Form of Master Forward Sale Confirmation

EX-1.2 3 d896895dex12.htm EX-1.2 EX-1.2

Exhibit 1.2

 

 

February 26, 2020

 

To:

ONE Gas, Inc.

15 East Fifth Street

Tulsa, OK 74103

 

[From:

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10036]1

 

[From:

Bank of America, N.A.

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

From:

BofA Securities, Inc.

Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036]2

 

[From:

Mizuho Markets Americas LLC

C/O Mizuho Securities USA LLC as agent

1271 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10020

Attn: Equity Capital Markets Desk

Telephone: (212) 209-9300

E-mail: ***@***]3

 

 

Dear Sirs,

The purpose of this letter agreement (this “Master Forward Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions of certain transactions to be entered into from time to time between Party A and Party B in accordance with the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 26, 2020, among Party B; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Mizuho Securities USA LLC [(“MSUSA”)]4, as Managers; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Bank of America, N.A. and Mizuho Markets Americas LLC [(“MMA”)]5, as Forward Purchasers; and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Mizuho Securities USA LLC, as Forward Sellers (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), on one or more Trade Dates specified herein (collectively, the “Transactions” and each, a “Transaction”). This letter agreement constitutes a “Master Forward Confirmation” as referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement. Each Transaction will be evidenced by a supplemental confirmation (each, a “Supplemental Confirmation,” and each such Supplemental Confirmation, together with this Master Forward Confirmation, a “Confirmation” for purposes of the Agreement specified below) substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. [MMA is acting as principal in its capacity as Party A hereunder and MSUSA, its affiliate, is acting as agent for MMA, in its

 

1 

Insert for MS.

2 

Insert for BofA.

3 

Insert for Mizuho.

4 

Insert for Mizuho.

5 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

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capacity as Party A hereunder, and Party B hereunder. This Master Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation is a confirmation for purposes of Rule 10b-10 promulgated under the Exchange Act (as defined below). MMA is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.]6

 

1.

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2000 ISDA Definitions (the “2000 Definitions”) and the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “2002 Definitions” and, together with the 2000 Definitions, the “Definitions”), each as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”), are incorporated into each Confirmation. In the event of any inconsistency among the Agreement, this Master Forward Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation, the 2000 Definitions and the 2002 Definitions, the following will prevail in the order of precedence indicated: (i) such Supplemental Confirmation; (ii) this Master Forward Confirmation; (iii) the 2002 Definitions; (iv) the 2000 Definitions; and (v) the Agreement.

Each Confirmation together with the Agreement shall evidence a complete and binding agreement between Party A and Party B as to the subject matter and terms of the Transaction to which this Master Forward Confirmation and each related Supplemental Confirmation relate, and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto. Each Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to an agreement in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement (the “Agreement”) as if Party A and Party B had executed the Agreement in such form on the date hereof (but without any Schedule except for the election of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law). The parties hereby agree that no transaction other than the Transactions to which this Master Forward Confirmation, together with each Supplemental Confirmation hereunder, relate shall be governed by the Agreement. For purposes of the 2002 Definitions, each Transaction shall be a Share Forward Transaction.

Party A and Party B each represents to the other, with respect to each Transaction hereunder, that it has entered into such Transaction in reliance upon such tax, accounting, regulatory, legal, and financial advice as it deems necessary and not upon any view expressed by the other.

 

2.

The terms of each Transaction to which this Master Forward Confirmation relates are as follows:

General Terms:

 

Party A:    [Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC]7 [Bank of America, N.A.]8 [Mizuho Markets Americas LLC (with Mizuho Securities USA LLC acting as agent)]9
Party B:    ONE Gas, Inc.
Trade Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be, subject to the provisions under the heading “Acceleration Events” in Section 3 of this Master Forward Confirmation and the provisions under the heading “Forward Placement Notices” in Section 4 of this Master Forward Confirmation, the last Trading Day (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) of the Forward Hedge Selling Period (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction.
Effective Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the Trade Date for such

 

6 

Insert for Mizuho.

7 

Insert for MS.

8 

Insert for BofA.

9 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

2


   Transaction, or such later date on which the conditions set forth under “Conditions to Effectiveness” in Section 3 of this Master Forward Confirmation shall have been satisfied, subject to the provisions under the heading “Forward Placement Notices” in Section 4 of this Master Forward Confirmation.
Base Amount:    For each Transaction, initially, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the number of Shares equal to the Actual Sold Forward Amount (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction. For each Transaction, on each Settlement Date for such Transaction, the Base Amount for such Transaction shall be reduced by the relevant number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date.
Maturity Date:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the date that follows the Trade Date for such Transaction by the number of days, months or years set forth in the Forward Placement Notice (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for such Transaction, which number of days, months or years shall in no event be less than two (2) months nor more than eighteen (18) months (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day).
Forward Price:    For each Transaction, on the Effective Date for such Transaction, the Initial Forward Price for such Transaction, and on any other day, (1) the Forward Price for such Transaction as of the immediately preceding calendar day multiplied by (2) the sum of (i) 1 and (ii) the Daily Rate for such Transaction for such day; provided that on each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price in effect on such date shall be the Forward Price otherwise in effect on such date, minus the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.
Initial Forward Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the product of (i) an amount equal to 1 minus the Forward Hedge Selling Commission Rate (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) applicable to such Transaction and (ii) the Volume-Weighted Hedge Price, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.
Volume-Weighted Hedge Price:    For each Transaction, as specified in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be the volume-weighted average of the Sales Prices (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) per share of Forward Hedge Shares (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) sold on each Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction, as determined by the Calculation Agent; provided that, for the purposes of calculating the Initial Forward Price, each such Sales Price (other than the Sales Price for the last day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period) shall be subject to adjustment by the Calculation Agent in the same manner as the Forward Price pursuant to the definition thereof during the period from, and including, the date one Settlement Cycle

 

3


   immediately following the first Trading Day of the relevant Forward Hedge Selling Period during which the Forward Hedge Shares in respect of such Transaction are sold to, and including, the Effective Date of such Transaction.
Daily Rate:    For each Transaction and for any day, (i)(A) the Overnight Bank Rate for such day minus (B) the Spread for such Transaction divided by (ii) 365.
Overnight Bank Rate:    For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Overnight bank funding rate”, as such rate is displayed on Bloomberg Screen “OBFR01 <Index> <GO>”, or any successor page; provided that, if no rate appears for a particular day on such page, the rate for the first immediately preceding day for which a rate does so appear shall be used for such day.
Spread:    For each Transaction, as set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
Forward Price Reduction Dates:    For each Transaction, as specified in Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction, to be each date set forth under the heading “Forward Price Reduction Dates” in the Forward Placement Notice for such Transaction.
Forward Price Reduction Amount:    For any Transaction, for each Forward Price Reduction Date for such Transaction, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date on Schedule I to the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
Shares:    Common stock, USD 0.01 par value per share, of Party B (also referred to herein as the “Issuer”) (Exchange identifier: “OGS”).
Exchange:    The New York Stock Exchange.
Related Exchange(s):    All Exchanges.
Clearance System:    DTC.
Calculation Agent:    Party A. Whenever the Calculation Agent is required to act or to exercise judgment in any way with respect to any Transaction hereunder, it will do so in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.
   Following any determination, adjustment or calculation hereunder by the Calculation Agent, the Calculation Agent will upon written request by Party B promptly following such request, provide to Party B a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data but without disclosing Party A’s confidential or proprietary models or other information that may be confidential, proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination, adjustment or calculation, as the case may be.

