Distribution Agreement, dated February 23, 2018, by and among PPL Corporation and J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch, Barclays Bank PLC and Citibank N.A

EX-1.1 2 d513924dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

February 23, 2018

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

  

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association,

London Branch

25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf

London E14 5JP, England

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

  

Barclays Bank PLC

c/o Barclay Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

  

Citibank N.A.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Ladies and Gentlemen:

PPL Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with each of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as agent and/or principal (each an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”) and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch, Barclays Bank PLC and Citibank N.A. (each a “Forward Purchaser” and collectively, the “Forward Purchasers”), with respect to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company, in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions described below in this Distribution Agreement (this “Agreement”), of shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company having an aggregate Gross Sales Price (as defined in Section 2(b) below) of up to $1,000,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Such shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares” and are described in the Prospectus referred to below.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-223142) (the “registration statement”) for the registration of the Shares and other securities of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Act”); and such registration statement sets forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Shares and contains or incorporates by reference additional information concerning the Company and its business. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the Agents, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to


Rule 424(b) under the Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Act, to be part of the registration statement at the effective time. “Basic Prospectus” means the prospectus dated February 22, 2018 filed as part of the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such prospectus; “Prospectus Supplement” means the most recent prospectus supplement relating to the Shares, to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act on or before the second business day after the date of its first use in connection with a public offering or sale of Shares pursuant hereto (or such earlier time as may be required under the Act), in the form furnished by the Company to the Agent in connection with the offering of the Shares; “Prospectus” means the Prospectus Supplement (and any additional prospectus supplement prepared in accordance with the provision of Section 4(h) of this Agreement and filed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) under the Act) together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement; and “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) of this Agreement. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless otherwise stated, be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless stated otherwise, be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. References in this Agreement to financial statements or other information that is “contained,” “included,” “described,” “set forth” or “provided” in the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any similar references shall, unless stated otherwise, include any information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

The Company, each Agent and each Forward Purchaser agree as follows:

 

  1. Issuance and Sale.

(a)    Upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and provided the Company provides the applicable Agent with any due diligence materials and information reasonably requested by such Agent or its counsel necessary for such Agent to satisfy its due diligence obligations, on any Exchange Business Day (as defined below) selected by the Company, the Company and such Agent shall enter into an agreement in accordance with Section 2 hereof regarding the number of Shares to be placed by such Agent, as agent, and the manner in which and other terms upon which such placement is to occur (each such transaction being referred to as an “Agency Transaction”). The Company may also (i) offer to sell the Shares directly to an Agent, as principal, in which event such parties shall enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in

 

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substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto (with such changes thereto as may be agreed upon by the Company and such Agent to accommodate a transaction involving additional underwriters), relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2(g) of this Agreement (each such transaction being referred to as a “Principal Transaction”) or (ii) enter into one or more forward stock purchase transactions (each, a “Forward Transaction”) with a Forward Purchaser as set forth in a separate letter agreement, a form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B (each, a “Confirmation”, and together the “Confirmations”). As used herein, (i) the “Term” shall be the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the earlier of (x) the date on which the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, any Terms Agreements and any Confirmations is equal to the Maximum Amount and (y) any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8 hereof, (ii) an “Exchange Business Day” means any day during the Term that is a trading day for the Exchange other than a day on which trading on the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time, and (iii) “Exchange” means the New York Stock Exchange.

(b)    Subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, the Company appoints each Agent as agent in connection with the offer and sale of Shares in any Agency Transactions entered into hereunder. Each Agent will use commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions hereof and of the applicable Transaction Acceptance (as defined below). Neither the Company nor any Agent shall have any obligation to enter into an Agency Transaction. The Company shall be obligated to issue and sell through the Agents, and each of the Agents shall be obligated to use its respective commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and as provided herein and in the applicable Transaction Acceptance, to place Shares only if and when the Company makes a Transaction Proposal (as defined below) to such Agent related to such an Agency Transaction and a Transaction Acceptance related to such Agency Transaction has been delivered to the Company by such Agent as provided in Section 2 below. In addition, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company may, in consultation with a Forward Purchaser and the applicable Agent, instruct such Forward Purchaser to borrow, offer and sell Shares through such Agent, as forward seller, and enter into one or more Confirmations with respect to such Shares. In connection therewith, the Company and such Forward Purchaser understand that such Forward Purchaser, through such Agent, as forward seller and sales agent, will effect sales of Shares on the terms set forth in this Agreement. Nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any Forward Purchaser to borrow, offer or sell Shares, or to enter into any Forward Transaction. Such a commitment (if any) would be set forth in, and would be subject to the terms of, a Confirmation with respect to such Forward Transaction.

(c)    Each Agent, as agent in any Agency Transaction, hereby covenants and agrees, severally and not jointly, not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company pursuant to this Agreement other than (A) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the Exchange that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus in accordance with Rule 153 under the Act and meet the definition of an “at the market offering” under Rule 415(a)(4) under the Act (such transactions are hereinafter referred to as “At the Market Offerings”) and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as shall be agreed by the Company and such Agent in writing. Each Agent, as forward seller for the applicable Forward Purchaser, hereby covenants and agrees not to make any sales of the Shares

 

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on behalf of such Forward Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement other than by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the Exchange that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus in accordance with Rule 153 under the Act.

(d)    If Shares are to be sold in an Agency Transaction in an At the Market Offering, the applicable Agent will confirm in writing to the Company the number of Shares sold on any Exchange Business Day and the related Gross Sales Price and Net Sales Price (as each of such terms is defined in Section 2(b) below) no later than the opening of trading on the immediately following Exchange Business Day.

(e)    If the Company shall default on its obligation to deliver Shares to an Agent pursuant to the terms of any Agency Transaction, Terms Agreement or Confirmation, the Company shall (i) indemnify and hold harmless such Agent, the applicable Forward Purchaser, if any, and their respective successors and assigns from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (ii) notwithstanding any such default, pay to such Agent and/or such Forward Purchaser the commission to which they would otherwise be entitled in connection with such sale in accordance with Section 2(b) below.

(f)    The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that an Agent will be successful in selling the Shares, (ii) no Agent shall incur any liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by such Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (iii) no Agent shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as may otherwise be specifically agreed by such Agent and the Company in a Terms Agreement.

 

  2. Transaction Acceptances and Terms Agreements.

(a)    The Company may, from time to time during the Term, propose to an Agent that they enter into an Agency Transaction to be executed on a specified Exchange Business Day or over a specified period of Exchange Business Days, which proposal shall be made to such Agent by email or telephone from any of the individuals listed as an authorized representative of the Company on Schedule A hereto to make such sales and shall set forth the information specified below (each, a “Transaction Proposal”). If such Agent agrees to the terms of such proposed Agency Transaction or if the Company and such Agent mutually agree to modified terms for such proposed Agency Transaction, then such Agent shall promptly deliver to the Company by email a notice (each, a “Transaction Acceptance”) confirming the terms of such proposed Agency Transaction as set forth in such Transaction Proposal or setting forth the modified terms for such proposed Agency Transaction as agreed by the Company and such Agent, as the case may be, whereupon such Agency Transaction shall become a binding agreement between the Company and such Agent. Each Transaction Proposal shall specify:

 

  (i) the Exchange Business Day(s) on which the Shares subject to such Agency Transaction are intended to be sold (each, a “Purchase Date”);

 

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  (ii) the maximum number of Shares to be sold by such Agent (the “Specified Number of Shares”) on, or over the course of, such Purchase Date(s), or as otherwise agreed between the Company and such Agent and documented in the relevant Transaction Acceptance;

 

  (iii) the lowest price, if any, at which the Company is willing to sell Shares on each such Purchase Date or a formula pursuant to which such lowest price shall be determined (each, a “Floor Price”); and

 

  (iv) if other than 2.0% of the Gross Sales Price, the Agent’s discount or commission.

A Transaction Proposal shall not set forth a Specified Number of Shares that, when the Gross Sales Price of the Specified Number of Shares is added to the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares previously purchased and to be purchased pursuant to pending Transaction Acceptances (if any) hereunder and any Terms Agreements, results or could result in a total Gross Sales Price of Shares that exceeds the Maximum Amount nor shall it set forth a Floor Price which is lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors or, if permitted by applicable law and the Company’s charter and by-laws, a duly authorized committee thereof. The Company shall have responsibility for maintaining records with respect to the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares sold and for otherwise monitoring the availability of Shares for sale under the Registration Statement and for ensuring that the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares offered and sold does not exceed the Maximum Amount, and the price at which any Shares are offered or sold is not lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors or, if permitted by applicable law and the Company’s charter and by-laws, a duly authorized committee thereof. In the event that more than one Transaction Acceptance with respect to any Purchase Date(s) is delivered by the applicable Agent to the Company, the latest Transaction Acceptance shall govern any sales of Shares for the relevant Purchase Date(s), except to the extent of any action occurring pursuant to a prior Transaction Acceptance and prior to the delivery to the Company of the latest Transaction Acceptance. The Company or the applicable Agent may, upon notice to the other such party by email or telephone (confirmed promptly by e-mail), suspend or terminate the offering of the Shares pursuant to Agency Transactions for any reason; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice or their respective obligations under any Terms Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the terms of any Agency Transaction contemplate that Shares shall be sold on more than one Purchase Date, then the Company and the applicable Agent shall mutually agree to such additional terms and conditions as they deem reasonably necessary in respect of such multiple Purchase Dates, and such additional terms and conditions shall be set forth in or confirmed by, as the case may be, the relevant Transaction Acceptance and be binding to the same extent as any other terms contained therein.

(b)    The Purchase Date(s) in respect of the Shares deliverable pursuant to any Transaction Acceptance shall be set forth in or confirmed by, as the case may be, the applicable Transaction Acceptance. Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and an Agent, such Agent’s commission for any Shares sold through such Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be

 

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a percentage, not to exceed 2.0%, of the actual sales price of such Shares (the “Gross Sales Price”), which commission shall be as set forth in or confirmed by, as the case may be, the applicable Transaction Acceptance; provided, however, that such commission shall not apply when an Agent acts as principal, in which case such commission or a discount shall be set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement. Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the applicable Agent, such commission shall deducted by the Agent from the payment of the Gross Sales Price to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company engages an Agent for a sale of Shares in an Agency Transaction that would constitute a “distribution,” within the meaning of Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company will provide such Agent, at such Agent’s request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, on or prior to the Settlement Date the opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 5 hereof, each dated the Settlement Date (as defined below), and such other documents and information as such Agent shall reasonably request, and the Company and such Agent will agree to compensation that is customary for such Agent with respect to such transaction. The Gross Sales Price less the applicable Agent’s commission and after deduction for any transaction fees, transfer taxes or similar taxes or fees imposed by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory organization in respect of the sale of the applicable Shares is referred to herein at the “Net Sales Price.”

(c)    Payment of the Net Sales Price for Shares sold by the Company on any Purchase Date pursuant to a Transaction Acceptance shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Company (which the Company shall provide to the applicable Agent at least three Exchange Business Day prior to the applicable Agency Settlement Date (as defined below)) against delivery of such Shares to such Agent’s account, or an account of such Agent’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”) or by such other means of delivery as may be agreed to by the Company and such Agent. Such payment and delivery shall be made at or about 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second Exchange Business Day (or such other day as may, from time to time, become standard industry practice for settlement of such a securities issuance or as agreed to by the Company and such Agent) following each Purchase Date (each, an “Agency Settlement Date”). On each date of settlement for the sale of Shares through an Agent as forward seller (each such day, a “Forward Settlement Date”), such Shares shall be delivered by the applicable Forward Purchaser to such Agent in book-entry form to such Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company against payment by such Agent of the Net Sales Price from the sale of such Shares in same day funds delivered to an account designated by such Forward Purchaser.

(d)    If, as set forth in or confirmed by, as the case may be, the related Transaction Acceptance, a Floor Price has been agreed to by the Company and the applicable Agent with respect to a Purchase Date, and such Agent thereafter determines and notifies the Company that the Gross Sales Price for such Agency Transaction would not be at least equal to such Floor Price, then the Company shall not be obligated to issue and sell through such Agent, and such Agent shall not be obligated to place, the Shares proposed to be sold pursuant to such Agency Transaction on such Purchase Date, unless the Company and such Agent otherwise agree in writing.

 

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(e)    If the Company or an Agent has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other party and any applicable Forward Purchaser, and sales of the Shares under this Agreement, any Transaction Acceptance, Terms Agreement or Confirmation shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each such party and Forward Purchaser. On or prior to the delivery of a prospectus that is required (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, the Company shall calculate the average daily trading volume (as defined under “ADTV” by Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act) of the Common Stock based on market data provided by Bloomberg L.P. or such other sources as agreed upon by the Company and the applicable Agent.

