UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

May 26, 2017 (May 23, 2017)

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-15839

 

95-4803544

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification
Number)

 

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA

 

90405

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(310) 255-2000

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company                                          o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act               o

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01.                                        Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

2.600% Senior Notes due 2022, 3.400% Senior Notes due 2027 and 4.500% Senior Notes due 2047

 

On May 26, 2017, Activision Blizzard, Inc. (the “Company”) completed its previously announced offering of three series of senior unsecured notes in an aggregate principal amount of $1.2 billion, in a public underwritten offering, consisting of $400 million of 2.600% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), $400 million of 3.400% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) and $400 million of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2047 (the “2047 Notes” and, together with the 2022 Notes and the 2027 Notes, the “Notes”).

 

The Notes are the general senior obligations of the Company. Each series of Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s future senior secured debt, if any, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The Notes will not be guaranteed by any of the Company’s subsidiaries.

 

The Notes were offered and sold by the Company pursuant to its automatic shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) (Registration Statement No. 333-213520), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on September 7, 2016, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated May 23, 2017.

 

The Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture

 

The Notes were issued pursuant to a base indenture, dated May 26, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Supplemental Indenture and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The 2022 Notes will accrue interest at the rate of 2.600% per year and will mature on June 15, 2022. The 2027 Notes will accrue interest at the rate of 3.400% per year and will mature on June 15, 2027. The 2047 Notes will accrue interest at the rate of 4.500% per year and will mature on June 15, 2047. Interest on the Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each June 15 and December 15. Interest on the Notes will accrue from May 26, 2017.

 

The 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes and the 2047 Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time on or after May 15, 2022, March 15, 2027 and December 15, 2046, respectively, in each case at 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

In addition, the Company may redeem some or all of the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes and the 2047 Notes prior to May 15, 2022, March 15, 2027 and December 15, 2046, respectively, in each case at a price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

Upon the occurrence of certain change of control events, the Company will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the purchase date applicable to such Notes.

 

The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Company to create or incur secured indebtedness and the ability of the Company and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (as such term is defined in the Indenture) to, among other things enter into sale or leaseback transactions and consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

 

The Indenture also provides for customary events of default.

 

The foregoing summaries of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture, the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes and the 2047 Notes are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full and complete texts of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the forms of the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes and the 2047 Notes, copies of which are attached as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 2.03.                                        Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

The information included in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 8.01.                                        Other Events.

 

On May 23, 2017, the Company entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes pursuant to the Registration Statement described above.

 

The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01.                                        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)                                 Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Exhibit Title or Description

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2017, between Activision Blizzard, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017, between Activision Blizzard, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017, between Activision Blizzard, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of certificate for the Company’s 2.600% Notes due 2022 (included in Exhibit 4.2).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Form of certificate for the Company’s 3.400% Notes due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.2).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of certificate for the Company’s 4.500% Notes due 2047 (included in Exhibit 4.2).

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

 

 

 

12.1

 

Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

3



 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: May 26, 2017

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Chris B. Walther

 

 

Chris B. Walther

 

 

Chief Legal Officer

 

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Index to Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Exhibit Title or Description

1.1

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of May 23, 2017, between Activision Blizzard, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017, between Activision Blizzard, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

4.2

 

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017, between Activision Blizzard, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

 

 

 

4.3

 

Form of certificate for the Company’s 2.600% Notes due 2022 (included in Exhibit 4.2).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Form of certificate for the Company’s 3.400% Notes due 2027 (included in Exhibit 4.2).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Form of certificate for the Company’s 4.500% Notes due 2047 (included in Exhibit 4.2).

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

 

 

 

12.1

 

Statement Re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

 

5


Exhibit 1.1

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

dated May 23, 2017

 

 

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 



 

Underwriting Agreement

 

May 23, 2017

 

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
     As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
One Bryant Park
New York, NY 10036

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Introductory.  Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, $400,000,000 principal amount of its 2.600% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), $400,000,000 principal amount of its 3.400% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) and $400,000,000 principal amount of its 4.500% Senior Notes due 2047 (the “2047 Notes” and, together with the 2022 Notes and the 2027 Notes, the “Securities”)].  The Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture to be dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).  Certain terms of the Securities will be established pursuant to a supplemental indenture to be dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to the Base Indenture (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”).  To the extent there are no additional underwriters listed on Schedule A other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you as the Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.  The use of the neuter in this Underwriting Agreement (the “Agreement”) shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate.