 

4


   Following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Party A is the sole Defaulting Party, Party B shall have the right to designate an independent, nationally recognized equity derivatives dealer to replace Party A as Calculation Agent, and the parties hereto shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent.

Settlement Terms:

 

Settlement Date:    With respect to any Transaction, any Scheduled Trading Day following the Effective Date for such Transaction up to, and including, the Maturity Date for such Transaction, as designated by (a) Party A pursuant to “Termination Settlement” below or (b) Party B in a written notice (a “Settlement Notice”) that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements and is delivered to Party A at least (i) two Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Maturity Date for such Transaction, if Physical Settlement applies, and (ii) a number of Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date equal to the Notice Settlement Number (as defined below) for such Transaction, which may be the Maturity Date for such Transaction, if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies; provided that (x) the Maturity Date for such Transaction shall be a Settlement Date for such Transaction if on such date the Base Amount for such Transaction is greater than zero, (y) if Physical Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies and such Settlement Date specified above (including a Settlement Date occurring on such Maturity Date) is not a Clearance System Business Day, such Settlement Date shall be the immediately succeeding Clearance System Business Day and (z) if Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies and Party A shall have fully unwound its hedge in respect of such Transaction (or portion thereof, as applicable) during an Unwind Period (as defined below) for such Transaction by a date that is more than two Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date specified above, Party A may, by written notice to Party B, specify any Scheduled Trading Day prior to such originally specified Settlement Date for such Transaction as the Settlement Date for such Transaction. The “Notice Settlement Number” for any Transaction shall be a number of Scheduled Trading Days set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.
Settlement Shares:    In respect of any Transaction and with respect to any Settlement Date for such Transaction, a number of Shares, not to exceed the Base Amount for such Transaction, designated as such by Party B in the related Settlement Notice or by Party A pursuant to “Termination Settlement” below; provided that on the Maturity Date for such Transaction the number of Settlement Shares shall be equal to the Base Amount for such Transaction on such date.

 

5


Settlement:    In respect of any Transaction, Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, at the election of Party B as set forth in a Settlement Notice delivered on or after the Effective Date for such Transaction that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements; provided that Physical Settlement shall apply (i) if no Settlement Method is validly selected, (ii) with respect to any Settlement Shares in respect of which Party A is unable, in its good faith, commercially reasonable judgment, to unwind its hedge in respect of such Transaction (or portion thereof, as applicable) by the end of the Unwind Period for such Transaction in a manner that, in the good faith, reasonable judgment of Party A, is consistent with the requirements for qualifying for the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act or due to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares on any Exchange Business Day during such Unwind Period or (iii) to any Termination Settlement Date (as defined below under “Termination Settlement”).
Settlement Notice Requirements:    Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, a Settlement Notice delivered in respect of any Transaction by Party B that specifies Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement will not be effective to establish a Settlement Date for such Transaction or require Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement unless Party B delivers to Party A with such Settlement Notice a representation signed by Party B substantially in the following form: “As of the date of this Settlement Notice, Party B is not aware of any material nonpublic information concerning itself or the Shares, and is designating the date contained herein as a Settlement Date and is electing Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement, as the case may be, in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws.”
Unwind Period:    For any Transaction, each Exchange Business Day that is not a Suspension Day during the period from and including the first Exchange Business Day following the date Party B validly elects Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of a Settlement Date for such Transaction through the second Scheduled Trading Day preceding such Settlement Date (or the immediately preceding Exchange Business Day if such Scheduled Trading Day is not an Exchange Business Day), subject to “Termination Settlement” below. If any Exchange Business Day during an Unwind Period for any Transaction is a Disrupted Day, the Calculation Agent shall make commercially reasonable adjustments to the terms of such Transaction (including, without limitation, the Cash Settlement Amount, the number of Net Share Settlement Shares and the 10b-18 VWAP) to account for the occurrence of such Disrupted Day.
Suspension Day:    Any Exchange Business Day on which Party A determines based on the advice of counsel that Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement may violate applicable securities laws. Party A shall notify Party B if it receives such advice from its counsel.

 

6


Market Disruption Event:    Section 6.3(a)(ii) of the 2002 Definitions is hereby amended by replacing clause (ii) in its entirety with “(ii) an Exchange Disruption, or” and inserting immediately following clause (iii) the phrase “, in each case, that the Calculation Agent determines is material.”
Exchange Act:    The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
Physical Settlement:    In respect of any Transaction, on any Settlement Date for such Transaction in respect of which Physical Settlement applies, Party B shall deliver to Party A through the Clearance System the Settlement Shares for such Transaction for such Settlement Date, and Party A shall deliver to Party B, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Party B, an amount in cash equal to the Physical Settlement Amount for such Transaction for such Settlement Date, on a delivery versus payment basis. If, on any Settlement Date for any Transaction, the Shares to be delivered by Party B to Party A hereunder upon Physical Settlement are not so delivered (the “Physical Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date with respect to such Transaction occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to Party A, then the portion of the Physical Settlement Amount for such Transaction payable by Party A to Party B in respect of the Physical Deferred Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to (1) the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date multiplied by (2) the number of Physical Deferred Shares.
Physical Settlement Amount:    In respect of any Transaction and for any Settlement Date for such Transaction in respect of which Physical Settlement applies, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Forward Price for such Transaction on such Settlement Date and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Transaction for such Settlement Date.
Cash Settlement:    In respect of any Transaction, on any Settlement Date for such Transaction in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, if the Cash Settlement Amount for such Transaction for such Settlement Date is a positive number, Party A will pay such Cash Settlement Amount to Party B. If the Cash Settlement Amount for such Transaction is a negative number, Party B will pay the absolute value of such Cash Settlement Amount to Party A. Such amounts shall be paid on the relevant Settlement Date.
Cash Settlement Amount:    In respect of any Transaction and for any Settlement Date for such Transaction in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, an amount determined by the Calculation Agent equal to the difference between (1) the product of (i) (A) the average Forward Price for such Transaction over the period beginning on, and including, the date that is one Settlement Cycle

 