 

  (f) (i)    If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement but other than as set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement, it will notify the applicable Agent of the proposed terms of the Principal Transaction. If such Agent, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Company and such Agent shall enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Principal Transaction.

(ii)    The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement shall not be binding on the Company or an Agent unless and until the Company and such Agent have each executed and delivered such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of any such Terms Agreement shall control.

(g)    Each sale of the Shares to an Agent in a Principal Transaction shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and a Terms Agreement, which shall provide for the sale of such Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, such Agent. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by such Agent. The commitment of an Agent to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained, and shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth, in this Agreement and such Terms Agreement. Any such Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the applicable Agent pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters, if any, acting together with such Agent in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Principal Settlement Date”; and, together with any Agency Settlement Date and any Forward Settlement Date, a “Settlement Date”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares.

(h)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not offer, sell or deliver, or request the offer or sale, of any Shares pursuant to this Agreement, or give any instruction to borrow, offer or sell any Shares (whether in an Agency Transaction or a Principal Transaction or in connection with a Forward Transaction) and, by notice to each Agent

 

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given by telephone (confirmed promptly by email), shall cancel any instructions for the borrowing, offer or sale of any Shares, and none of the Agents shall be obligated to offer or sell any Shares, (i) during any period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information or (ii) at any time from and including the date on which the Company shall issue a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (an “Earnings Announcement”) through and including the time that is 24 hours after the time that the Company files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement.

(i)    The Company agrees that any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Shares by the Company shall be effected only by or through one Agent on any Exchange Business Day.

(j)    Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and no Agent, as sales agent or forward seller, shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, to sell, any Shares at a price lower than the minimum price, or in a number or with an aggregate Gross Sales Price in excess of the Maximum Amount, authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement, any Terms Agreement and any Confirmation, in each case by the Company’s board of directors or, if permitted by applicable law and the Company’s charter and by-laws, a duly authorized committee thereof, or in a number in excess of the number of Shares approved for listing on the Exchange, or with an aggregate Gross Sales Price in excess of the maximum aggregate offering price for the Shares available for issuance on the Registration Statement or as to which the Company has paid the applicable registration fee, it being understood and agreed by the parties hereto that compliance with any such limitations shall be the sole responsibility of the Company.

(k)    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that either (i) a Forward Purchaser is unable to borrow and deliver any Shares for sale under this Agreement or (ii) in the good faith judgment of such Forward Purchaser, it is either impracticable to do so or such Forward Purchaser would incur a stock loan cost that is equal to or greater than 175 basis points per annum to do so, then the applicable Agent shall be required to sell on behalf of such Forward Purchaser only the aggregate number of Shares that such Forward Purchaser is able to, and that it is practicable to, so borrow below such cost.

3.    Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each of the Agents and the Forward Purchasers as of (i) the date hereof, (ii) each date on which the Company receives a Transaction Acceptance (the “Time of Acceptance”), (iii) each date on which the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement, (iv) each Time of Sale (as defined below), (v) each Settlement Date and (vi) each Bring-Down Delivery Date (as defined below) (each such date listed in (i) through (vi), a “Representation Date”), and agrees that:

(a)    (1) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (2) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act

 

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(whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (3) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Act or made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) and (4) at the date hereof, the Company was and is eligible to register and issue the Securities, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act (“Rule 405”), including not having been and not being an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, and the Shares, since their registration on the Registration Statement, have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on a Rule 405 “automatic shelf registration statement.” The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement form.

(b)    The Registration Statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) under the Act on February 22, 2018, and any post-effective amendment thereto also became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) under the Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and/or any notice objecting to its use has been issued under the Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.

Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Shares made prior to the filing of the Registration Statement by the Company, or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c) under the Act), has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163 under the Act (“Rule 163”) and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163, including without limitation the legending requirement, to qualify such offer for the exemption from Section 5(c) of the Act provided by Rule 163.

At the respective times the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto became effective, at each deemed effective date with respect to the Agents and Forward Purchasers pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Act (each, a “Deemed Effective Time”), as of each time (i) with respect to each offering of Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the time of an Agent’s initial entry into contracts with investors for the sale of such Shares or (ii) with respect to each offering of Shares pursuant to any relevant Terms Agreement, the time of sale of such Shares (each, a “Time of Sale”) and as of each Settlement Date, as applicable, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act, and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at each Time of Sale, as applicable, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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Each preliminary prospectus (including the prospectus or prospectuses filed as part of the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto or any Interim Prospectus Supplement) complied when so filed in all material respects with the Act and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to each Agent for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

As of each Time of Sale, neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to such Time of Sale, the Statutory Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including any additional information listed on Schedule B hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As of each Time of Sale, the General Disclosure Package will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Act (“Rule 433”), relating to the Shares that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B hereto.

Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” means any free writing prospectus consented to in writing by the Company and each Agent. For the avoidance of doubt, any free writing prospectus that is not consented to in writing by the Company does not constitute a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and will not be an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus relating to the Shares that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof.

 

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Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies each Agent as described in Section 4(h), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by an Agent expressly for use therein (the only such information being that set forth on Schedule C hereto);

(c)    The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation with corporate power and authority to conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by the Company of each of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby has been duly and validly taken (or, in the case of any Terms Agreement, such action will have been duly and validly authorized).

(d)    This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and any Terms Agreement will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(e)    The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(f)    This Agreement conforms and each Terms Agreement will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

(g)    The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and are not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(h)    The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation have been duly and validly authorized; such Shares, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the Confirmation, as applicable, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance and sale of such Shares by the Company will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(i)    No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any federal, state or local governmental agency or body or any federal, state or local court is required to be obtained by the Company in connection with its execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Terms Agreements or the Confirmations or the performance by the Company of

 

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its obligations hereunder and thereunder, except such as have been obtained and such as may be required under the “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the distribution of the Shares by any Agent in the manner contemplated herein and in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(j)    Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation, nor the issue and sale of the Shares pursuant hereto, nor the consummation of any of the transactions herein contemplated (including any settlement under a Confirmation), will (i) violate any law or any regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental instrumentality applicable to the Company, (ii) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or (iii) any material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for such violations, breaches or defaults that would not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder, under any Terms Agreement and under any Confirmation.

(k)    Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein or contemplated thereby, there has been no material adverse change, or event or occurrence that would result in a material adverse change, in the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

(l)    The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package will not be, an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(m)    No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company or its subsidiaries that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company’s or its applicable subsidiaries retaining any rating assigned to the Company or its applicable subsidiaries or any securities of the Company or its applicable subsidiaries or (ii) has indicated to the Company or its subsidiaries that it is considering any of the actions described in Section 7(a)(v) hereof.

(n)    Deloitte & Touche LLP, which has audited certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and issued their report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company during the periods covered by their reports within the meaning of the Act and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”). Ernst & Young LLP, which has audited certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and issued its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company during the periods covered by its report within the meaning of the Act and the standards of the PCAOB. Each other independent registered public accounting firm, if any, that has certified or reported on any other financial

 

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statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company or other appropriate entity, as applicable, during the periods covered by its report within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the PCAOB and as required by the Act.

(o)    The Company maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorizations and (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements.

(p)    The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, together with the related notes and schedules, each set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder; such audited financial statements have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein; and no material modifications are required to be made to the unaudited interim financial statements for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

(q)    None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”), the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Bribery Act” and together with the FCPA, the “Anti-Bribery Laws”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign or domestic political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign or domestic political office, in contravention of any Anti-Bribery Law, and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Anti-Bribery Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith;

(r)    The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened;

 

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(s)    None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) (“Sanctions”); and the Company and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person, or any activities or business in any country or territory, that, at the time of such financing, is the target of Sanctions.

(t)    The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act.

(u)    The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(v)    The Common Stock is an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by Rule 101 (c)(1) thereunder.

Each of the Agents and Forward Purchasers represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Company, its directors and such of its respective officers as shall have signed the Registration Statement, that the information set forth in Schedule C hereto furnished to the Company by or through such Agent or such Forward Purchaser or on such Agent’s or such Forward Purchaser’s behalf expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact and does not omit to state a material fact in connection with such information required to be stated therein or necessary to make such information not misleading.

4.    Certain Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby agrees with each of the Agents and each of the Forward Purchasers:

(a)    For so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering or sale of Shares, before using or filing any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and before using or filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (in each case, other than due to the filing of an Incorporated Document), to furnish to each Agent a copy of each such proposed Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement within a reasonable period of time before filing with the Commission or using any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement and the Company will not use or file any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or any such proposed amendment or supplement to which an Agent reasonably objects, unless the Company’s legal counsel has advised the Company that use or filing of such document is required by law; and the Company will not use or file any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or proposed, amendment or supplement to which an Agent reasonably objects unless the Company’s legal counsel has advised the Company that use or filing of such document is required by law.

 

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(b)    To file the Prospectus, each Prospectus Supplement and any other amendments or supplements to the Prospectus pursuant to, and within the time period required by, Rule 424(b) under the Act (without reference to Rule 424(b)(8)) and to file any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Act and to provide copies of the Prospectus, each Prospectus Supplement, any other amendments or supplements to the Prospectus and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered or filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system thereto (collectively, “EDGAR”)) to the Agents via email in “.pdf” format on such filing date to the email account designated by each Agent and, at an Agent’s request, to also furnish copies of the Prospectus, each Prospectus Supplement, any other amendments or supplements to the Prospectus and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market.

(c)    To file timely all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, and during such same period to advise the Agents, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, (i) of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or has become effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission (provided however, that with respect to Incorporated Documents only, the public availability of any such Incorporated Document on EDGAR shall constitute such notice); (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the Shares or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, pursuant to Section 8A of the Act; (iii) of any objection by the Commission to the use of Form S-3ASR by the Company pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act; (iv) of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; (v) of any request by the Commission for the amendment of the Registration Statement or the amendment or supplementation of the Prospectus (in each case including any documents incorporated by reference therein) or for additional information; (vi) of the occurrence of any event as a result of which the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus or any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto.

(d)    In the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any such prospectus or suspending any such qualification, or of any notice of objection pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act, to use promptly its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain its withdrawal.

 

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(e)    To furnish such information as may be required and otherwise cooperate in qualifying the Shares for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such states or other jurisdictions as the Agent may reasonably designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, become a dealer of securities, or become subject to taxation in, or to consent to the service of process under the laws of, any such state or other jurisdictions (except service of process with respect to claims arising out of the offering and sale of the Shares) or to meet any other requirement in connection with this paragraph (e) deemed by the Company to be unduly burdensome; and to promptly advise the Agents of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose.

(f)    To make available to the Agents at their respective offices in New York City, without charge, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective, and thereafter from time to time to furnish to the Agents, as many copies of the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement (or of the Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as the Agents may reasonably request for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule); and for so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company will prepare and file promptly such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as may be necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act.

(g)    To furnish or make available to the Agents during the Term (i) copies of any reports or other communications which the Company shall send to its shareholders or shall from time to time publish or publicly disseminate and (ii) copies of all annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, or such other similar form as may be designated by the Commission, and to furnish to the Agents from time to time during the Term such other information as the Agents may reasonably request regarding the Company or its subsidiaries, in each case as soon as such reports, communications, documents or information becomes available or promptly upon the request of the Agents, as applicable; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to provide the Agents with any document filed on EDGAR or included on the Company’s Internet website.

(h)    If, at any time during the Term, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Company to further amend or supplement the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented in order that the Prospectus or any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, in light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus or any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the

 

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Company to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the Act, in the case of such a determination by counsel to the Company, immediate notice shall be given, and confirmed in writing, to the Agents to cease the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in the Agents’ capacity as agents, and, in either case, the Company will, subject to Section 4(a) above, promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendment or supplement, whether by filing documents pursuant to the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, as may be necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus comply with such requirements.

(i)    To generally make available to its security holders as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement in form complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

(j)    To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner described in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”

(k)    Not to, and to cause its subsidiaries not to, take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Company from filing or submitting reports under the Exchange Act or issuing press releases.

(l)    Except as otherwise agreed between the Company and the Agents, to pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Agents, the Forward Purchasers and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the registration, issue and delivery of the Shares, (iii) the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such states or other jurisdictions as the Agents may reasonably designate as aforesaid (including filing fees and the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers in connection therewith) and the printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys to the Agents, (iv) the listing of the Shares on the Exchange and any registration thereof under the Exchange Act, (v) any filing for review, and any review, of the public offering of the Shares by FINRA (including filing fees and the reasonable legal fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers in connection therewith), (vi) the fees and disbursements of counsel to the Company and of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, (vii) the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder and under any Terms Agreement or Confirmation, and (viii) the documented out-of-pocket expenses of the Agents and the Forward Purchasers, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers in connection with this Agreement and ongoing services in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder (other than with respect to any transaction pursuant to a Terms Agreement, which shall specify the allocation of responsibility for such fees and expenses of counsel to the Agents).

