Company has initially designated the Trustee as its Paying Agent and Note Registrar in respect of the Notes and its Corporate Trust Office as a place where Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer and exchange.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, including, without limitation, provisions giving the Holder of this Note the right to convert this Note into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, on the terms and subject to the limitations set forth in the Indenture. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
This Note, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Note, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York (without regard to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof that would apply the laws of another jurisdiction).
In the case of any conflict between this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control and govern to the extent of such conflict.
This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed manually by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent under the Indenture.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORPORATION | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION | |
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within named Indenture. | |
By: | Deutsche Bank National Trust Company |
By: | |
Authorized Signatory | |
Dated:
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[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
5.5% Convertible Senior Note due 2026
5.5% Convertible Senior Note due 2026
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”), initially limited to the aggregate principal amount of $1,250,000,000 all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of October 5, 2016 (the “Indenture”), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors named therein and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Holders of the Notes. Additional Notes may be issued in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture. Capitalized terms used in this Note and not defined in this Note shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture.
In case certain Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of, and interest on, all Notes may be declared, by either the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, and upon said declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors will make all payments and deliveries in respect of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date, and the principal amount on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the Holder who surrenders a Note to a Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Note. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee in certain circumstances, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, and in certain other circumstances, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures modifying the terms of the Indenture and the Notes as described therein. It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain exceptions, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the principal (including the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price, if applicable) of, accrued and unpaid interest on, and the consideration due upon conversion of, this Note at the place, at the respective times, at
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the rate and in the lawful money or shares of Common Stock, as the case may be, herein prescribed.
The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples in excess thereof. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, without payment of any service charge but, if required by the Company, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer or similar tax that may be imposed in connection therewith.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company may redeem this Note on or after September 15, 2019 under certain conditions specified in Article 16 of the Indenture. This Note does not benefit from a sinking fund.
Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.
Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder hereof has the right, at its option, during certain periods and upon the occurrence of certain conditions specified in the Indenture, prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, to convert any Notes or portion thereof that is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, at the Conversion Rate specified in the Indenture, as adjusted from time to time as provided in the Indenture.
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ABBREVIATIONS
The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:
TEN COM = as tenants in common
UNIF GIFT MIN ACT = Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
CUST = Custodian
TEN ENT = as tenants by the entireties
JT TEN = joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common
Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.
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NOTATION OF GUARANTEE
The Subsidiary Guarantors (which term includes any successor Persons under the Indenture) have guaranteed, jointly and severally, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Notes by the Company.
The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor to the Holders of Notes and to the Trustee pursuant to its Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article 13 of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Guarantee.
(signature page follows)
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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS: CHESAPEAKE ENERGY LOUISIANA CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE ENERGY MARKETING, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE E&P HOLDING CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE NG VENTURES CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE OPERATING, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE PLAINS, LLC, CHK ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC., SPARKS DRIVE SWD, INC., WINTER MOON ENERGY CORPORATION, CHESAPEAKE AEZ EXPLORATION, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE-CLEMENTS ACQUISITION, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE EXPLORATION, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE MIDSTREAM DEVELOPMENT, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE PLAZA, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE ROYALTY, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE VRT, L.L.C., CHK-MAC, L.L.C., CHK UTICA, L.L.C., COMPASS MANUFACTURING, L.L.C., EMLP, L.L.C., EMPRESS, L.L.C., GSF, L.L.C., MC LOUISIANA MINERALS, L.L.C., MC MINERAL COMPANY, L.L.C., MIDCON COMPRESSION, L.L.C., NOMAC SERVICES, L.L.C., NORTHERN MICHIGAN EXPLORATION COMPANY, L.L.C., CHESAPEAKE LOUISIANA, L.P., By: Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C., its General Partner EMPRESS LOUISIANA PROPERTIES, L.P. By: EMLP, L.L.C., its General Partner | |
By: | |
Name: | |
Title: |
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SCHEDULE A1
SCHEDULE OF TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES OF NOTES
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
5.5% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026
The initial principal amount of this Global Note is _______ DOLLARS ($[_________]). The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Date of transfer or exchange | Amount of decrease in principal amount of this Global Note | Amount of increase in principal amount of this Global Note | Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase | Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Custodian |
_________________________________________
1Include if a global note.
ATTACHMENT 1
[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]
To: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust & Agency Services
Trust & Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 16th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60-1630
New York, New York 10005
Facsimile: (732) 578-4635
Attention: Corporates Deal Team Manager – Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Facsimile: (732) 578-4635
Attention: Corporates Deal Team Manager – Chesapeake Energy Corporation
The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby exercises the option to convert this Note, or the portion hereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, and directs that any cash payable and any shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable upon such conversion, together with any cash for any fractional share, and any Notes representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered Holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. The undersigned will pay all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes, if any, in accordance with Section 14.02(d) and Section 14.02(e) of the Indenture. Any amount required to be paid to the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Note. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.
Dated:_____________________________________________________
________________________________
Signature(s)
____________________________________________________________
Signature Guarantee
Signature(s) must be guaranteed
by an eligible Guarantor Institution
(banks, stock brokers, savings and
loan associations and credit unions)
with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program
pursuant to Securities and Exchange
Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if shares
of Common Stock are to be issued, or
Notes are to be delivered, other than
to and in the name of the registered holder.
by an eligible Guarantor Institution
(banks, stock brokers, savings and
loan associations and credit unions)
with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program
pursuant to Securities and Exchange
Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if shares
of Common Stock are to be issued, or
Notes are to be delivered, other than
to and in the name of the registered holder.
1
Fill in for registration of shares if
to be issued, and Notes if to
be delivered, other than to and in the
name of the registered holder:
to be issued, and Notes if to
be delivered, other than to and in the
name of the registered holder:
____________________________________________________
(Name)
(Name)
____________________________________________________
(Street Address)
(Street Address)
____________________________________________________
(City, State and Zip Code)
Please print name and address
(City, State and Zip Code)
Please print name and address
Principal amount to be converted (if less than all): $______,000
NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
_____________________________________________________
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number
2
ATTACHMENT 2
[FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE]
To: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust & Agency Services
Trust & Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 16th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60-1630
New York, New York 10005
Facsimile: (732) 578-4635
Attention: Corporates Deal Team Manager – Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Facsimile: (732) 578-4635
Attention: Corporates Deal Team Manager – Chesapeake Energy Corporation
The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from or on behalf of Chesapeake Energy Corporation (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the registered holder hereof in accordance with Section 15.02 of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not fall during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.
In the case of Physical Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be repurchased are as set forth below:
Dated:____________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Signature(s)
__________________________________________________
Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number
Identification Number
Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): $______,000
NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
1
ATTACHMENT 3
[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]
For value received ____________________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _________________ (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints _____________________ attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
In connection with any transfer of the within Note occurring prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, as defined in the Indenture governing such Note, the undersigned confirms that such Note is being transferred:
¨ To Chesapeake Energy Corporation, a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Notes or a subsidiary thereof; or
¨ Pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or
¨ For so long as the Notes are eligible for resale under Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to a person the undersigned reasonably believes is a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that the transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A; or
¨ Pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Dated: _________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
Signature(s)
_______________________________________________
Signature Guarantee
Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an
eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock
brokers, savings and loan associations and
credit unions) with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program pursuant
to Securities and Exchange Commission
Rule 17Ad-15 if Notes are to be delivered, other
than to and in the name of the registered holder.
eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock
brokers, savings and loan associations and
credit unions) with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program pursuant
to Securities and Exchange Commission
Rule 17Ad-15 if Notes are to be delivered, other
than to and in the name of the registered holder.
1
NOTICE: The signature on the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.
2