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   following the first day of the applicable Unwind Period for such Transaction and ending on, and including, such Settlement Date (calculated assuming no reduction to such Forward Price for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, except as set forth in clause (2) below), minus USD 0.03, minus (B) the average of the 10b-18 VWAP prices per Share on each Exchange Business Day during such Unwind Period and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Transaction for such Settlement Date and (2) the product of (i) the Forward Price Reduction Amount for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Transaction with respect to which Party A has not unwound its hedge as of such Forward Price Reduction Date.
Net Share Settlement:    In respect of any Transaction, on any Settlement Date for such Transaction in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies, if the number of Net Share Settlement Shares for such Transaction is a (i) negative number, Party A shall deliver a number of Shares to Party B equal to the absolute value of such Net Share Settlement Shares, or (ii) positive number, Party B shall deliver to Party A such Net Share Settlement Shares; provided that if Party A determines in its good faith, commercially reasonable judgment that it would be required to deliver Net Share Settlement Shares to Party B, Party A may elect to deliver a portion of such Net Share Settlement Shares on one or more dates prior to the applicable Settlement Date. If, on any Settlement Date for any Transaction, the Shares to be delivered by Party B or Party A hereunder upon Net Share Settlement are not so delivered (the “Net Share Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date with respect to such Transaction occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to such party, then the portion of the Net Share Settlement Shares for such Transaction deliverable by Party A or Party B in respect of the Net Share Deferred Shares shall be adjusted by the Calculation Agent to reflect the occurrence of such Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date.
Net Share Settlement Shares:    In respect of any Transaction and for any Settlement Date for such Transaction in respect of which Net Share Settlement applies, a number of Shares equal to (a) the number of Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date minus (b) the number of Shares Party A actually purchases during the Unwind Period for such Transaction for a total purchase price (the “Net Share Settlement Purchase Price”) equal to the difference between (1) the product of (i) the average Forward Price for such Transaction over the period beginning on, and including, the date that is one Settlement Cycle following the first day of the applicable Unwind Period for such Transaction and ending on, and including, such Settlement Date (calculated assuming no reduction to such Forward Price for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, except as set forth in clause (2) below), minus USD 0.02, and (ii) the number of Settlement Shares for such Transaction for

 

8


   such Settlement Date and (2) the product of (i) the Forward Price Reduction Amount for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period and (ii) the number of Shares with respect to which Party A has not unwound its hedge as of such Forward Price Reduction Date.
10b-18 VWAP:    For any Exchange Business Day during an Unwind Period that is not a Suspension Day, the volume-weighted average price at which the Shares trade as reported in the composite transactions for the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, excluding (i) trades that do not settle regular way, (ii) opening (regular way) reported trades on the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day, (iii) trades that occur in the last ten minutes before the scheduled close of trading on the Exchange on such Exchange Business Day and ten minutes before the scheduled close of the primary trading session in the market where the trade is effected and (iv) trades on such Exchange Business Day that do not satisfy the requirements of Rule 10b-18(b)(3), as determined in good faith by the Calculation Agent. Party B acknowledges that Party A may refer to the Bloomberg Page “OGS <Equity> AQR SEC” (or any successor thereto), in its discretion, for such Exchange Business Day to determine the 10b-18 VWAP.
Settlement Currency:    USD.
Failure to Deliver:    Inapplicable.

Adjustments:

 

Method of Adjustment:    Calculation Agent Adjustment
Additional Adjustment:    If with respect to any Transaction, in Party A’s good faith, commercially reasonable judgment, the stock loan fee to Party A (or an affiliate thereof), excluding the federal funds or other interest rate component payable by the relevant stock lender to Party A or such affiliate (the “Stock Loan Fee”), over any one month period, of borrowing a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount for such Transaction to hedge its exposure to such Transaction exceeds a weighted average rate equal to the Specified Borrow Rate for such Transaction, the Calculation Agent shall reduce the Forward Price for such Transaction in order to compensate Party A for the amount by which such Stock Loan Fee exceeded a weighted average rate equal to such Specified Borrow Rate during such period. The Calculation Agent shall notify Party B prior to making any such adjustment to such Forward Price and, upon the request of Party B, Party A shall provide an itemized list of the Stock Loan Fees for the applicable one month period. The “Specified Borrow Rate” for any Transaction shall be the per annum rate set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

Account Details:

 

Payments to Party A:    To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date.

 

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Payments to Party B:    To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date.
Delivery of Shares to Party A:    To be advised.
Delivery of Shares to Party B:    To be advised.

Offices:

The Office of Party A for each Transaction is: New York

[Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 5th Floor

New York, NY 10036]10

[Bank of America, N.A.

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park

New York, NY]11

[Mizuho Markets Americas LLC

C/O Mizuho Securities USA LLC as agent

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attn: Equity Capital Markets Desk

Telephone: (212) 209-9300

E-mail: ***@***]12

The Office of Party B for each Transaction is: Inapplicable, Party B is not a Multibranch Party.

 

3.

Other Provisions:

Opinion:

For each Transaction, Party B shall deliver to Party A an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Trade Date for such Transaction, with respect to the matters set forth in Section 3(a) of the Agreement (subject to customary exceptions, limitations, qualifications and assumptions reasonably acceptable to Dealer). Delivery of such opinion to Party A shall be a condition precedent for the purpose of Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement with respect to each obligation of Party A under Section 2(a)(i) of the Agreement.

Conditions to Effectiveness:

The effectiveness of each Supplemental Confirmation and the related Transaction on the Effective Date for such Transaction shall be subject to (i) the satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth in Section 5 of the Equity Distribution Agreement and (ii) that neither of the following has occurred: (A) Party A (or its affiliate) is unable to borrow and deliver for sale a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount for such Transaction or (B) in Party As good faith, commercially reasonable judgment, either it is impracticable to do so or Party A (or its affiliate) would incur a Stock Loan Fee to borrow a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount for such Transaction of more than a rate equal to the Specified Borrow Rate for such Transaction to do so (in which event such

 

10 

Insert for MS.

11 

Insert for BofA.

12 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

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Supplemental Confirmation and the related Transaction shall be effective but the Base Amount for such Transaction shall be the number of Shares Party A (or an affiliate thereof) is required to deliver in accordance with Section 2 of the Equity Distribution Agreement).

Representations and Agreements of Party B:

Party B (i) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of entering into any Transaction hereunder; (ii) has consulted with its own legal, financial, accounting and tax advisors in connection with each Transaction hereunder; and (iii) is entering into each Transaction hereunder for a bona fide business purpose.

Party B is not and has not been the subject of any civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction that could reasonably be expected to impair materially Party B’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.

Party B will by the next succeeding New York Business Day notify Party A upon obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Potential Adjustment Event.

Additional Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Party B: Party B hereby represents and warrants to, and agrees with, Party A as of the date hereof, on each “Forward Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for any Transaction hereunder, on each “Forward Hedge Settlement Date” (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement) for any Transaction hereunder and on each Trade Date for any Transaction hereunder that:

 

  (a)

Any Shares, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of any Transaction hereunder, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the issuance thereof will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

 

  (b)

Party B has reserved and will keep available at all times, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Shares, solely for the purpose of issuance upon settlement of any Transaction hereunder as herein provided, the full number of Shares as shall be issuable at such time upon settlement of such Transaction. All Shares so issuable shall, upon such issuance, be accepted for listing or quotation on the Exchange. Party B shall have submitted an application for the listing of the Forward Shares (as defined below) for each Transaction hereunder on the Exchange, and such application and listing shall have been approved by the Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance, in each case, on or prior to the Effective Date for such Transaction. Party B agrees and acknowledges that such submission and approval shall be a condition precedent for the purpose of Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement with respect to each obligation of Party A under Section 2(a)(i) of the Agreement in respect of the relevant Transaction.