 

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(m)    With respect to the offering(s) contemplated by this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmations, the Company will not offer shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of the Common Stock in a manner in violation of the Act or the Exchange Act; and the Company will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto.

(n)    During any period beginning on the date of a Transaction Proposal and ending on the Settlement Date with respect to such sales, the Company will not, without (A) giving the Agents prior written notice, as promptly as reasonably practicable, specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale and (B) the Agents suspending activity under this Agreement for such period of time as requested by the Company or deemed appropriate by the Agents in light of the proposed sale, (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or other equity securities of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable, redeemable or exchangeable for Common Stock of the Company, or file any registration statement under the Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of Common Stock, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) Shares offered and sold under this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmations, (B) (B) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock pursuant to, or the grant of options under the Company’s stock option, employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plans (as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), or the filing of a registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock issued or reserved for issuance under such plans, or (C) the establishment of a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the repurchase of shares of Common Stock, provided that such plan does not provide for the repurchase of Common Stock during the Delivery Period. Any lock-up provisions relating to a Principal Transaction shall be set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement.

(o)    The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Act.

(p)    The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed on the Exchange.

(q)    The Company consents to each Agent trading in the Common Stock for such Agent’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmations.

(r)    If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, the aggregate Gross Sales Price of Shares sold by the Company is less than the Maximum Amount and this Agreement has not expired or been

 

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terminated, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Agents and Forward Purchasers. If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to the Agents and Forward Purchasers. The Company will take all other action reasonably necessary or appropriate to permit the issuance and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Shares. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.

5.    Execution of Agreement. Each Agent’s and each Forward Purchaser’s obligations under this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions in connection with and on the date of the execution of this Agreement:

(a)    the Company shall have delivered to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers:

 

  (i) an officers’ certificate signed by two officers of the Company (one of whom shall be the Chief Financial Officer, the principal accounting officer or other senior financial or accounting officer) certifying as to the matters set forth in Exhibit C hereto;

 

  (ii) an opinion and, if not covered in such opinion, a negative assurance letter of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Company, and an opinion of the Senior Counsel of the Company, or such other counsel for the Company as may be acceptable to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers, each addressed to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers and dated the date of this Agreement, in the form of Exhibit D-1 and Exhibit D-2, respectively, hereto;

 

  (iii) a “comfort” letter from each of (i) Ernst & Young LLP and (ii) Deloitte & Touche LLP, in each case, addressed to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers and dated the date of this Agreement, addressing such matters as the Agents and the Forward Purchasers may reasonably request;

 

  (iv) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers and their counsel that the Shares have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance on or before the date hereof;

 

  (v) resolutions duly adopted by the Company’s board of directors, and certified by an officer of the Company, authorizing the Company’s execution of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the issuance and sale of the Shares; and

 

  (vi) such other documents as the Agents and the Forward Purchasers shall reasonably request; and

 

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(b)    The Agents and the Forward Purchasers shall have received a letter or letters, which shall include legal opinions and negative assurance statements, of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers, addressed to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers and dated the date of this Agreement, addressing such matters as the Agents and the Forward Purchasers may reasonably request.

6.    Additional Covenants of the Company. The Company further covenants and agrees with each of the Agents and each of the Forward Purchasers as follows:

(a)    Each Transaction Proposal made by the Company that is accepted by an Agent by means of a Transaction Acceptance and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement or Confirmation shall be deemed to be (i) an affirmation that the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and contained in any certificate delivered to the Agent pursuant hereto are true and correct at such Time of Acceptance or the date of such Terms Agreement, as the case may be, and (ii) an undertaking that such representations, warranties and agreements will be true and correct on any applicable Time of Sale and Settlement Date, as though made at and as of each such time (it being understood that such representations, warranties and agreements shall relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of such Transaction Acceptance, Terms Agreement or Confirmation, as the case may be).

(b)    Each time that (i) the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (including, except as noted in the proviso at the end of this Section 6(b), by the filing of any Incorporated Document), (ii) there is a Principal Settlement Date pursuant to a Terms Agreement or a Forward Settlement Date, or (iii) the Agents shall reasonably request (each date referred to clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, a “Bring-Down Delivery Date”), the Company shall, unless the Agents agrees otherwise, furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agents certificates, dated as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered within one Exchange Business Day after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, of the same tenor as the certificates referred to in Sections 5(a)(i) hereof, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificates, or, in lieu of such certificates, certificates to the effect that the statements contained in the certificates referred to in Sections 5(a)(i) hereof furnished to Agents are true and correct as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate); provided, however, that the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K will not constitute a Bring-Down Delivery Date under clause (i) above unless either (A) (x) such Current Report on Form 8-K is filed at any time during which either a Transaction Acceptance is binding and the Company has not suspended the use thereof (and prior to the settlement of the Shares specified therein) or a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) or such Current Report on Form 8-K is filed at any time from and including the date of a Terms Agreement or Confirmation through and including the related Settlement Date and (y) the Agents have reasonably requested that such date be deemed to be a Bring-Down

 

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Delivery Date based upon the event or events reported in such Current Report on Form 8-K or (B) such Current Report on Form 8-K contains capsule financial information, historical or pro forma financial statements, supporting schedules or other financial data, including any Current Report on Form 8-K or part thereof under Item 2.02 of Regulation S-K of the Commission that is considered “filed” under the Exchange Act; and provided, further, that an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the offering of other securities pursuant to the Registration Statement will not constitute a Bring-Down Delivery Date.

(c)    Each Bring-Down Delivery Date, the Company shall, unless the Agents and the Forward Purchasers agree otherwise, cause to be furnished to Agents and the Forward Purchasers (A) the written opinion and, if not included in such opinion, negative assurance letter of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel to the Company, the written opinion of the Senior Counsel of the Company, and the written opinion and, if not included in such opinion, negative assurance letter of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, counsel to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers, each dated as of the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered within one Exchange Business Day after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, dated and delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, of the same tenor as the opinions and letters referred to in Section 5(a)(ii) or Section 5(b) hereof, as applicable, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinions and letters, or, in lieu of such opinions and letters, each such counsel shall furnish the Agents and the Forward Purchasers with a letter substantially to the effect that the Agents and the Forward Purchasers may rely on the opinion and letter of such counsel referred to in Section 5(a)(ii) or Section 5(b), as applicable, furnished to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers, to the same extent as though they were dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that statements in such last opinion and letter of such counsel shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such letters authorizing reliance).

(d)    Each Bring-Down Delivery Date, the Company shall, unless the Agents and the Forward Purchasers agree otherwise, cause Deloitte & Touche LLP to furnish to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers a “comfort” letter, dated as of the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered within one Exchange Business Day after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section 5(a)(iii) hereof, but modified to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter, and, if the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall include or incorporate by reference the financial statements of any entity or business (other than the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries), the Company shall, if requested by the Agents and the Forward Purchasers, cause a firm of independent public accountants to furnish to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers a “comfort” letter, dated as of the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date and delivered within one Exchange Business Day after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, delivered on such Principal Settlement Date, addressing such matters as the Agents and the Forward Purchasers may reasonably request.

 

21


(e)    (i) No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Act (in the case of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Act); and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Agents and no suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, shall have occurred and be in effect at the time the Company delivers a Transaction Proposal to an Agent or the time an Agent delivers a Transaction Acceptance to the Company; and (ii) the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading at the time the Company delivers a Transaction Proposal to an Agent or the time an Agent delivers a Transaction Acceptance to the Company.

(f)    The Company shall reasonably cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review requested by the Agents and the Forward Purchasers or their counsel from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or by any Terms Agreement or Confirmation, including, without limitation, (i) at the commencement of each intended Purchase Date and any Time of Sale or Settlement Date, providing information and making available appropriate documents and appropriate corporate officers of the Company and, upon reasonable request, representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP (and, if the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free-Writing Prospectus shall include or incorporate by reference the financial statements of any entity or business (other than the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries), representatives of the independent public accountants that audited or reviewed such financial statements) for an update on diligence matters with representatives of the Agents and the Forward Purchasers and (ii) at each Bring-Down Delivery Date and otherwise as the Agents and the Forward Purchasers may reasonably request, providing information and making available documents and appropriate corporate officers of the Company and representatives of Deloitte & Touche LLP (and, if the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free-Writing Prospectus shall include or incorporate by reference the financial statements of any entity or business (other than the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries), representatives of the independent public accountants that audited or reviewed such financial statements) for one or more due diligence sessions with representatives of the Agents and the Forward Purchasers and their counsel.

(g)    The Company shall disclose, in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K and, if requested by the Agent, in supplements to the Prospectus (each, an “Interim Prospectus Supplement”) to be filed by the Company with the Commission from time to time, the number of the Shares sold through the Agents under this Agreement, any Terms Agreement and any Confirmation, and the gross proceeds to the Company or the Forward Purchaser from the sale of the Shares and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter or, in the case of any such prospectus supplement, such shorter period as the Agents may reasonably request or, in the case of an Annual Report on Form 10-K, during the fiscal year covered by such Annual Report and the fourth quarter of such fiscal year.

 

22


The requirements (i) to provide the officers’ certificate, opinions and letters of counsel and accountants’ letter specified in Section 6(b) through 6(d) and (ii) to reasonably cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review specified in Section 6(f) shall be waived for any Bring-Down Delivery Date occurring at a time at which no Transaction Proposal or offers to enter into a Terms Agreement is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Transaction Proposal or offers to enter into a Terms Agreement hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Bring-Down Delivery Date) and the next occurring Bring-Down Delivery Date.

All opinions, letters and other documents referred to in Sections 6(b) through (d) above shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers. The Agents and the Forward Purchasers will provide the Company with such notice (which may be oral, and in such case, will be confirmed via email as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter) as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances when requesting an opinion, letter or other document referred to in Sections 6(b) through (d) above.

7.    Conditions of the Agents’ Obligation. The Agents’ obligation to solicit purchases on an agency basis for the Shares or otherwise take any action pursuant to a Transaction Acceptance and to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement or to sell any Shares as contemplated by a Confirmation shall be subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a)    At the Time of Acceptance, at the time of the commencement of trading on the Exchange on the Purchase Date(s) and at the relevant Time of Sale and Agency Settlement Date, or with respect to a Principal Transaction pursuant to a Terms Agreement, at the time of execution and delivery of the Terms Agreement by the Company and at the relevant Time of Sale and Principal Settlement Date, or with respect to a Forward Transaction pursuant to a Confirmation, at the time of execution and delivery of the Confirmation by the Company and at the relevant Time of Sale and Forward Settlement Date:

 

  (i) The representations, warranties and agreements on the part of the Company herein contained or contained in any certificate of an officer or officers of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects.

 

  (ii) The Company shall have performed and observed its covenants and other obligations hereunder and/or under any Terms Agreement or Confirmation, as the case may be, in all material respects.

 

  (iii)

In the case of an Agency Transaction, from the Time of Acceptance until the Agency Settlement Date, or, in the case of a Principal Transaction pursuant to a Terms Agreement, from the time of execution and delivery of the Terms Agreement by the Company until the Principal Settlement Date, or, in the case of a Forward Transaction pursuant to a Confirmation, from the time of execution and delivery of the Confirmation by the

 

23


  Company until the Hedge Completion Date specified pursuant to such Confirmation, trading in the Common Stock on the Exchange shall not have been suspended.

 

  (iv) From the date of this Agreement, no material adverse event shall have occurred or shall exist, which is not described in a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) or the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Agents makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the applicable Settlement Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, any Confirmation, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

  (v) Subsequent to the relevant Time of Acceptance or, in the case of a Principal Transaction or Forward Transaction, subsequent to execution of the applicable Terms Agreement or Confirmation, as applicable, (A) no downgrading shall have occurred in the Company’s corporate issuer rating by any of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and (B) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, the Company’s corporate issuer rating.

 

  (vi) The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transaction Acceptance or pursuant to a Terms Agreement or Confirmation, as applicable, shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance.

(b)    Within one Exchange Business Day after the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date or, in the case of a Bring-Down Delivery Date resulting from a Principal Settlement Date, on such Principal Settlement Date, the Agents shall have received the officers’ certificates, opinions and negative assurance letters of counsel and “comfort” letters and other documents provided for under Sections 6(b) through (d), inclusive. For purposes of clarity and without limitation to any other provision of this Section 7 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that the Agents’ obligations, if any, to solicit purchases of Shares on an agency basis or otherwise take any action pursuant to a Transaction Acceptance shall, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Agents, be suspended during the period from and including a Bring-Down Delivery Date through and including the time that the Agents shall have received the documents described in the preceding sentence.