 

  (c)

Party B agrees to provide Party A at least three Exchange Business Days’ written notice (an “Issuer Repurchase Notice”) prior to executing any repurchase of Shares by Party B or any of its subsidiaries (or entering into any contract that would require, or give the option to, Party B or any of its subsidiaries, to purchase or repurchase Shares), whether out of profits or capital or whether the consideration for such repurchase is cash, securities or otherwise (an “Issuer Repurchase”), that alone or in the aggregate would result in the Base Amount Percentage (as defined below) for all Transactions hereunder being greater by 0.5% or more than the Base Amount Percentage at the time of the immediately preceding Issuer Repurchase Notice (or in the case of the first such Issuer Repurchase Notice, greater than the Base Amount Percentage as of the later of the date hereof or the immediately preceding Settlement Date for a Transaction hereunder, if any). The “Base Amount Percentage” as of any day is the fraction (1) the numerator of which is the Base Amount for all Transactions hereunder and (2) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

 

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  (d)

No filing with, or approval, authorization, consent, license, registration, qualification, order or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the execution, delivery and performance by Party B of this Master Forward Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation and the consummation of the relevant Transaction (including, without limitation, the issuance and delivery of Shares on any Settlement Date for a Transaction hereunder) except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), (ii) as may be required to be obtained under state securities laws and (iii) as required by the rules and regulations of the Exchange.

 

  (e)

Party B agrees not to make any Issuer Repurchase if, immediately following such Issuer Repurchase, the Base Amount Percentage for all Transactions hereunder would be equal to or greater than 8.0%.

 

  (f)

Party B is not insolvent, nor will Party B be rendered insolvent as a result of any Transaction hereunder.

 

  (g)

Neither Party B nor any of its affiliates shall take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, any direct purchases by Party B or any of its affiliates or any purchases by a party to a derivative transaction with Party B or any of its affiliates), either under this Master Forward Confirmation, under any Supplemental Confirmation, under an agreement with another party or otherwise, that might cause any purchases of Shares by Party A or any of its affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction hereunder not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act if such purchases were made by Party B and Rule 10b-18 were applicable to such purchases.

 

  (h)

Party B will not engage in any “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) that would cause a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M) to occur during any Unwind Period for any Transaction hereunder.

 

  (i)

Party B is an “eligible contract participant” (as such term is defined in Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended).

 

  (j)

In addition to any other requirements set forth herein, Party B agrees not to elect Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement in respect of any Transaction if, in the good faith, reasonable judgment of either Party A or Party B, such settlement or Party A’s related market activity would result in a violation of the U.S. federal securities laws or any other federal or state law or regulation applicable to Party B.

 

  (k)

Party B (i) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (ii) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing; and (iii) has total assets of at least USD 50 million as of the date hereof, the Forward Date for each Transaction hereunder and the Trade Date for each Transaction hereunder.

 

  (l)

Party B acknowledges and agrees that:

 

  (i)

during the term of each Transaction, Party A and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to establish, adjust or unwind its hedge position with respect to such Transaction;

 

  (ii)

Party A and its affiliates may also be active in the market for the Shares and Share-linked transactions other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to each Transaction;

 

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  (iii)

Party A shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in Party B’s securities shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Forward Price for each Transaction and the 10b-18 VWAP for each Transaction;

 

  (iv)

any market activities of Party A and its affiliates with respect to the Shares may affect the market price and volatility of the Shares, as well as the Forward Price for each Transaction and 10b-18 VWAP for each Transaction, each in a manner that may be adverse to Party B; and

 

  (v)

each Transaction is a derivatives transaction in which it has granted Party A the right, under certain circumstances, to receive cash or Shares, as the case may be; Party A may purchase Shares for its own account at an average price that may be greater than, or less than, the effective price paid by Party B under the terms of such Transaction.

 

  (m)

Party B represents and warrants to Party A that the representations and warranties of Party B contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement and any certificate delivered pursuant thereto by Party B are true and correct, or, as provided in the Equity Distribution Agreement or such certificate, true and correct in all material respects, on such Effective Date as if made as of such Trade Date and the corresponding Effective Date:

 

  (n)

Party B covenants and agrees that it shall perform all of the obligations required to be performed by it under the Equity Distribution Agreement (including, without limitation, to the extent required to satisfy the conditions set forth in Section 5 of the Equity Distribution Agreement) on or prior to such Trade Date and the corresponding Effective Date.

Covenant of Party B:

Subject to the provisions of “Private Placement Procedures” below, the parties acknowledge and agree that any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date for a Transaction hereunder will be newly issued Shares and when delivered by Party A (or an affiliate of Party A) to securities lenders from whom Party A (or an affiliate of Party A) borrowed Shares in connection with hedging its exposure to such Transaction will be freely saleable without further registration or other restrictions under the Securities Act, in the hands of those securities lenders, irrespective of whether such stock loan is effected by Party A or an affiliate of Party A. Accordingly, subject to the provisions of “Private Placement Procedures” below, Party B agrees that the Shares that it delivers to Party A on each Settlement Date for a Transaction hereunder will not bear a restrictive legend and that such Shares will be deposited in, and the delivery thereof shall be effected through the facilities of, the Clearance System.

Covenants of Party A:

 

  (a)

Unless the provisions set forth below under “Private Placement Procedures” shall be applicable, Party A shall use any Shares delivered by Party B to Party A on any Settlement Date for a Transaction hereunder to return to securities lenders to close out open Share loans created by Party A or an affiliate of Party A in the course of Party A’s or such affiliate’s hedging activities related to Party A’s exposure under this Master Forward Confirmation and the relevant Supplemental Confirmation.

 

  (b)

In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement of any Transaction, Party A shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to conduct its activities, or cause its affiliates to conduct their activities, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act, as if such provisions were applicable to such purchases.

 

13


  (c)

Party A hereby represents and warrants to Party B that it has implemented policies and procedures, taking into consideration the nature of its business, reasonably designed to ensure that individuals conducting hedging activity related to any Transaction do not have access to material non-public information regarding the Issuer or the Shares.

Insolvency Filing:

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in any Supplemental Confirmation, in the Agreement or in the Definitions, upon any Insolvency Filing in respect of the Issuer, each Transaction hereunder shall automatically terminate on the date thereof without further liability of either party to this Master Forward Confirmation or any related Supplemental Confirmation to the other party (except for any liability in respect of any breach of representation or covenant by a party under this Master Forward Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation prior to the date of such Insolvency Filing).

Extraordinary Dividends:

If an ex-dividend date for an Extraordinary Dividend occurs on or after the Trade Date for any Transaction and on or prior to the Maturity Date for such Transaction (or, if later, the last date on which Shares are delivered by Party B to Party A in settlement of such Transaction), Party B shall pay an amount, as determined by the Calculation Agent, in cash equal to the product of (1) such Extraordinary Dividend and (2) the Base Amount for such Transaction to Party A on the earlier of (i) the date on which such Extraordinary Dividend is paid by the Issuer to holders of record of the Shares or (ii) the Maturity Date for such Transaction. “Extraordinary Dividend” means the per Share amount of any cash dividend or distribution, or a portion thereof, declared by the Issuer with respect to the Shares that is specified by the board of directors of the Issuer as an “extraordinary” dividend.

Acceleration Events:

The following events shall each constitute an “Acceleration Event” with respect to any Transaction:

 

  (a)

Stock Borrow Events. In the good faith, commercially reasonable judgment of Party A (i) Party A (or its affiliate) is unable to hedge Party A’s exposure to such Transaction because of the lack of sufficient Shares being made available for Share borrowing by lenders, or (ii) Party A (or its affiliate) would incur a Stock Loan Fee to borrow a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount for such Transaction of more than a rate equal to the Maximum Specified Borrow Rate for such Transaction (each, a “Stock Borrow Event”);

 

  (b)

Dividends and Other Distributions. On any day occurring after the Trade Date for such Transaction, Party B declares a distribution, issue or dividend to existing holders of the Shares of (i) any cash dividend (other than an Extraordinary Dividend) to the extent all cash dividends having an ex-dividend date during the period from, and including, any Forward Price Reduction Date for such Transaction (with the Trade Date for such Transaction being a Forward Price Reduction Date for purposes of this clause (b) only) to, but excluding, the next subsequent Forward Price Reduction Date exceeds, on a per Share basis, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite the first date of any such period on Schedule I to the relevant Supplemental Confirmation, (ii) share capital or securities of another issuer acquired or owned (directly or indirectly) by Party B as a result of a spin-off or other similar transaction or (iii) any other type of securities (other than Shares), rights or warrants or other assets, for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price as reasonably determined by Party A;

 

  (c)

ISDA Early Termination Date. Party A has the right to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement;

 

14


  (d)

Other ISDA Events. The announcement of any event that if consummated, would result in an Extraordinary Event or the occurrence of any Change in Law or a Delisting; provided that in case of a Delisting, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the 2002 Definitions, it will also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); and provided further that the definition of “Change in Law” provided in Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the 2002 Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof with the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption, effectiveness or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)” and (iii) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by Party A on the Forward Date for such Transaction”; or

 

  (e)

Ownership Event. In the good faith, reasonable judgment of Party A, on any day, the Share Amount for such day exceeds the Post-Effective Limit for such day (if any applies).

The “Maximum Specified Borrow Rate” for any Transaction shall be the per annum rate set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

The “Share Amount” as of any day is the number of Shares that Party A and any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Party A, including any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which Party A is or may be deemed to be a part (Party A or any such person, a “Party A Person”) under any law, rule, regulation, regulatory order or organizational documents or contracts of Party B that are, in each case, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Restrictions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership of under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Party A in its reasonable discretion. The “Post-Effective Limit” means a number of Shares equal to (x) the minimum number of Shares that could reasonably be expected to give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Party A Person, or could reasonably be expected to result in an adverse effect on a Party A Person, under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Party A in its reasonable discretion, minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding.

Termination Settlement:

Upon the occurrence of any Acceleration Event in respect of any Transaction, Party A shall have the right to designate, upon at least one Scheduled Trading Day’s notice, any Scheduled Trading Day following such occurrence to be a Settlement Date under such Transaction (a “Termination Settlement Date”) to which Physical Settlement shall apply, and to select the number of Settlement Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date; provided that (i) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of an Ownership Event, the number of Settlement Shares for the relevant Transaction so designated by Party A shall not exceed the number of Shares necessary to reduce the Share Amount to the Post-Effective Limit and (ii) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of a Stock Borrow Event the number of Settlement Shares for the relevant Transaction so designated by Party A shall not exceed the number of Shares as to which such Stock Borrow Event exists. If, upon designation of a Termination Settlement Date by Party A pursuant to the preceding sentence, Party B fails to deliver the Settlement Shares relating to such Termination Settlement Date when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of the relevant Transaction, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Party B and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. If an Acceleration Event occurs during an Unwind Period for any Transaction relating to a number of Settlement Shares for the relevant Transaction to which Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement applies, then on the Termination Settlement Date relating to such Acceleration Event,

 

15


notwithstanding any election to the contrary by Party B, Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement shall apply to the portion of such Settlement Shares relating to such Unwind Period as to which Party A has unwound its hedge and Physical Settlement shall apply in respect of (x) the remainder (if any) of such Settlement Shares and (y) the Settlement Shares designated by Party A in respect of such Termination Settlement Date. Under no circumstances will Party A be entitled to an adjustment to the terms of any Transaction for the effects of an Extraordinary Dividend (other than as set forth above under the heading “Extraordinary Dividends”) or a change in expected dividends. For the avoidance of doubt, the immediately preceding sentence shall not preclude or otherwise limit Party A from exercising its “Termination Settlement” rights pursuant to this paragraph upon the occurrence of an Acceleration Event as set forth in clause (b) of such definition.

Private Placement Procedures:

If Party B is unable to comply with the provisions of “Covenant of Party B” above because of a change in law or a change in the policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff, or Party A otherwise determines that in its reasonable opinion any Settlement Shares to be delivered to Party A by Party B may not be freely returned by Party A or its affiliates to securities lenders as described under “Covenant of Party B” above, then delivery of any such Settlement Shares (the “Restricted Shares”) shall be effected pursuant to Annex A hereto, unless waived by Party A, but Party A may not otherwise determine that the Settlement Shares are Restricted Shares based solely upon Party A (or its affiliates) not having borrowed a number of Shares equal to the Base Amount for the relevant Transaction on or before the Effective Date for such Transaction if there has been no change in law or change in the policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff.

Rule 10b5-1:

It is the intent of Party A and Party B that following any election of Cash Settlement or Net Share Settlement by Party B, the purchase of Shares by Party A during any Unwind Period comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) of the Exchange Act and that this Master Forward Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c).

Party B acknowledges that (i) during any Unwind Period, Party B does not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any influence over how, when or whether to effect purchases of Shares by Party A (or its agent or affiliate) in connection with this Master Forward Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation and (ii) Party B is entering into the Agreement, this Master Forward Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with federal securities laws including, without limitation, Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Party B hereby agrees with Party A that, during any Unwind Period, Party B shall not communicate, directly or indirectly, any Material Non-Public Information (as defined herein) to any EDG Personnel (as defined below). For purposes of each Transaction, “Material Non-Public Information” means information relating to Party B or the Shares that (a) has not been widely disseminated by wire service, in one or more newspapers of general circulation, by communication from Party B to its shareholders or in a press release, or contained in a public filing made by Party B with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise disseminated in a manner constituting “public disclosure” within the meaning of Regulation FD under the Exchange Act and (b) a reasonable investor might consider to be of importance in making an investment decision to buy, sell or hold Shares. For the avoidance of doubt and solely by way of illustration, information should be presumed “material” if it relates to such matters as dividend increases or decreases, earnings estimates, changes in previously released earnings estimates, significant expansion or curtailment of operations, a significant increase or decline of customers, significant merger or acquisition proposals or agreements, significant new supply shortages or disruptions, extraordinary borrowing, major litigation, liquidity problems, extraordinary management developments, purchase or sale of substantial assets, or other similar information. For purposes of each Transaction, “EDG

 

16


Personnel” means any employee on the trading side of the Equity Derivatives Group of Party A and does not include any of Party A’s “private side” equity or equity-linked personnel (including, without limitation, any Party A equity or equity-linked legal personnel) (or any other person or persons designated from time to time in writing to Party B by Party A).

Maximum Share Delivery:

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Master Forward Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, in no event will Party B be required to deliver on any Settlement Date for any Transaction hereunder, whether pursuant to Physical Settlement, Net Share Settlement, Termination Settlement or any Private Placement Settlement, more than a number of Shares equal to the Forward Shares for such Transaction to Party A. The “Forward Shares” for any Transaction shall be as set forth in the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction.

Transfer and Assignment:

Party A may assign or transfer any of its rights or delegate any of its duties hereunder to any affiliate of Party A or any entity organized or sponsored by Party A without the prior written consent of Party B. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Party A to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Party B, Party A may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Party A’s obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Party A shall be discharged of its obligations to Party B to the extent of any such performance.