8.    Termination.

 

  (a)    (i)

The Company may terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time upon prior written notice to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except that (A) with respect to any pending sale, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the applicable

 

24


  Agent and/or Forward Purchaser, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination; and (B) the provisions of Sections 3, 4 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement or Confirmation, only Section 4(l)), 9, 13, 16 and 20 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

  (ii) In the case of any sale by the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Company pursuant to such Terms Agreement and this Agreement may not be terminated by the Company without the prior written consent of the applicable Agent.

 

  (b)      (i) Each Agent and each Forward Purchaser may terminate this Agreement with respect to itself in its sole discretion at any time upon giving prior written notice to the Company; provided, however, that this Agreement will remain in full force and effect with respect to the Agents and the Forward Purchasers that have not so terminated the Agreement with respect to themselves. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except that the provisions of Sections 3, 4 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, only Section 4(l)), 9, 13, and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

  (ii) In the case of any purchase by an Agent pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of such Agent pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination by such Agent at any time prior to or at the Principal Settlement Date if since the time of execution of the Terms Agreement or the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, (1) any suspension or limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (2) a general banking moratorium declared by federal or New York authorities or a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States; or (3) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial national or international calamity or emergency if, in the reasonable judgment of such Agent, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation, declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical and inadvisable to proceed with completion of the sale of and payment for the Shares.. If such Agent elects to terminate its obligations pursuant to this Section 8(b)(ii), the Company shall be notified promptly in writing.

(c)    This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the earliest of (A) termination of the Agreement pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b) above or otherwise by mutual

 

25


written agreement of the parties and (B) such date that the Maximum Amount of Shares has been sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, any Terms Agreements and any Confirmation, in each case except that the provisions of Section 3, 4 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement or Confirmation, only Section 4(l)), 9, 13, and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(d)    Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agents, the Forward Purchasers or the Company, as the case may be, or such later date as may be required pursuant to Section 8(a) or (b). If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 hereof.

(e)    No termination of this Agreement shall affect any Confirmation that has been entered into prior to such termination.

9.    Indemnity and Contribution.

(a)    The Company agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless each Agent and each Forward Purchaser and the officers, directors, partners, members, employees, agents and affiliates of each Agent and each Forward Purchaser and each person, if any, who controls any Agent or any Forward Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each an “indemnified party”), against any loss, expense, claim, damage or liability to which, jointly or severally, any indemnified party may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, expense, claim, damage or liability (or actions in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement (including any Interim Prospectus Supplement), the General Disclosure Package, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant Rule 433(d) under the Act, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, except as hereinafter in this Section 9; provided, the Company agrees to reimburse each indemnified party for any reasonable legal or other expenses as incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, expense, claim, damage or liability; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, expense, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based on an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any such document in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by an Agent or Forward Purchaser expressly for use in any such document (the only such information being that set forth on Schedule C hereto).

(b)    Each Agent and each Forward Purchaser agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its officers and directors, and each of them, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any loss, expense, claim, damage or liability to which it or they may become subject, under the Act or

 

26


otherwise, insofar as such loss, expense, claim, damage or liability (or actions in respect thereof) arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the prospectus supplement (including any Interim Prospectus Supplement), the General Disclosure Package, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant Rule 433(d) under the Act, or any amendment or supplement to any thereof, or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, and only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any such documents in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by an Agent or Forward Purchaser expressly for use in any such document (the only such information being that set forth on Schedule C hereto); and, except as hereinafter in this Section 9 provided, each Agent and each Forward Purchaser agrees to reimburse the Company and its officers and directors, and each of them, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by it or them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, expense, claim, damage or liability.

(c)    Upon receipt of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental investigation) involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a) or 9(b), an indemnified party (the “indemnified party”) shall, with reasonable promptness, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an “indemnifying party” under its agreement contained in this Section 9, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to the indemnified party otherwise than under its agreement contained in this Section 9. In the case of any such notice to an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense, or if it so elects, to assume the defense, of any such action, but, if it elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the indemnified party and to any other indemnifying party that is a defendant in the suit. In the event that any indemnifying party elects to assume the defense of any such action and retain such counsel, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the indemnifying party has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; (iii) the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and the representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. No indemnifying party shall be liable in the event of any settlement of any such action effected without its consent. Each indemnified party agrees promptly to notify each indemnifying party of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it in connection with the issue and sale of the Shares.

(d)    If an Agent, Forward Purchaser or person entitled to indemnification by the terms of subsection (a) of this Section 9 shall have given notice to the Company of a claim in respect thereof pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 9, and if such claim for indemnification is

 

27


thereafter held by a court to be unavailable for any reason other than by reason of the terms of this Section 9 or if such claim is unavailable under controlling precedent, such Agent, such Forward Purchaser or such person shall be entitled to contribution from the Company for liabilities and expenses, except to the extent that contribution is not permitted under Section 11(f) of the Act. In determining the amount of contribution to which such Agent, such Forward Purchaser or such person is entitled, there shall be considered the relative benefits received by such Agent, such Forward Purchaser or such person and the Company from the offering of the Shares that were the subject of the claim for indemnification (taking into account the portion of the proceeds of the offering realized by each), such Agent’s, such Forward Purchaser’s or such person’s relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. The Company, each Agent and each Forward Purchaser agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation. The aggregate amount of liabilities and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 9 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

(e)    Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, in no event shall any Agent be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discounts and commissions received by such Agent with respect to the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreements exceeds the amount of any damages that such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

(f)    No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 9 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party and all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim, and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or the failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(g)    The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 9 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Agents set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of an Agent, a Forward Purchaser or any person controlling any Agent or Forward Purchaser or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company, and (iii) the acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor under this Agreement.

 

28


10.    Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of communication, and, if to the respective party, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to:

 

  (a) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, New York 10179

Attn: Special Equities Group, Adam Rosenbluth

(email ***@***);

 

  (b) JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch

25 Bank Street

Canary Wharf

London E14 5JP

England

Attention: EDG Marketing Support (email: ***@***; ***@***)

Facsimile: 1 ###-###-####

With a copy to:

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Adam Rosenbluth (email ***@***)

Facsimile: (646) 441-4870

 

  (c) Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attention: Equity Capital Markets

Facsimile: (917) 265-0415

 

  (d) Barclays Bank PLC

c/o Barclay Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Attention: Paul Robinson

Telephone: (212) 526-0111

Facsimile: (917) 522-0458

 

  (e) Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Attention: General Counsel

Facsimile: (646) 291-1469

 

29


  (f) Citibank N.A.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Attention: Equity Derivatives

Facsimile: (646) 291-1469

 

  (g) PPL Corporation

Two North Ninth Street

Allentown, Pennsylvania 18101

Facsimile: (610) 774-5235

Attn: Treasurer

With a copy to:

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

Facsimile: (212) 455-2502

Attn: Andrew R. Keller.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Transaction Proposals shall be delivered by the Company to the applicable Agent by telephone or email to:

 

  (i) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Adam Rosenbluth (telephone number ###-###-####;

email ***@***),

Jemil Salih (telephone number ###-###-####;

email ***@***) and

Ara Movsesian (telephone number ###-###-####;

email ***@***)

 

  (ii) Barclays Capital Inc.

Paul Robinson (telephone number ###-###-####;

email ***@***) or

Chris Quartuccio (telephone number ###-###-####;

email ***@***).

 

  (iii) Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

Robert G. Leonard (telephone number ###-###-####;

email ***@***)

 

30


11.    No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Agent and each Forward Purchaser is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby and any Terms Agreements or Confirmations (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, none of the Agents nor Forward Purchasers is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and no Agent or Forward Purchaser shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Agents or the Forward Purchasers of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Agents or the Forward Purchasers and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

12.    Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share related numbers contained in this Agreement, any Transaction Proposal and any Transaction Acceptance shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split effected with respect to the Shares.

13.    Governing Law; Construction.

(a)    This Agreement and any Terms Agreement, and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement (each a “Claim”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

(b)    The Section headings in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement.

14.    Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement, any Terms Agreement and any Confirmations shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and the officers, directors, affiliates and controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any such Terms Agreement or Confirmation or any provision contained herein or therein. No purchaser of Shares from or through an Agent shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of purchase.

15.    Counterparts. This Agreement, any Terms Agreement and any Confirmation may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

16.    Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Agents and the Forward Purchasers contained in this Agreement,

 

31


any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Agents or the Forward Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Agents or the Forward Purchasers.

17.    Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under Act; the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Act.

18.    Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or any Confirmation, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto or thereto, as the case may be.

19.    Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

20.    Recognition of Bail-In. Notwithstanding and to the exclusion of any other term of this Agreement or other agreements, arrangements or understanding between any BRRD Party and the Company, the Company acknowledges and accepts that a BRRD Liability arising under this Agreement may be subject to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority, and acknowledges, accepts and agrees to be bound by:

 

  (a) the effect of the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority in relation to any BRRD Liability of any BRRD Party to the Company under this Agreement, that (without limitation) may include and result in any of the following, or some combination thereof:

 

  (i) the reduction of all, or a portion, of the BRRD Liability or outstanding amounts due thereon;

 

  (ii) the conversion of all, or a portion, of the BRRD Liability into share, other securities or other obligations of any BRRD Party or another person, and the issue to or conferral on the Company of such shares, securities or obligations;

 

  (iii) the cancellation of the BRRD Liability;

 

  (iv) the amendment or alteration of any interest, if applicable, thereon, the maturity or the dates on which any payments are due, including by suspending payment for a temporary period;

 

  (b) the variation of the terms of this Agreement, as deemed necessary by the Relevant Resolution Authority, to give effect to the exercise of Bail-in Powers by the Relevant Resolution Authority.

 

32


As used in this section:

Bail-in Legislation” means in relation to a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented, or which at any time implements, the BRRD, the relevant implementing law, regulation, rule or requirement as described in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule from time to time.

Bail-in Powers” means any Write-down and Conversion Powers as defined in the EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule, in relation to the relevant Bail-in Legislation.

BRRD” means Directive 2014/59/EU establishing a framework for the recovery and resolution of credit institutions and investment firms.

BRRD Liability” means a liability in respect of which the relevant Write Down and Conversion Powers in the applicable Bail-in Legislation may be exercised.

BRRD Party” means an institution or entity referred to in point (b), (c) or (d) of Article 1(1) BRRD.

EU Bail-in Legislation Schedule” means the document described as such, then in effect, and published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person) from time to time at http://www.lma.eu.com/pages.aspx?p=499.

Relevant Resolution Authority” means the resolution authority with the ability to exercise any Bail-in Powers in relation to a BRRD Party.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

33


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Agent, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the Agent.

 

Very truly yours,
PPL CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Tadd J. Henninger

Name:   Tadd J. Henninger
Title:   Vice President and Treasurer


Accepted and agreed to as of the

date first above written:

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

By:  

/s/ Sanjeet Dewal

Name:   Sanjeet Dewal
Title:   Executive Director

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, LONDON BRANCH

 

By:  

/s/ Sanjeet Dewal

Name:   Sanjeet Dewal
Title:   Executive Director


BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Paul Robinson

Name:   Paul Robinson
Title:   Managing Director

BARCLAYS BANK PLC

 

By:  

/s/ Paul Robinson

Name:   Paul Robinson
Title:   Managing Director


CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Ashwani Khubani

Name:   Ashwani Khubani
Title:   Director/Vice President

CITIBANK N.A.

 

By:  

/s/ Ashwani Khubani

Name:   Ashwani Khubani
Title:   Director/Vice President


Schedule A

Authorized Company Representatives

Tadd Henninger


Schedule B

1. Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses

None

2. Other information included in the General Disclosure Package

None


Schedule C

Information Represented and Warranted by the Agent

Pursuant to Section 2 of Equity Distribution Agreement

None


Exhibit A

PPL Corporation Common Stock

TERMS AGREEMENT

            , 20  

[●]1

Dear Sirs:

PPL Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Distribution Agreement dated February 23, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”) between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch, Barclays Bank PLC and Citibank N.A., to issue and sell to [●]2 (the “Agent”) the securities specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Purchased Securities”). Unless otherwise defined below, terms defined in the Distribution Agreement shall have the same meanings when used herein.

Each of the provisions of the Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Agent, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Settlement Date set forth in the Schedule hereto.

An amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to the Agent, is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Agent, and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company, the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule hereto.

Notwithstanding any provision of the Distribution Agreement or this Terms Agreement to the contrary, the Company consents to the Agent trading in the Common Stock for Agent’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Purchased Securities occur pursuant to this Terms Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

1  Insert name and address of applicable Agent.
2  Insert name and address of applicable Agent.


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the Agent and the Company.

 

PPL CORPORATION

 

By:  

                                          

  Name:
  Title:

Accepted and agreed as of

the date first above written:

[●]3

By:  

                                          

  Name:
  Title:

 

 

3  Insert name of applicable Agent.

 

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Schedule to Terms Agreement

Title of Purchased Securities:

Common Stock, par value $.01 per share

Number of Shares of Purchased Securities:

[●] shares

Initial Price to Public:

$[●] per share

Purchase Price Payable by the Agent:

$[●] per share

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

[By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.]