Indemnity:

Party B agrees to indemnify Party A and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, agents and controlling parties (Party A and each such affiliate or person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint and several, incurred by or asserted against such Indemnified Party arising out of, in connection with, or relating to, any breach of any covenant or representation made by Party B in this Master Forward Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement and will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) as they are incurred in connection with the investigation of, preparation for, or defense of any pending or threatened claim or any action or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto. Party B will not be liable under this Indemnity paragraph to the extent that any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a final and nonappealable judgment by a court to have resulted from Party A’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Notice:

 

Non-Reliance:    Applicable
Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable
Agreements and Acknowledgments   
Regarding Hedging Activities:    Applicable

 

4.

The Agreement is further supplemented by the following provisions:

No Collateral or Setoff:

Notwithstanding Section 6(f) or any other provision of the Agreement or any other agreement between the parties to the contrary, the obligations of Party B under the Transactions are not secured by any collateral. Obligations under the Transactions shall not be set off against any other

 

17


obligations of the parties, whether arising under the Agreement, under this Master Forward Confirmation, under any Supplemental Confirmation, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and no other obligations of the parties shall be set off against obligations under any Transaction, whether arising under the Agreement, under this Master Forward Confirmation, under any Supplemental Confirmation under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff. In calculating any amounts under Section 6(e) of the Agreement with respect to any Transaction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, (a) separate amounts shall be calculated as set forth in such Section 6(e) with respect to (i) such Transaction and (ii) all other Transactions and (b) such separate amounts shall be payable pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement.

Status of Claims in Bankruptcy:

Party A acknowledges and agrees that neither this Master Forward Confirmation nor any Supplemental Confirmation is intended to convey to Party A rights with respect to the Transactions contemplated hereby that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Party B; provided, however, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Party B of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Master Forward Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation and the Agreement; and provided further, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Party A’s rights in respect of any transaction other than the Transactions.

Limit on Beneficial Ownership:

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, Party A shall not have the “right to acquire” (within the meaning of NYSE Rule 312.04(g)) Shares hereunder and Party A shall not be entitled to take delivery of any Shares deliverable hereunder in respect of any Transaction (in each case, whether in connection with the purchase of Shares on any Settlement Date or any Termination Settlement Date, any Private Placement Settlement or otherwise) to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such receipt of any Shares hereunder, (i) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit for such Transaction, (ii) the Section 16 Percentage would exceed 7.5% or (iii) Party A and each person subject to aggregation of Shares with Party A under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder (the “Party A Group”) would directly or indirectly beneficially own (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder) in excess of the Threshold Number of Shares for such Transaction. Any purported delivery hereunder in respect of any Transaction shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that, after such delivery, (i) the Share Amount would exceed the Post-Effective Limit for such Transaction, (ii) the Section 16 Percentage would exceed 7.5% or (iii) Party A Group would directly or indirectly so beneficially own in excess of the Threshold Number of Shares for such Transaction. If any delivery owed to Party A hereunder in respect of any Transaction is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Party B’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Party B shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Exchange Business Day after, Party A gives notice to Party B that, after such delivery, (i) the Share Amount would not exceed the Post-Effective Limit for such Transaction, (ii) the Section 16 Percentage would not exceed 7.5% and (iii) Party A Group would not directly or indirectly so beneficially own in excess of the Threshold Number of Shares for such Transaction. The “Threshold Number of Shares” for any Transaction means a number of Shares equal to 4.9% of the outstanding Shares on the Trade Date for such Transaction and shall be specified for each such Transaction in the relevant Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction. The “Section 16 Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Party A and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Party A for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act, or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which Party A is or may be deemed to be a part beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day (or, to the extent that for any reason the

 

18


equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder results in a higher number, such higher number) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

In addition, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if any delivery owed to Party A hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of the immediately preceding paragraph, Party A shall be permitted to make any payment due in respect of such Shares to Party B in two or more tranches that correspond in amount to the number of Shares delivered by Party B to Party A pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph.

Other Forward Transactions:

Party A acknowledges that Party B has entered into or may enter in the future into one or more substantially identical forward transactions on the Shares (each, an “Other Forward” and, collectively, the “Other Forwards”) with one or more other forward purchasers. Party A and Party B agree that if Party B designates a “Settlement Date” (or equivalent concept) with respect to one or more Other Forwards for which “Cash Settlement” (or equivalent concept) or “Net Share Settlement” (or equivalent concept) is applicable, and the resulting “Unwind Period” (or equivalent concept) for such Other Forward(s) coincides for any period of time with an Unwind Period for this Transaction (the “Overlap Unwind Period”), Party B shall notify Party A at least one Scheduled Trading Day prior to the commencement of such Overlap Unwind Period of the first Scheduled Trading Day and the length of such Overlap Unwind Period, and Party A shall be permitted to purchase Shares to unwind its hedge in respect of this Transaction only on alternating Scheduled Trading Days during such Overlap Unwind Period, as notified to Party A by Party B at least one Exchange Business Day prior to such Overlap Unwind Period (which alternating Scheduled Trading Days, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be every other Scheduled Trading Day if there is only one Other Forward, every third Scheduled Trading Day if there are two Other Forwards, etc.).

New York General Obligations Law:

Party B and Party A agree and acknowledge that: (A) the Transactions contemplated by this Master Forward Confirmation will be entered into in reliance on the fact that this Master Forward Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereto form a single agreement between Party B and Party A, and Party A would not otherwise enter into such Transactions; (B) this Master Forward Confirmation, together with each Supplemental Confirmation hereto, is a “qualified financial contract”, as such term is defined in Section 5-701(b)(2) of the New York General Obligations Law; (C) each Supplemental Confirmation hereto, regardless of whether transmitted electronically or otherwise, constitutes a “confirmation in writing sufficient to indicate that a contract has been made between the parties” hereto, as set forth in Section 5-701(b)(3)(b) of the New York General Obligations Law; and (D) this Master Forward Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation hereto constitute a prior “written contract”, as set forth in Section 5-701(b)(1)(b) of the New York General Obligations Law, and each party hereto intends and agrees to be bound by this Master Forward Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation.

Forward Placement Notices:

Party B and Party A agree that, upon the effectiveness of any accepted Forward Placement Notice relating to a Forward (as such term is defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), in respect of the Transaction to which such accepted Forward Placement Notice relates, each of the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and other provisions of this Master Forward Confirmation and the Supplemental Confirmation for such Transaction (including, without limitation, the provisions above in Section 3 of this Master Forward Confirmation under the heading “Extraordinary Dividends,” Party A’s right to designate a Termination Settlement Date in respect of such Transaction and the termination of such Transaction following an Insolvency Filing) shall govern, and be applicable to, such Transaction as of the first Trading Day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction as if the Trade Date for such Transaction were such first Trading

 

19


Day. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Master Forward Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation, the Agreement, the 2002 Definitions or the 2000 Definitions, if Party A designates a Termination Settlement Date with respect to a Transaction (1) following the occurrence of an Event of Default or Termination Event, other than an Insolvency Filing, and such Termination Settlement Date is to occur before the date that is one Settlement Cycle after the last day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period for such Transaction or (2) prior to Party B’s execution of the Supplemental Confirmation relating to such Transaction, then, for purposes of such Termination Settlement Date, a Supplemental Confirmation relating to such Transaction reasonably completed by Party A (as if the Trade Date for such Transaction were the last day of the Forward Hedge Selling Period on which the Forward Seller sold Forward Hedge Shares for such Transaction) shall, notwithstanding the provisions under “Conditions to Effectiveness” above, be deemed to be immediately effective.

Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act:

In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (the “WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of the WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under the WSTAA or an amendment made by the WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Master Forward Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Master Forward Confirmation, any Supplemental Confirmation, the 2002 Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from any Acceleration Event or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

Miscellaneous:

 

  (a)

Addresses for Notices. For the purpose of Section 12(a) of the Agreement:

Address for notices or communications to Party A:

 

[Address:    Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
   1585 Broadway
   New York, NY 10036-8293
Attention:    Usman Khan
Telephone No.:    (212) 761-0955
Facsimile:    (212) 507-4261
Email:    ***@***

With a copy to:

 

Address:    Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
   1221 Avenue of the Americas, 34th Floor
   New York, NY 10020
Attention:    Steven Seltzer
Telephone No.:    (212) 537-2368
Facsimile:    (212) 404-9480
Email:    ***@***]13
[Address:    Bank of America, N.A.
   c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
   Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park
   New York, NY 10036

 

13 

Insert for MS.

 

20


Attention:    Robert Stewart
   Assistant General Counsel
Telephone:    (646) 855-0711
Email:    ***@***

With a copy to:

 

Address:    Bank of America, N.A.
   c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
   Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park
   New York, NY 10036
Attention:    Rohan Handa
Telephone:    (646) 855-8654
Email:    ***@***]14
[Address:    Mizuho Securities USA LLC
   1271 Avenue of the Americas
   New York, NY 10020
Attention:    Kevin Mullane
   Executive Director
Telephone:    (212) 205-7645
Email:    ***@***

With a copy to:

 

Address:    Mizuho Markets Americas LLC
   C/O Mizuho Securities USA LLC as agent
   1271 Avenue of the Americas
   New York, NY 10020
Attention:    Equity Capital Markets Desk
Telephone:    (212) 209-9300
Email:    ***@***]15

Address for notices or communications to Party B:

 

Address:    ONE Gas, Inc.
   15 East Fifth Street,
   Tulsa, OK 74103
Attention:    Caron A. Lawhorn
   Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.:    (918) 947-7903
Email:    ***@***

With a copy to:

 

Address:    ONE Gas, Inc.
   15 East Fifth Street,
   Tulsa, OK 74103
Attention:    Mark W. Smith
   Treasurer
Telephone No.:    (918) 947-7130
Email:    ***@***

 

14 

Insert for BofA.

15 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

21


  (b)

Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury. Each party waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Master Forward Confirmation and/or any Supplemental Confirmation. Each party (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of the other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of such a suit action or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other party have been induced to enter into this Master Forward Confirmation and each Supplemental Confirmation by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications herein.

Acknowledgements:

The parties hereto intend for:

 

  (a)

each Transaction to be a “securities contract” as defined in Section 741(7) of Title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), qualifying for the protections under Section 555 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (b)

a party’s right to liquidate each Transaction and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under the Agreement with respect to the other party to constitute a “contractual right” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code;

 

  (c)

Party A to be a “financial institution” within the meaning of Section 101(22) of the Bankruptcy Code; and

 

  (d)

all payments for, under or in connection with each Transaction, all payments for the Shares and the transfer of such Shares to constitute “settlement payments” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code.

Severability:

If any term, provision, covenant or condition of this Master Forward Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, or the application thereof to any party or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part for any reason, the remaining terms, provisions, covenants, and conditions hereof shall continue in full force and effect as if this Master Forward Confirmation and the related Supplemental Confirmation had been executed with the invalid or unenforceable provision eliminated, so long as this Master Forward Confirmation and such related Supplemental Confirmation as so modified continues to express, without material change, the original intentions of the parties as to the subject matter of this Master Forward Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation and the deletion of such portion of the Master Forward Confirmation and/or such Supplemental Confirmation will not substantially impair the respective benefits or expectations of parties to this Master Forward Confirmation and such Supplemental Confirmation; provided, however, that this severability provision shall not be applicable if any provision of Section 2, 5, 6 or 13 of the Agreement (or any definition or provision in Section 14 to the extent that it relates to, or is used in or in connection with any such Section) shall be so held to be invalid or unenforceable.

U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol:

The parties agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof both parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for such purposes this Agreement shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the same status as

 

22


Regulated Entity and/or Adhering Party as applicable to it under the Protocol; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the status of “Covered Entity” or “Counterparty Entity” (or other similar term) as applicable to it under the Bilateral Agreement; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of this Agreement, and for such purposes this Agreement shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” Party B shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Party A shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of this Agreement, both parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this paragraph. In the event of any inconsistencies between this Agreement and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “this Agreement” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other.

QFC Stay Rules” means the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1-7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.

Tax Matters:

 

  (a)

For the purpose of Section 3(e) of the Agreement, each of Party A and Party B makes the following representation: “It is not required by any applicable law, as modified by the practice of any relevant governmental revenue authority, of any Relevant Jurisdiction to make any deduction or withholding for or on account of any Tax from any payment (other than interest under Section 9(h) of this Agreement and any other payments of interest and penalty charges for late payment) to be made by it to the other party under this Agreement. In making this representation, it may rely on (i) the accuracy of any representations made by the other party pursuant to Section 3(f) of this Agreement; (ii) the satisfaction of the agreement contained in Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement and the accuracy and effectiveness of any document provided by the other party pursuant to Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement; and (iii) the satisfaction of the agreement of the other party contained in Section 4(d) of this Agreement; provided that it shall not be a breach of this representation where reliance is placed on clause (ii) and the other party does not deliver a form or document under Section 4(a)(iii) of this Agreement by reason of material prejudice to its legal or commercial position.”

 

  (b)

For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement:

 

  (i)

Party A makes the following representation(s):

 

  (A)

It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in Section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

23


  (B)

It is a [national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(M)]16 [corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State Delaware and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(M)]17 [U.S. limited liability company for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State Delaware]18.

 

  (ii)

Party B makes the following representation(s):

 

  (A)

It is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in Section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

  (B)

It is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, and is an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii)(A).

 

  (c)

Withholding Tax imposed on payments to non-US counterparties under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. “Tax” and “Indemnifiable Tax”, each as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any U.S. federal withholding tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.

 

  (d)

HIRE Act. “Tax” and “Indemnifiable Tax”, each as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement, shall not include any tax imposed on payments treated as dividends from sources within the United States under Section 871(m) of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder.

 

  [(e)

Additional Provisions.

 

  (i)

MSUSA received or will receive other remuneration from MMA in relation to this Master Confirmation and each Transaction hereunder. The amount and source of such other remuneration will be furnished upon written request.

 

  (ii)

Party B understands and agrees that MSUSA will act as agent for both parties with respect to each Transaction and has no obligation, by way of issuance, endorsement, guarantee or otherwise with respect to the performance of either party under any Transaction. MSUSA shall have no responsibility or personal liability to Party B arising from any failure by MMA to pay or perform any obligations hereunder or to monitor or enforce compliance by MMA or Party B with any obligation hereunder, including, without limitation, any obligations to maintain collateral. MSUSA is so acting solely in its capacity as agent for Party B and MMA pursuant to instructions from Party B and MMA. Each of MMA and Party B agrees to proceed solely against the other to collect or recover any securities or monies owing to it in connection with or as a result of a Transaction.