Method of Delivery:

[To the Agent’s account, or the account of the Agent’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company via DWAC in return for payment of the purchase price.]

Payment of fees and disbursements for counsel to the Agent:

[●]

Settlement Date:

[●], 20[●]

Closing Location:

[●]

Documents to be Delivered:

The following documents referred to in the Distribution Agreement shall be delivered on the Settlement Date as a condition to the closing for the Purchased Securities (which documents shall be dated on or as of the Settlement Date and shall be appropriately updated to cover any Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses and any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses and any documents incorporated by reference therein):

(1) the officers’ certificate referred to in Section 5(a)(i);

(2) the opinions and negative assurance letter of the Company’s outside counsel and general counsel referred to in Section 5(a)(ii);

(3) the “comfort” letters referred to in Section 5(a)(iii);

(4) the opinion and negative assurance letter referred to in Section 5(b); and

(5) such other documents as the Agent shall reasonably request.

 

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[Lockup:]

[●]

Time of sale: [●] [a.m./p.m.] (New York City time) on [●],[●]

Time of sale information:

 

  The number of shares of Purchased Securities set forth above

 

  The initial price to public set forth above

 

  [Other]

 

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Exhibit B

CONFIRMATION

Date: [    ], 20[    ]

 

TO:   

PPL Corporation

[●]

[●]

Attn: [●]

Telephone: [●]

FROM:   

[         ]

[Address]

RE:    Registered Forward Transaction
[Reference:    [Dealer]]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this letter agreement is to confirm the terms and conditions of the Transaction entered into between [    ] (“Dealer”) and PPL Corporation (“Counterparty”) on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”). This letter agreement constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below. [Dealer is not a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Dealer is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.]1

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., are incorporated into this Confirmation. In the event of any inconsistency between the Equity Definitions and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern.

Each party is hereby advised, and each such party acknowledges, that the other party has engaged in, or refrained from engaging in, substantial financial transactions and has taken other material actions in reliance upon the parties’ entry into the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates on the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

1  Insert where applicable.


1.    This Confirmation and the pricing supplement delivered hereunder evidence a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation, together with any other Confirmations for registered forward transactions entered into between Dealer and Counterparty (each, an “Additional Confirmation”), shall supplement, form a part of and be subject to an agreement in the form of the ISDA 2002 Master Agreement (the “Agreement”) as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an agreement in such form (without any Schedule but with the elections set forth in this Confirmation). In the event of any inconsistency between provisions of that Agreement and this Confirmation, this Confirmation will prevail for the purpose of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. The parties hereby agree that, other than the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates and the Transactions to which the Additional Confirmations, if any, relate (each, an “Additional Transaction”), no other Transaction shall be governed by the Agreement. For purposes of the Equity Definitions, this Transaction is a Share Forward Transaction.

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

General Terms:

 

Trade Date:    [    ], 20 [    ]
Effective Date:    The first day occurring on or after the Trade Date on which Shares that are sold through [            ] (the “Agent”) acting as forward seller for Dealer pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, dated [    ], 2018 between Counterparty, Dealer and the Agent (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Distribution Agreement”) have settled.
Seller:    Counterparty
Buyer:    Dealer
Shares:    The common stock of Counterparty, with a par value of $0.01 per share (Ticker Symbol: “PPL”)
Number of Shares:    The aggregate number of Shares that are sold through the Agent acting as forward seller for Dealer pursuant to the Distribution Agreement during the period from and including the Trade Date through and including the Hedge Completion Date; provided, however, that on each Settlement Date, the Number of Shares shall be reduced by the number of Settlement Shares settled on such date.
Hedge Completion Date:    The earliest of (i) the date specified in writing as the Hedge Completion Date by Counterparty in a notice delivered on or prior to such specified Hedge Completion Date, (ii) any Settlement Date and (iii) [    ], 20[    ]. Promptly after the Hedge Completion Date, Dealer will furnish Counterparty with a pricing supplement (the “Pricing Supplement”) substantially in the form of Annex A hereto specifying the Number of Shares as of the Hedge Completion Date (the “Initial Number of Shares”), the Initial Forward Price and the Final Date, all determined in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

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Initial Forward Price:    [    ]% of the volume weighted average price at which the Shares are sold through the Agent acting as forward seller for Dealer pursuant to the Distribution Agreement during the period from and including the Trade Date through and including the Hedge Completion Date (adjusted as the Calculation Agent determines appropriate to (i) reflect on each day during such period the sum of 1 and the Daily Rate for such day multiplied by the then- Initial Forward Price as of such day and (ii) reduce the then-Initial Forward Price by the relevant Forward Price Reduction Amount on each Forward Price Reduction Date occurring on or before the Hedge Completion Date).
Forward Price:    (a) On the Hedge Completion Date, the Initial Forward Price; and
   (b) On each calendar day thereafter, (i) the Forward Price as of the immediately preceding calendar day multiplied by (ii) the sum of 1 and the Daily Rate 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.
Daily Rate:    For any day, a rate (which may be positive or negative) equal to (i) (a) USD-Federal Funds Rate for such day minus (b) the Spread divided by (ii) 365.
USD-Federal Funds Rate:    For any day, the rate set forth for such day opposite the caption “Federal funds”, 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 immediately preceding day for which a rate does so appear shall be used for such day.
Spread:    [    ]%.
Prepayment:    Not Applicable
Variable Obligation:    Not Applicable
Forward Price Reduction Dates:    As set forth on Schedule I

 

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Forward Price Reduction Amounts:    For each Forward Price Reduction Date, the Forward Price Reduction Amount set forth opposite such date on Schedule I.
Exchange:    The New York Stock Exchange
Related Exchange(s):    All Exchanges
Clearance System:    The Depository Trust Company
Market Disruption Event:    Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the first sentence in its entirety with the following: “‘Market Disruption Event’ means in respect of a Share or an Index, the occurrence or existence of (i) a Trading Disruption, (ii) an Exchange Disruption, (iii) an Early Closure or (iv) a Regulatory Disruption, in each case that the Calculation Agent determines is material”.
Early Closure:    Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.
Regulatory Disruption:    Any event that Dealer, in its reasonable discretion based on the advice of its legal counsel, determines makes it appropriate with regard to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures for Dealer to refrain from or decrease sales or purchases of Shares in connection with the Transaction.
Hedging Party:    Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer that is involved in the hedging of the Transaction for all applicable Additional Disruption Events.

Settlement:

 

Settlement Currency:    USD (all amounts shall be converted to the Settlement Currency in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner by the Calculation Agent)
Settlement Date:    Any Scheduled Trading Day following the Effective Date and up to and including the Final Date that is either:
   (a) designated by Counterparty as a “Settlement Date” by a written notice (a “Settlement Notice”) that satisfies the Settlement Notice Requirements and is delivered to Dealer no less than (i) three Scheduled Trading Days prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Final

 

B-4


   Date, if Physical Settlement applies, and (ii) 40 Scheduled Trading Days (or such other period of time as agreed between Counterparty and Dealer) prior to such Settlement Date, which may be the Final Date, if Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement applies; provided that, if Dealer shall fully unwind its hedge with respect to the portion of the Number of Shares to be settled during an Unwind Period by a date that is more than three Scheduled Trading Days prior to a Settlement Date specified above, Dealer may, by written notice to Counterparty, no fewer than two Scheduled Trading Days prior thereto, specify any Scheduled Trading Day prior to such original Settlement Date as the Settlement Date; or
   (b) designated by Dealer as a Settlement Date pursuant to the “Termination Settlement” provisions of Paragraph 7(g) below;
   provided that the Final Date will be a Settlement Date if on such date the Number of Shares for which a Settlement Date has not already been designated is greater than zero, and provided further that, following the occurrence of at least three consecutive Disrupted Days during an Unwind Period and while such Disrupted Days are continuing, Dealer may designate any subsequent Scheduled Trading Day as the Settlement Date with respect to the portion of the Settlement Shares, if any, for which Dealer has determined an Unwind Purchase Price during such Unwind Period, it being understood that the Unwind Period with respect to the remainder of such Settlement Shares shall recommence on the next succeeding Exchange Business Day that is not a Disrupted Day in whole.
Final Date:    [    ] (or if such day is not a Scheduled Trading Day, the next following Scheduled Trading Day)
Settlement Shares:    (a) With respect to any Settlement Date other than the Final Date, the number of Shares designated as such by Counterparty in the relevant Settlement Notice or designated by Dealer pursuant to the “Termination Settlement” provisions of Paragraph 7(g) below, as applicable; provided that the Settlement Shares so designated shall, in the case of a designation by Counterparty, (i) not exceed the Number of Shares at that time and (ii) be at least equal to the lesser of [    ] and the Number of Shares at that time, in each case with the Number of Shares determined taking into account pending Settlement Shares; and

 

B-5


   (b) with respect to the Settlement Date on the Final Date, a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares at that time, with the Number of Shares determined taking into account pending Settlement Shares.
Settlement Method Election:    Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement, at the election of Counterparty as set forth in a Settlement Notice 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 Dealer is unable to unwind its hedge by the end of the Unwind Period (taking into account any Additional Transactions with overlapping “Unwind Periods” (as defined in the applicable Additional Confirmation)) (A) in a manner that, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer based on the advice of its legal counsel, is consistent with the requirements for qualifying for the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 (“Rule 10b-18”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or (B) in its commercially reasonable judgment, due to the occurrence of Disrupted Days or to the lack of sufficient liquidity in the Shares on any Exchange Business Day during the Unwind Period, (iii) to any Termination Settlement Date (as defined under “Termination Settlement” in Paragraph 7(g) below) and (iv) if the Final Date is a Settlement Date other than as the result of a valid Settlement Notice, in respect of such Settlement Date.
Settlement Notice Requirements:    Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, a Settlement Notice delivered by Counterparty that specifies Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement will not be effective to establish a Settlement Date or require Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement unless Counterparty delivers to Dealer with such Settlement Notice a representation, dated as of the date of such Settlement Notice and signed by Counterparty, in the following form: “As of the date of this Settlement Notice, PPL Corporation reaffirms the representations made under Paragraph 7(e)(i) of the Confirmation.”
Physical Settlement:    If Physical Settlement is applicable, then Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer through the Clearance System a number of Shares equal to the Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date, and Dealer shall pay to Counterparty, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Counterparty, an amount equal to the Physical Settlement Amount for

 

B-6


   such Settlement Date, on a delivery versus payment basis. If, on any Settlement Date, the Shares to be delivered by Counterparty to Dealer hereunder are not so delivered (the “Deferred Shares”), and a Forward Price Reduction Date occurs during the period from, and including, such Settlement Date to, but excluding, the date such Shares are actually delivered to Dealer, then the portion of the Physical Settlement Amount payable by Dealer to Counterparty in respect of the Deferred Shares shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Forward Price Reduction Amount for such Forward Price Reduction Date, multiplied by the number of Deferred Shares.
Physical Settlement Amount:    For any Settlement Date for which Physical Settlement is applicable, an amount in cash equal to the product of (a) the Forward Price in effect on the relevant Settlement Date multiplied by (b) the Settlement Shares for such Settlement Date.
Cash Settlement:    On any Settlement Date in respect of which Cash Settlement applies, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a positive number, Dealer will pay the Cash Settlement Amount to Counterparty. If the Cash Settlement Amount is a negative number, Counterparty will pay the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount to Dealer. Such amounts shall be paid on such Settlement Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
Cash Settlement Amount:    An amount determined by the Calculation Agent equal to:
   (a) (i)(A) the weighted average (weighted on the same basis as sub-clause (B)) of the Forward Prices on each day during the applicable Unwind Period (calculated assuming no reduction to the Forward Price for any Forward Price Reduction Date that occurs during such Unwind Period, which is accounted for in clause (b) below), minus USD [    ], minus (B) the weighted average price (the “Unwind Purchase Price”) at which Dealer purchases Shares during the Unwind Period to unwind its hedge with respect to the portion of the Number of Shares to be settled during the Unwind Period (including, for the avoidance of doubt, purchases on any Disrupted Day in part), taking into account Shares anticipated to be delivered or received if Net Stock Settlement applies, and the restrictions of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act agreed to hereunder, multiplied by (ii) the Settlement Shares for the relevant Settlement Date; minus

 

B-7


   (b) 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 Settlement Date with respect to which Dealer has not unwound its hedge, including the settlement of such unwinds, as of such Forward Price Reduction Date.
Net Stock Settlement:    On any Settlement Date in respect of which Net Stock Settlement applies, if the Cash Settlement Amount is a (i) positive number, Dealer shall deliver a number of Shares to Counterparty equal to the Net Stock Settlement Shares, or (ii) negative number, Counterparty shall deliver a number of Shares to Dealer equal to the Net Stock Settlement Shares; provided that, if Dealer determines in its commercially reasonable judgment that it would be required to deliver Net Stock Settlement Shares to Counterparty, Dealer may elect to deliver a portion of such Net Stock Settlement Shares on one or more dates prior to the applicable Settlement Date.
Net Stock Settlement Shares:    With respect to a Settlement Date, the absolute value of the Cash Settlement Amount divided by the Unwind Purchase Price, with the number of Shares rounded up in the event such calculation results in a fractional number.
Unwind Period:    The period from and including the first Exchange Business Day following the date Counterparty validly elects Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement in respect of a Settlement Date through the third Scheduled Trading Day preceding such Settlement Date, subject to “Termination Settlement” as described in Paragraph 7(g) below.
Failure to Deliver:    Applicable if Dealer is required to deliver Shares hereunder; otherwise, Not Applicable.
Share Cap:    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Confirmation, in no event will Counterparty be required to deliver to Dealer on any Settlement Date, whether pursuant to Physical Settlement, Net Stock Settlement or any Private Placement Settlement, a number of Shares in excess of (i) two times the Initial Number of Shares, subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions minus (ii) the aggregate number of Shares delivered by Counterparty to Dealer hereunder prior to such Settlement Date.

 

B-8


Adjustments:

Method of Adjustment:    Calculation Agent Adjustment. Section 11.2(e) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting clause (iii) thereof.
Additional Adjustment:    If, in Dealer’s good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, the actual cost to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer), over any one month period, of borrowing a number of Shares equal to the Number of Shares to hedge its exposure to this Transaction (or if Dealer’s Hedge Position involves the borrowing of less than the Number of Shares, then such lesser number of Shares as are covered by such Hedge Position) exceeds a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum, the Calculation Agent shall reduce the Forward Price in order to compensate Dealer for the amount by which such actual cost exceeded a weighted average rate equal to 25 basis points per annum during such period. The Calculation Agent shall notify Counterparty prior to making any such adjustment to the Forward Price and, upon the request of Counterparty, Dealer shall provide reasonable detail of the applicable stock loan costs for the applicable one-month period; provided that Dealer shall not be obligated to disclose any confidential or proprietary information.

Extraordinary Events:

 

Extraordinary Events:    In lieu of the applicable provisions contained in Article 12 of the Equity Definitions, the consequences of any Extraordinary Event (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Merger Event, Tender Offer, Nationalization, Insolvency, Delisting or Change In Law) shall be as specified below under the headings “Acceleration Events” and “Termination Settlement” in Paragraphs 7(f) and 7(g), respectively.
Non-Reliance:    Applicable
Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities:    Applicable
Additional Acknowledgments:    Applicable
Transfer:    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Agreement, Dealer may assign, transfer and set over all rights, title and interest, powers, privileges and remedies of Dealer under this Transaction, in whole or in part, to an affiliate of Dealer of equivalent credit quality (or whose obligations are guaranteed by an entity of equivalent credit quality) so long as (a) Counterparty will not be required to pay to such assignee or transferee an amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax under

 

B-9


   Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than the amount in respect of which Counterparty would have been required to pay Dealer in the absence of such assignment or transfer; (b) Counterparty will not receive a payment from which an amount has been withheld or deducted on account of a Tax under Section 2(d)(i) of the Agreement in excess of that which Dealer would have been required to so withhold or deduct in the absence of such assignment or transfer; and (c) no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will occur as a result of such assignment or transfer.

3.    Calculation Agent: Dealer; unless an Event of Default under Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement has occurred and is continuing with respect to Dealer, in which case the Calculation Agent shall be a recognized dealer in the relevant derivatives market designated by Counterparty. The Calculation Agent shall act in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner. Following any determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, upon a written request by Counterparty, the Calculation Agent will, within a commercially reasonable period of time following such request, provide to Counterparty by e-mail to the e-mail address provided by Counterparty in such written request a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data) displaying in reasonable detail the basis for such determination or calculation, as the case may be; provided that Dealer shall not be required to disclose any proprietary or confidential models of Dealer or any information that is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information.

4.    Account Details:

 

(a)   Account for delivery of Shares to Dealer:

   To be furnished

(b)   Account for delivery of Shares to Counterparty:

   To be furnished

(c)   Account for payments to Counterparty:

   To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date

(d)   Account for payments to Dealer:

   To be advised under separate cover or telephone confirmed prior to each Settlement Date

5.    Offices:

The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party.

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: [    ].

 

B-10


6.    Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

 

  (a) Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:

PPL Corporation

[●]

[●]

Attn: [●]

Telephone: [●]

 

  (b) Address for notices or communications to Dealer:

[        ]

[Address]

7.    Other Provisions:

 

  (a) Conditions to Effectiveness. This Transaction shall be effective if and only if Shares are sold by the Agent acting as forward seller for Dealer on or after the Trade Date and on or before the Hedge Completion Date pursuant to the Distribution Agreement. If the Distribution Agreement is terminated prior to any such sale of Shares thereunder during such period, the parties shall have no further obligations in connection with this Transaction, other than in respect of breaches of representations or covenants on or prior to such date.

 

  (b) Distribution Agreement Representations, Warranties and Covenants. On the Trade Date and on each date on which Dealer or its affiliates makes a sale pursuant to a prospectus in connection with a hedge of this Transaction, Counterparty repeats and reaffirms as of such date all of the representations and warranties contained in the Distribution Agreement. Counterparty hereby agrees to comply with its covenants contained in the Distribution Agreement as if such covenants were made in favor of Dealer.

 

  (c) Interpretive Letter. The parties agree and acknowledge that this Transaction is being entered into in accordance with the October 9, 2003 interpretive letter from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission to Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the “Interpretive Letter”). In addition, Counterparty represents that it is eligible to conduct a primary offering of Shares on Form S-3, the offering contemplated by the Distribution Agreement complies with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Shares are “actively traded” as defined in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M.

 

  (d) Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Shares.

(i) Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that, in respect of any Shares delivered to Dealer hereunder, such Shares shall be newly issued (unless mutually agreed otherwise by the parties) and shall, upon such delivery, be duly and validly authorized, issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, free of any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights and shall, upon such issuance, be accepted for listing or quotation on the Exchange.

 

B-11


(ii) Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) will hedge its exposure to this Transaction by selling Shares borrowed from third party securities lenders pursuant to a registration statement. The parties acknowledge that, pursuant to the terms of the Interpretive Letter, the Shares (up to the Initial Number of Shares) delivered by Counterparty to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) in connection with this Transaction may be used by Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) to close out open borrowings of Shares created in the course of its hedging activities relating to its exposure under this Transaction without further registration of the delivery of such Shares and without delivering a prospectus in connection with the delivery of such Shares. Accordingly, and subject to paragraph 7(d)(iv), Counterparty agrees that the Shares that it delivers to Dealer (or an affiliate of Dealer) upon settlement of the Transaction 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.

(iii) Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that it has reserved and will keep available at all times, free from preemptive or similar rights and free from any lien, charge, claim or other encumbrance, authorized but unissued Shares at least equal to the Share Cap, solely for the purpose of settlement under this Transaction.

(iv) Unless the provisions set forth below under “Private Placement Procedures” are applicable, Dealer agrees to use any Shares delivered by Counterparty hereunder on any Settlement Date to return Shares to securities lenders to close out open securities loans created by Dealer or an affiliate of Dealer in the course of Dealer’s or such affiliate’s hedging activities related to Dealer’s exposure under this Transaction.

(v) In connection with bids and purchases of Shares in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement of this Transaction, Dealer shall use its good faith 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 and any analogous purchases under any Additional Transaction.

 

  (e) Additional Representations and Agreements of Counterparty. Counterparty represents, warrants and agrees as follows:

(i) Counterparty represents to Dealer on the Trade Date and on any date that Counterparty notifies Dealer that Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement applies to this Transaction, that (A) Counterparty is not aware of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, (B) each of its filings under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other applicable securities laws that are required to be filed have been filed and that, as of the date of this representation, when considered as a whole (with the more recent such filings deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such filings), there is no misstatement of material fact contained therein or omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (C) Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation or making any election hereunder to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable

 

B-12


for Shares) and (D) Counterparty has not and will not directly or indirectly violate any applicable law (including, without limitation, the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) in connection with this Transaction. In addition to any other requirements set forth herein, Counterparty agrees not to elect Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement if, in the reasonable judgment of Counterparty (or if in the reasonable judgment of Dealer, as previously notified in writing to Counterparty), such settlement or Dealer’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 Counterparty.

(ii) It is the intent of Dealer and Counterparty that following any election of Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement by Counterparty, the purchase of Shares by Dealer during any Unwind Period comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-l(c)(l)(i)(B) of the Exchange Act and that this Confirmation shall be interpreted to comply with the requirements of Rule 10b5-l(c). Counterparty acknowledges that (a) during any Unwind Period Counterparty shall not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any influence over how, when or whether to effect purchases of Shares by Dealer (or its agent or affiliate) in connection with this Confirmation and (b) Counterparty is entering into the Agreement and this 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.

(iii) Counterparty shall, at least one day prior to the first day of any Unwind Period, notify Dealer of the total number of Shares purchased in Rule 10b-18 purchases of blocks pursuant to the once-a-week block exception contained in Rule 10b-18(b)(4) by or for Counterparty or any of its affiliated purchasers during each of the four calendar weeks preceding the first day of the Unwind Period and during the calendar week in which the first day of the Unwind Period occurs (“Rule 10b-18 purchase”, “blocks” and “affiliated purchaser” each being used as defined in Rule 10b-18). Counterparty agrees to take all actions, and to omit to take any actions, reasonably requested by Dealer for this Transaction to comply with the Interpretive Letter. Without limiting the foregoing, Counterparty agrees that neither it nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Regulation M (“Regulation M”) promulgated under the Exchange Act) will, directly or indirectly, bid for, purchase or attempt to induce any person to bid for or purchase, the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Shares during any “restricted period” as such term is defined in Regulation M.

(iv) During any Unwind Period, Counterparty shall (a) notify Dealer prior to the opening of trading in the Shares on any day on which Counterparty makes, or expects to be made, any public announcement (as defined in Rule 165(f) under the Securities Act) of any merger, acquisition or similar transaction involving a recapitalization relating to Counterparty (other than any such transaction in which the consideration consists solely of cash and there is no valuation period), (b) promptly notify Dealer following any such announcement that such announcement has been made and (c) promptly deliver to Dealer following the making of any such announcement information indicating (A) Counterparty’s average daily Rule 10b-18 purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) during the three full calendar months preceding the date of the announcement of such transaction and (B) Counterparty’s block purchases (as defined in Rule 10b-18) effected pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of Rule 10b-18 during the three full calendar months preceding the

 

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date of the announcement of such transaction. In addition, Counterparty shall promptly notify Dealer of the earlier to occur of the completion of such transaction and the completion of the vote by target shareholders.

(v) Neither Counterparty nor any of its affiliated purchasers (within the meaning of Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act) shall take or refrain from taking any action (including, without limitation, any direct purchases by Counterparty or any of its affiliates, or any purchases by a party to a derivative transaction with Counterparty or any of its affiliates), either under this Confirmation, under an agreement with another party or otherwise, that might cause any purchases of Shares by Dealer or any of its affiliates in connection with any Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement of this Transaction not to meet the requirements of the safe harbor provided by Rule 10b-18 determined as if all such foregoing purchases were made by Counterparty.

(vi) Counterparty will not engage in any “distribution” (as defined in Regulation M) that would cause a “restricted period” (as defined in Regulation M) to occur during any Unwind Period.

(vii) Counterparty is not, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(viii) As of the date hereof, the Trade Date and the date of any payment or delivery by Counterparty or Dealer under any Transaction, it is not and will not be “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code).

(ix) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that Dealer is not making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of this Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements) or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

(x) Counterparty understands no obligations of Dealer to it hereunder will be entitled to the benefit of deposit insurance and that such obligations will not be guaranteed by any affiliate of Dealer or any governmental agency.

(xi) [Reserved].

(xii) 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 Counterparty of this Confirmation and the consummation of this Transaction (including, without limitation, the issuance and delivery of Shares on any Settlement Date) except (a) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act and (b) as may be required to be obtained under state securities laws.

 

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(xiii) Counterparty (a) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business affairs as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of entering into this Transaction; (b) has consulted with its own legal, financial, accounting and tax advisors in connection with this Transaction; and (c) is entering into this Transaction for a bona fide business purpose.

(xiv) As of the date hereof and on any date that Counterparty notifies Dealer that Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement applies to this Transaction, Counterparty is not the subject of any civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction that could reasonably be expected to impair materially Counterparty’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder.

(xv) Counterparty will, within two Scheduled Trading Days, notify Dealer upon obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of an Event of Default or a Potential Adjustment Event with respect to Counterparty.