 

  (iii)

Notwithstanding any provisions of the Agreement, all communications relating to each Transaction or the Agreement shall be transmitted exclusively through MSUSA at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, c/o Equity Capital Markets Desk, (212) 209-9300, ***@***.

 

16 

Insert for BofA.

17 

Insert for MS.

18 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

24


  (iv)

MMA hereby provides notice that (a) except as otherwise agreed in writing by MMA and Party B, MMA may commingle, repledge or otherwise use any collateral Party B provides in its business; (b) in the event of MMA’s failure, Party B will likely be considered an unsecured creditor of MMA as to that collateral; (c) the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970 (“SIPA”) does not protect Party B and MMA is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (“SIPC”); and (d) the collateral will not be subject to the requirements of U.S. Securities Exchange Act Rules 8c-1 (Hypothecation of customers’ securities), 15c2-1 (Hypothecation of customers’ securities), or 15c3-3 (Customer protection – reserves and custody of securities).]19

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

19 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

25


 

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing a copy of this Master Forward Confirmation and returning it to Party A.

 

Very truly yours,
[MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC]20
[BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.]21
[MIZUHO MARKETS AMERICAS LLC]22
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:  
[MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC
Acting solely as agent in connection with this
Master Confirmation
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:]23  
Accepted and confirmed as of the date first above written:
ONE GAS, INC.
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:  

 

20 

Insert for MS.

21 

Insert for BofA.

22 

Insert for Mizuho.

23 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

[Signature Page to Master Forward Confirmation]


 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL CONFIRMATION

 

To:   

ONE Gas, Inc. (“Party B”)
15 East Fifth Street

Tulsa, OK 74103

From:   

[Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“Party A”)
1585 Broadway, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10036]24

 

[Bank of America, N.A. (“Party A”)
c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036]25

 

[Mizuho Markets Americas LLC (“Party A”)
C/O Mizuho Securities USA LLC as agent
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Attn: Equity Capital Markets Desk
Telephone: (212) 209-9300
E-mail: ***@***]26

Date:    [                    ], 20[    ]

Dear Sir(s):

The purpose of this Supplemental Confirmation is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between Party A and Party B (together, the “Contracting Parties”) on the Trade Date specified below. This Supplemental Confirmation is a binding contract between Party A and Party B as of the relevant Trade Date for the Transaction referenced below. [Party A is acting as principal in this Transaction and Mizuho Securities USA LLC (“MSUSA”), its affiliate, is acting as agent for Party A and Party B in this Transaction. This Supplemental Confirmation is a confirmation for purposes of Rule 10b-10 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Party A is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.]27

 

24 

Insert for MS.

25 

Insert for BofA.

26 

Insert for Mizuho.

27 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

I-1


1.    This Supplemental Confirmation supplements, forms part of, and is subject to the Master Forward Confirmation dated as of February 26, 2020 (the “Master Forward Confirmation”) between the Contracting Parties, as amended and supplemented from time to time. All provisions contained in the Master Forward Confirmation govern this Supplemental Confirmation except as expressly modified below.

2.    The terms of the Transaction to which this Supplemental Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

Trade Date:    [                    ], 20[    ]
Effective Date:    [                    ], 20[    ]
Maturity Date:    [                    ], 20[    ]
Base Amount:    [                    ]
Initial Forward Price:    USD [            ]
Spread:    [    .    ]%
Volume-Weighted Hedge Price:    USD [            ]
Specified Borrow Rate:    [            ] basis points per annum
Maximum Specified Borrow Rate:    [            ] basis points per annum
Forward Shares:    [            ]28 Shares
Threshold Number of Shares:    [            ] Shares
Notice Settlement Number:    [            ] Scheduled Trading Days

 

28 

To be twice the Base Amount.

 

2


 

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing a copy of this Supplemental Confirmation and returning it to Party A.

 

Very truly yours,
[MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC]29
[BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.]30
[MIZUHO MARKETS AMERICAS LLC]31
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:  
[MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC
Acting solely as agent in connection with this
Supplemental Confirmation
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:]32  
Accepted and confirmed as of the date first above written:
ONE GAS, INC.
By:  

                    

Name:  
Title:  

 

29 

Insert for MS.

30 

Insert for BofA.

31 

Insert for Mizuho.

32 

Insert for Mizuho.

 

[Signature Page to Master Forward Confirmation]


Schedule I

 

Forward Price Reduction Date

   Forward Price Reduction Amount

Trade Date

   USD 0.00

[                     ], 20[    ]

   USD [            ]

[                     ], 20[    ]

   USD [            ]

[                     ], 20[    ]

   USD [            ]

[                     ], 20[    ]

   USD [            ]

 

2


ANNEX A

PRIVATE PLACEMENT PROCEDURES

 

(i)

If Party B delivers the Restricted Shares pursuant to this clause (i) (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then delivery of Restricted Shares by Party B shall be effected in customary private placement procedures with respect to such Restricted Shares reasonably acceptable to Party A; provided that if, on or before the date that a Private Placement Settlement would occur, Party B has taken, or caused to be taken, any action that would make unavailable either the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act for the sale by Party B to Party A (or any affiliate designated by Party A) of the Restricted Shares or the exemption pursuant to Section 4(a)(1) or Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act for resales of the Restricted Shares by Party A (or any such affiliate of Party A) or Party B fails to deliver the Restricted Shares when due or otherwise fails to perform obligations within its control in respect of a Private Placement Settlement, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Party B and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. The Private Placement Settlement of such Restricted Shares shall include customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Party A, due diligence rights (for Party A or any designated buyer of the Restricted Shares by Party A), opinions and certificates, and such other documentation as is customary for private placement agreements, all reasonably acceptable to Party A. In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Party A shall, in its good faith discretion, adjust the number of Restricted Shares to be delivered to Party A hereunder and/or the Forward Price for the relevant Transaction in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Restricted Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Party A and may only be saleable by Party A at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Restricted Shares. Notwithstanding the Agreement, this Master Forward Confirmation or any Supplemental Confirmation, the date of delivery of such Restricted Shares shall be the Clearance System Business Day following notice by Party A to Party B of the number of Restricted Shares to be delivered pursuant to this clause (i). For the avoidance of doubt, delivery of Restricted Shares shall be due as set forth in the previous sentence and not be due on the Settlement Date for the relevant Transaction or Termination Settlement Date for the relevant Transaction that would otherwise be applicable.

 

(ii)

If Party B delivers any Restricted Shares in respect of any Transaction, Party B agrees that (i) such Shares may be transferred by and among Party A and its affiliates and (ii) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed after the applicable Settlement Date, Party B shall promptly remove, or cause the transfer agent for the Shares to remove, any legends referring to any transfer restrictions from such Shares upon delivery by Party A (or such affiliate of Party A) to Party B or such transfer agent of seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Party A or its affiliates in connection with resales of restricted securities pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, each without any further requirement for the delivery of any certificate, consent, agreement, opinion of counsel, notice or any other document, any transfer tax stamps or payment of any other amount or any other action by Party A (or such affiliate of Party A).