(xvi) Counterparty (a) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (b) 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 (c) has total assets of at least $50 million as of the date hereof.

 

  (f) Acceleration Events. Each of the following events shall constitute an “Acceleration Event”:

(i) Stock Borrow Event. In the commercially reasonable judgment of Dealer (A) Dealer (or any relevant affiliate of Dealer) is not able to hedge its exposure under this Transaction because insufficient Shares are made available for borrowing by securities lenders or (B) Dealer (or any relevant affiliate of Dealer) would incur a cost to borrow (or to maintain a borrow of) Shares to hedge its exposure under this Transaction that is greater than a rate equal to 200 basis points per annum (each, a “Stock Borrow Event”);

(ii) Dividends and Other Distributions. On any day occurring after the Trade Date, Counterparty declares a distribution, issue or dividend to existing holders of the Shares of (A) 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 (with the Trade Date being a Forward Price Reduction Date for purposes of this paragraph 7(f)(ii) 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, (B) any Extraordinary Dividend, (C) any share capital or other securities of another issuer acquired or owned (directly or indirectly) by Counterparty as a result of a spin-off or other similar transaction or (D) any other type of securities (other than Shares), rights or warrants or other assets, in any case for payment (cash or other consideration) at less than the prevailing market price, as determined by Dealer for which the related record date occurs during the period from, and including, the Effective Date to, but excluding, the Final Date (or, if later, the last date on which Shares are delivered by Counterparty to Dealer in settlement of this Transaction). “Extraordinary Dividend” means any dividend or distribution declared by the Issuer with respect to the Shares that, in the determination of Dealer,

 

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is (1) a dividend or distribution declared on the Shares at a time at which the Issuer has not previously declared or paid dividends or distributions on such Shares for the prior four quarterly periods, (2) a payment or distribution by the Issuer to holders of Shares that the Issuer announces will be an “extraordinary” or “special” dividend or distribution, (3) a payment by the Issuer to holders of Shares out of the Issuer’s capital and surplus or (4) any other “special” dividend or distribution on the Shares that is, by its terms or declared intent, outside the normal course of operations or normal dividend policies or practices of the Issuer;

(iii) ISDA Termination. Either Dealer or Counterparty has the right to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement;

(iv) 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; provided that, in case of a Delisting, in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity 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 requoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); provided further that (a) the definition of “Change in Law” provided in Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (A) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “or public announcement or statement of the formal or informal interpretation” and (B) immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by Dealer on the Trade Date” and (b) any determination as to whether (A) the adoption of or any change in any applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any tax law) or (B) the promulgation of or any change in or announcement or statement of the formal or informal interpretation by any court, tribunal or regulatory authority with competent jurisdiction of any applicable law or regulation (including any action taken by a taxing authority), in each case, constitutes a “Change in Law” shall be made without regard to Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (the “WSTAA”) or any similar provision in any legislation enacted on or after the Trade Date; or

(v) Ownership Event. In the good faith judgment of Dealer, on any day, the Share Amount for such day exceeds the Post-Effective Limit for such day (if any applies) (each, an “Ownership Event”). For purposes of this sub-paragraph (v), the “Share Amount” as of any day is the number of Shares that Dealer and any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer (Dealer or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any law, rule, regulation or regulatory order or Counterparty constituent document that for any reason is, or after the Trade Date becomes, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Provisions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership of under the Applicable Provisions, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion. The “Post-Effective Limit” means (x) the minimum number of Shares that would give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Dealer Person, or would result in an adverse effect on a Dealer Person, under the Applicable Provisions, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion, minus (y) 0.5% of the number of Shares outstanding.

 

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  (g) Termination Settlement. Upon the occurrence of any Acceleration Event, Dealer 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 hereunder (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 (a) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of an Ownership Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Dealer shall not exceed the number of Shares necessary to reduce the Share Amount to reasonably below the Post-Effective Limit and (b) in the case of an Acceleration Event arising out of a Stock Borrow Event, the number of Settlement Shares so designated by Dealer shall not exceed the number of Shares as to which such Stock Borrow Event exists. If, upon designation of a Termination Settlement Date by Dealer pursuant to the preceding sentence, Counterparty 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 this Transaction, it shall be an Event of Default with respect to Counterparty and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. If an Acceleration Event occurs during an Unwind Period relating to a number of Settlement Shares to which Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement applies, then on the Termination Settlement Date relating to such Acceleration Event, notwithstanding any election to the contrary by Counterparty, Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement shall apply to the portion of the Settlement Shares relating to such Unwind Period as to which Dealer 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 Dealer in respect of such Termination Settlement Date. If an Acceleration Event occurs after Counterparty has designated a Settlement Date to which Physical Settlement applies but before the relevant Settlement Shares have been delivered to Dealer, then Dealer shall have the right to cancel such Settlement Date and designate a Termination Settlement Date in respect of such Shares pursuant to the first sentence hereof.

 

  (h) Private Placement Procedures. If Counterparty is unable to comply with the provisions of sub-paragraph (ii) of Section 7(d) above because of a Change in Law, or Dealer otherwise determines that in its reasonable opinion based on the advice of counsel any Shares to be delivered to Dealer by Counterparty may not be freely returned by Dealer or its affiliates to securities lenders as described under such sub-paragraph (ii) or otherwise constitute “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, then delivery of any such Shares (the “Restricted Shares”) shall be effected as provided below, unless waived by Dealer.

(i) If Counterparty delivers the Restricted Shares pursuant to this paragraph (i) (a “Private Placement Settlement”), then delivery of Restricted Shares by Counterparty shall be effected in customary (for issuers with a market capitalization comparable to, and in the same industry as, Counterparty) private placement procedures with respect to such Restricted Shares reasonably acceptable to Dealer; provided that Counterparty may not elect a Private Placement Settlement if, on the date of its election, it 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 Counterparty to Dealer (or any affiliate designated by Dealer) 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 Dealer (or any such affiliate of Dealer), and if Counterparty fails to deliver the Restricted Shares when due or

 

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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 Counterparty and Section 6 of the Agreement shall apply. The Private Placement Settlement of such Restricted Shares shall include customary (for issuers with a market capitalization comparable to, and in the same industry as, Counterparty) representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Restricted Shares by Dealer), opinions and certificates, and such other documentation as is customary (for issuers with a market capitalization comparable to, and in the same industry as, Counterparty) for private placement agreements, all reasonably acceptable to Dealer. In the case of a Private Placement Settlement, Dealer shall, in its good faith discretion, adjust the amount of Restricted Shares to be delivered to Dealer hereunder in a commercially reasonable manner to reflect the fact that such Restricted Shares may not be freely returned to securities lenders by Dealer and may only be saleable by Dealer at a discount to reflect the lack of liquidity in Restricted Shares. Notwithstanding the Agreement or this Confirmation, the date of delivery of such Restricted Shares shall be the Clearance System Business Day following notice by Dealer to Counterparty of the number of Restricted Shares to be delivered pursuant to this sub-paragraph (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 date that would otherwise be applicable.

(ii) If Counterparty delivers any Restricted Shares in respect of this Transaction, Counterparty agrees that (A) such Shares may be transferred by and among Dealer and its affiliates and (B) after the minimum “holding period” within the meaning of Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act has elapsed, Counterparty shall (so long as Dealer or any such affiliate is not an “affiliate” of Counterparty within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) 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 Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer) to Counterparty or such transfer agent of any seller’s and broker’s representation letters customarily delivered by Dealer 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 Dealer (or such affiliate of Dealer).

 

  (i) Indemnity. Counterparty agrees to indemnify Dealer and its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer 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 any breach of any covenant or representation made by Counterparty in this 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, except to the extent determined in a final and nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from Dealer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The foregoing provisions shall survive any termination or completion of the Transaction.

 

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  (j) Waiver of Trial by Jury. EACH OF COUNTERPARTY AND DEALER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS STOCKHOLDERS) ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE TRANSACTION OR THE ACTIONS OF DEALER OR ITS AFFILIATES IN THE NEGOTIATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.

 

  (k) Governing Law/Jurisdiction. This Confirmation and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Confirmation shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without reference to the conflict of laws provisions thereof (other than Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law). The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York and the United States Court for the Southern District of New York in connection with all matters relating hereto and waive any objection to the laying of venue in, and any claim of inconvenient forum with respect to, these courts.

 

  (l) Designation by Dealer. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities and otherwise to perform Dealer obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty only to the extent of any such performance.

 

  (m) Insolvency Filing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the Agreement or in the Equity Definitions, upon any Insolvency Filing or other proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code in respect of the Issuer, this Transaction shall automatically terminate on the date thereof without further liability of either party to this Confirmation to the other party (except for any liability in respect of any breach of representation or covenant by a party under this Confirmation prior to the date of such Insolvency Filing or other proceeding), it being understood that this Transaction is a contract for the issuance of Shares by the Issuer.

 

  (n) Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, each of Dealer and Counterparty and each of their employees, representatives or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

 

  (o) Right to Extend. In connection with either Cash Settlement or Net Stock Settlement and other than in respect of a Market Disruption Event, Dealer may postpone the related Settlement Date or Valuation Date if Dealer determines, in its reasonable discretion based on the advice of its legal counsel, that such extension is reasonably necessary or appropriate to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be in compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion based on the advice of its legal counsel.

 

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  (p) Counterparty Share Repurchases. Counterparty agrees not to repurchase, directly or indirectly, any Shares if, immediately following such purchase, the Outstanding Share Percentage would be equal to or greater than 8%. The “Outstanding Share Percentage” as of any day is the fraction (1) the numerator of which is the aggregate of the Number of Shares for this Transaction and the “Number of Shares” (as defined in the applicable Additional Confirmation) under any outstanding Additional Transactions and (2) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

 

  (q) Limit on Beneficial Ownership. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, Dealer shall not have the right to acquire Shares hereunder and Dealer shall not be entitled to take delivery of any Shares hereunder (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 or (ii) Dealer and each person subject to aggregation of Shares with Dealer under Section 13 or Section 16 of the Exchange Act and rules promulgated thereunder (the “Dealer 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 8% of the then outstanding Shares (the “Threshold Number of Shares”). Any purported delivery hereunder 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 or (ii) the Dealer Group would directly or indirectly so beneficially own in excess of the Threshold Number of Shares. If any delivery owed to Dealer hereunder is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of this provision, Counterparty’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and Counterparty shall make such delivery as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than one Scheduled Trading Day after, Dealer gives notice to Counterparty that, after such delivery, (x) the Share Amount would not exceed the Post-Effective Limit and (y) the Dealer Group would not directly or indirectly so beneficially own in excess of the Threshold Number of Shares.

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

 

  (r) Commodity Exchange Act. Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “CEA”), the Agreement and this Transaction are subject to individual negotiation by the parties and have not been executed or traded on a “trading facility” as defined in Section 1a(51) of the CEA.

 

  (s) Additional Representation will apply, and for the purpose of Section 3 of the Agreement, the following will constitute an Additional Representation:

“(h) Relationship Between Parties. Each party will be deemed to represent to the other party on the date on which it enters into a Transaction that (absent a written agreement between the parties that expressly imposes affirmative obligations to the contrary for that Transaction):

 

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(i) Non-Reliance. It is acting for its own account, and it has made its own independent decisions to enter into that Transaction and as to whether that Transaction is appropriate or proper for it based upon its own judgment and upon advice from such advisers as it has deemed necessary. It is not relying on any communication (written or oral) of the other party as investment advice or as a recommendation to enter into that Transaction, it being understood that information and explanations related to the terms and conditions of a Transaction will not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to enter into that Transaction. No communication (written or oral) received from the other party will be deemed to be an assurance or guarantee as to the expected results of that Transaction.

(ii) Assessment and Understanding. It is capable of assessing the merits of and evaluating and understanding (on its own behalf or through independent professional advice), and understands and accepts, the terms, conditions and risks of that Transaction. It is also capable of assuming, and assumes, the financial and other risks of that Transaction.

(iii) Status of Parties. The other party is not acting as a fiduciary for or an adviser to it in respect of that Transaction.

(iv) Other Transactions. It understands and acknowledges that the other party may, either in connection with entering into a Transaction or from time to time thereafter, engage in open market transactions that are designed to hedge or reduce the risks incurred by it in connection with such Transaction and that the effect of such open market transactions may be to affect or reduce the value of such Transaction.”

 

  (t) Bankruptcy Status. Subject to Paragraph 7(m) above, Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to Dealer rights with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that are senior to the claims of Counterparty’s common stockholders in any U.S. bankruptcy proceedings of Counterparty; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to this Confirmation and the Agreement; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transaction other than this Transaction.

 

  (u) 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 Counterparty hereunder are not secured by any collateral. Obligations in respect of this Transaction shall not be set off against any obligations of the parties other than in respect of this Transaction or any Additional Transactions, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and no obligations of the parties other than in respect of this Transaction or any Additional Transactions shall be set off against obligations in respect of this Transaction, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right of setoff.

 

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  (v) Tax Matters.

(i) For the purpose of Section 3(e), each of Dealer and Counterparty 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 the Agreement and any other payments of interest and penalty charges for late payment) to be made by it to the other party under the Agreement. In making this representation, it may rely on (a) the accuracy of any representations made by the other party pursuant to Section 3(f) of the Agreement; (b) the satisfaction of the agreement contained in Section 4(a)(i) or 4(a)(iii) of the 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 the Agreement; and (c) the satisfaction of the agreement of the other party contained in Section 4(d) of the Agreement; provided that it shall not be a breach of this representation where reliance is placed on clause (b) and the other party does not deliver a form or document under Section 4(a)(iii) by reason of material prejudice to its legal or commercial position.

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

 

  (A) Dealer makes the following representation(s):

[(1) 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.

(2) 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).]2

 

  (B) Counterparty makes the following representation(s):

(1) 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.

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

 

2  Where appropriate, language to be replaced with:

“(1) Each payment received or to be received by it in connection with this Agreement is effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business within the United States; and

(2) It is a “foreign person” (as that term is used in Section 1.6041-4(a)(4) of the United States Treasury Regulations) for United States federal income tax purposes.”

 

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(iii) 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.

(iv) 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.

(v) Tax documentation. For the purposes of Sections 4(a)(i) and 4(a)(ii) of the Agreement, Counterparty shall provide to Dealer a valid and duly executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, or any successor thereto, (i) on or before the date of execution of this Confirmation; (ii) promptly upon reasonable demand by Dealer; and (iii) promptly upon learning that any such tax form previously provided by Counterparty has become invalid, obsolete, or incorrect. Additionally, Counterparty shall, promptly upon request by Dealer, provide such other tax forms and documents requested by Dealer.

 

  (w) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010. The parties hereby agree that none of (i) Section 739 of the WSTAA, (ii) any similar legal certainty provision included in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, (iii) the enactment of the WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, (iv) any requirement under the WSTAA or (v) any amendment made by the WSTAA shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s right to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased cost, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, any right arising from any Acceleration Event).

 

  (x) Delivery of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to deliver cash in respect of the settlement of this Transaction, except in circumstances where the required cash settlement thereof is permitted for classification of the contract as equity by ASC 815-40 (formerly EITF 00-19) as in effect on the Trade Date (including, without limitation, where Counterparty so elects to deliver cash or fails timely to elect to deliver Shares in respect of such settlement). For the avoidance of doubt, the preceding sentence shall not be construed as limiting (i) Section 7(i) hereunder or (ii) any damages that may be payable by Counterparty as a result of breach of this Confirmation.

 

  (y)

Severability; Illegality. If compliance by either party with any provision of this Transaction would be unenforceable or illegal, (i) the parties shall negotiate in good

 

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  faith to resolve such unenforceability or illegality in a manner that preserves the economic benefits of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) the other provisions of this Transaction shall not be invalidated, but shall remain in full force and effect.

 

  (z) Role of Agent. Each party agrees and acknowledges that (i) Agent, an affiliate of Dealer, has acted solely as agent and not as principal with respect to the Transaction and (ii) Agent has no obligation or liability, by way of guaranty, endorsement or otherwise, in any manner in respect of the Transaction (including, if applicable, in respect of the settlement thereof). Each party agrees it will look solely to the other party (or any guarantor in respect thereof) for performance of such other party’s obligations under the Transaction.3

 

  (z) [Role of Agent. Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges to and agrees with the other party hereto and to and with the Agent that (i) the Agent is acting as agent for Dealer under the Transaction pursuant to instructions from such party, (ii) the Agent is not a principal or party to the Transaction, and may transfer its rights and obligations with respect to the Transaction, (iii) the Agent shall have no responsibility, obligation or liability, by way of issuance, guaranty, endorsement or otherwise in any manner with respect to the performance of either party under the Transaction, (iv) Dealer and the Agent have not given, and Counterparty is not relying (for purposes of making any investment decision or otherwise) upon, any statements, opinions or representations (whether written or oral) of Dealer or the Agent, other than the representations expressly set forth in this Confirmation or the Agreement, and (v) each party agrees to proceed solely against the other party, and not the Agent, to collect or recover any money or securities owed to it in connection with the Transaction. Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Agent is an intended third party beneficiary hereunder. Counterparty acknowledges that the Agent is an affiliate of Dealer. Dealer will be acting for its own account in respect of this Confirmation and the Transaction contemplated hereunder.

 

  (aa) Regulatory Provisions. The time of dealing for the Transaction will be confirmed by Dealer upon written request by Counterparty. The Agent will furnish to Counterparty upon written request a statement as to the source and amount of any remuneration received or to be received by the Agent in connection with a Transaction.

 

  (bb) Method of Delivery. Whenever delivery of funds or other assets is required hereunder by or to Counterparty, such delivery shall be effected through the Agent. In addition, all notices, demands and communications of any kind relating to the Transaction between Dealer and Counterparty shall be transmitted exclusively through the Agent.

 

  (cc) Contractual Recognition of UK Stay in Resolution. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Agreement, the parties agree that the provisions of paragraphs 1 to 4 (inclusive) of the UK (PRA Rule) Jurisdictional Module (the “UK Module”) published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. on 3 May 2016, as amended from time to time, shall be deemed to be incorporated into the

 

 

3 

Additional Dealer-specific language to be included where applicable.

 

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  Agreement as if references in those provisions to “Covered Agreement” were references to the Agreement, and on the basis that: (i) Dealer shall be treated as a “Regulated Entity” and as a “Regulated Entity Counterparty” with respect to Counterparty, (ii) Counterparty shall be treated as a “Module Adhering Party”, and (iii) references to the “Implementation Date” in the UK Module shall be deemed to be references to the date of this Confirmation.]4

Please confirm your agreement to be bound by the terms stated herein by executing the copy of this Confirmation enclosed for that purpose and returning it to [    ].

Yours sincerely,

[DEALER]

 

By:    
 

Name:

 

Title:

Confirmed as of the date first above written:

PPL CORPORATION

 

  By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:

[Signature Page to Registered Forward

Transaction Conformation]

 

4  Insert where applicable.

 

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SCHEDULE I

 

Forward Price Reduction Date

   Forward Price
Reduction Amount
 

Trade Date

     USD 0.00  

[                     ,         ]

     USD[                    ]  

[                     ,         ]

     USD[                    ]  

[                     ,         ]

     USD[                    ]  

[                     ,         ]

     USD[                    ]  

[                     ,         ]

     USD[                    ]  

 

I-1


ANNEX A

PRICING SUPPLEMENT

[Dealer letterhead]

[                    ]

PPL Corporation

[●]

[●]

Attn: [●]

Telephone: [●]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This Pricing Supplement is the Pricing Supplement contemplated by the Registered Forward Transaction dated [                    ], 20[    ] (the “Confirmation”) between PPL Corporation (“Counterparty”) and [        ] (“Dealer”).

For all purposes under the Confirmation,

 

  (a) the Hedge Completion Date is [    ];

 

  (b) the Number of Shares shall be [    ], subject to further adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Confirmation;

 

  (c) the Initial Forward Price shall be USD [    ]; and

 

  (d) the Final Date shall be [    ].

Very truly yours,

[DEALER]

 

By:    
 

Name:

 

Title:

Confirmed as of the date first above written:

PPL CORPORATION

 

  By:    
   

Name:

   

Title:


Exhibit C

OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE

Dated             , 20  

We, [name], [title] of PPL Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), do hereby certify that this certificate is signed by us pursuant to the Distribution Agreement dated February 23, 2018 among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London Branch, Barclays Bank PLC and Citibank N.A. (the “Agreement”), and do hereby further certify, to the best of our knowledge, after reasonable investigation, on behalf of the Company, as follows:

1.    The representations and warranties of the Company in the Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof as though made on and as of this date;

2.    The Company has performed in all material respects all obligations and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Agreement on or prior to the date hereof;

3.    The Company’s Registration Statement (File No. 333-223142) and any post-effective amendments thereto have become effective under the Act; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the undersigned, threatened by the Commission; no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission have been complied with; and

4.    Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein or contemplated thereby, there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Company.

All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

C-1


 

Name:

Title:

 

 

Name:

Title:

 

 

C-2


Exhibit D-1

FORM OF OPINION AND NEGATIVE ASSURANCE STATEMENT OF

SIMPSON, THACHER & BARTLETT LLP,

COUNSEL TO THE COMPANY

1.    The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and, upon issuance, payment and delivery in accordance with the Distribution Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2.    The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Forward Purchasers pursuant to the Forward Confirmations and, when the terms of any Forward Confirmation and of the issue and sale of the Shares pursuant thereto have been duly established in accordance with the Distribution Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company, and when issued by the Company upon physical settlement or net share settlement, as applicable, in accordance with such Forward Confirmation, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3.    There are no preemptive rights under U.S. federal or New York State law to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock. There are no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any shares of the Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

4.    The statements made in the Prospectus under the caption “United States Federal Income and Estate Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of provisions of U.S. federal tax law and regulations or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitute accurate summaries of the matters described therein in all material respects. The statements made in the Prospectus under the caption “Plan of Distribution (Conflicts of Interest),” insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of certain provisions of the Distribution Agreement, constitute accurate summaries of such provisions in all material respects.

5.    The Distribution Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

6.    The Forward Confirmations have been duly authorized and, when the terms of any Forward Confirmation and of the issue and sale of the Shares pursuant thereto have been duly established in accordance with the Distribution Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company, upon its due execution and delivery by the Company such Forward Confirmation will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

7.    The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Distribution Agreement and any Forward Confirmation will not violate any U.S. federal or New York State statute or any rule or regulation that has been issued pursuant to any U.S. federal or New York State statute or any order known to us issued pursuant to any U.S. federal or New York State statute by any U.S. federal or New York State court or governmental agency or body having

 

D-1-1


jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except that it is understood that no opinion is given in this paragraph 7 with respect to any U.S. federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to any U.S. federal or state securities law.

8.    No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any U.S. federal or New York State governmental agency or body or, to our knowledge, any U.S. federal or New York court is required for the issue and sale of the Shares by the Company pursuant to the Distribution Agreement and any Forward Confirmation and the compliance by the Company with the applicable provisions of the Distribution Agreement and any Forward Confirmation, except that it is understood that no opinion is given in this paragraph 8 with respect to any U.S. federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation issued pursuant to any U.S. federal or state securities law.

9.    The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act and the Prospectus was filed on February 22, 2018 pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and, to our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued or proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or threatened by the Commission.

10.    The Company is not an “investment company” within the meaning of and subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

In rendering such opinion, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP may rely as to matters governed by Pennsylvania law upon the opinion of Frederick C. Paine, Esq. or such other counsel referred to in above Section 6(d) of the Agreement.

 

D-1-2


Exhibit D-2

FORM OF OPINION OF SENIOR COUNSEL

1.    The Company is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

2.    The descriptions in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly present the information required to be shown; and (1) I do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings required to be described in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus which are not described, or of any contracts or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, any Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described and filed as required and (2) nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe either that the Registration Statement, as of February 22, 2018, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Prospectus, as of its date and the date hereof, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; it being understood that I need express no opinion as to the financial statements and other financial data contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus;

3.    The Distribution Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

4.    The Forward Confirmations have been duly authorized and when the terms of any Forward Confirmation and of the issue and sale of the Shares pursuant thereto have been duly established in accordance with the Distribution Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company, upon its due execution and delivery by the Company such Forward Confirmation will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms;

5.    No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any public board or body of the United States or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and other than in connection or compliance with the applicable provisions of the securities or “blue sky” laws of any jurisdiction, as to which I express no opinion) is legally required for the authorization of the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Distribution Agreement or any Forward Confirmation and the compliance by the Company with the applicable provisions of the Distribution Agreement and any Forward Confirmation;

6.    The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, the Distribution Agreement and any Forward Confirmation will not contravene (i) the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (ii) to the best of my knowledge, any indenture, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness binding upon the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company that, in the case of any such agreement specified in this clause (ii) is material to the Company, or (iii) to the best of my knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company;

 

D-2-1


7.    There are no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or purchase, nor any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any shares of the Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws;

8.    The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus;

9.    The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any preemptive or similar rights;

10.    The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to the Distribution Agreement have been duly authorized and conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of the Distribution Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights; and

11.    The Company has duly authorized the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Forward Purchasers pursuant to Forward Confirmations and, when the terms of any Forward Confirmation and of the issue and sale of the Shares pursuant thereto have been duly established in accordance with the Distribution Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or agreement or instrument then binding on the Company, and when issued upon physical settlement or net share settlement, as applicable, in accordance with such Forward Confirmation, such Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters governed by New York law upon the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP referred to in Section 6(e) of the Agreement.

 

D-2-2