 

1.                                    Representations and Warranties.  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters as of the date hereof that:

 

(a)                               The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-213520), which contains a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Securities.  Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, at each time of effectiveness under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B or 430C under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), is called the “Registration Statement.” Any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule

 



 

424(b), together with the Base Prospectus, is hereafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus.”  The term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto, including the Base Prospectus.  Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

 

(b)                              Compliance with Registration Requirements.  The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.  The Registration Statement has become effective upon filing with the Commission under the Securities Act.  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, the Commission has not issued any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

 

Each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act.  Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at each time of effectiveness, at the date hereof and at the Closing Date, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and, at the Closing Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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.  The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package (as defined herein) and the Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act.  Any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents are filed with the Commission will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act.  All documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of their respective dates, when taken together with the other information in the Disclosure Package, at the Applicable Time and, when taken together with the other information in the Prospectus, as of its date, at the time of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and, at the Closing Date, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or 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.

 

(c)                               Well-Known Seasoned Issuer.  (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (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), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, and (iv) at the Applicable Time (with such date and time being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (iv)), the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the Closing Date; the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form; and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration form.

 

(d)                             Disclosure Package.  The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary Prospectus, if any, as amended or supplemented, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified in Schedule B hereto, (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package and (iv) the Final Term Sheet (as defined herein), which also shall be identified in Schedule B hereto.  As of 4:45 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement (the “Applicable Time”), the Disclosure Package did not contain 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.  The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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(e)                               Company Not Ineligible Issuer.  (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement relating to the Securities that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act and (ii) as of the Applicable Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an “ineligible issuer.”

 

(f)                                Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering of Securities under this Agreement or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.  If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict.  Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus not identified on Schedule B, when taken together with the Disclosure Package, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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.  The foregoing three sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(g)                              Distribution of Offering Material by the Company.  The Company has not distributed nor will distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Final Term Sheet and any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representatives.

 

(h)                              No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights.  Other than as it relates to (i) the outstanding offer to exchange $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.300% Senior Notes due 2021 for $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.300% Senior Notes due 2021 that are registered under the Securities Act and (ii) the outstanding offering to exchange $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.400% Senior Notes due 2026 for $850,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.400% Senior Notes due 2026 that are registered under the Securities Act, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.

 

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(i)                                  No Material Adverse Change.  Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company incorporated by reference in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, rights, assets, management, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Change”), except in each case as otherwise disclosed in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(j)                                  Organization and Good Standing.  The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries (as defined below) have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect in the business, properties, rights, assets, management, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity that is a “significant subsidiary” as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, other than the subsidiaries set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement (each a “Significant Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”).

 

(k)                              Capitalization.  The Company has the capitalization as set forth in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party (collectively, “Liens”), except for Liens permitted pursuant to the Indenture on the Closing Date

 

(l)                                  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

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(m)                          The Securities.  The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

 

(n)                              The Indenture.  The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.  The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.

 

(o)                              Description of Documents.  The Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities.”

 

(p)                              No Violation or Default.  Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default (“Default”), in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)                              No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument

 

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to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(r)                                 No Consents Required.  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and resale of the Securities by the Underwriters.

 

(s)                                Legal Proceedings.  Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (“Actions”) pending to which the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and no such Actions are, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by any governmental or regulatory authority.

 

(t)                                 Independent Accountants.  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

 

(u)                              Financial Statements.  The financial statements and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting

 

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records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby.  The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(v)                              Intellectual Property.  (i) The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries own or have the right to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, domain names and other source indicators, copyrights and copyrightable works, know-how, trade secrets, systems, procedures, proprietary or confidential information and all other worldwide intellectual property, industrial property and proprietary rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) used in the conduct of their respective businesses; (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries’ conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any person; (iii) the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim relating to Intellectual Property; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property of the Company and their Significant Subsidiaries is not being infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any person, except in each case of the foregoing clauses (i) to (iv) as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w)                          Licenses and Permits.  The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries possess all licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary under applicable law for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and except as described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course except for any of the foregoing that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(x)                              Taxes.  The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof; after giving effect to any applicable extensions, except for (i) any such tax that is currently being contested in good faith or the failure of which to pay would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any such return the failure of which to file would not result in a Material Adverse Effect or (iii) those disclosed in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(y)                              Investment Company Act.  The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(z)                               No Price Stabilization or Manipulation.  The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

 

(aa)                        Disclosure Controls.  The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  The Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

(bb)                      Accounting Controls.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  The Company and its subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal controls.

 

(cc)                        No Unlawful Payments.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful

 

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payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit.

 

(dd)                    Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws.  The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business, 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 knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(ee)                        No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Burma (Myanmar), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Crimea (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, initial purchaser, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

 

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(ff)                          Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (y) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (z) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(gg)                      Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters set forth therein.

 

2.                                    Purchase and Sale.  The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters the Securities upon the terms herein set forth and, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names on Schedule A.  The purchase price per Security to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall be equal to (i) 99.070% of the principal amount of the 2022 Notes, (ii) 98.717% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes and (iii) 97.679% of the principal amount of the 2047 Notes.

 

3.                                    Delivery and Payment; Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Underwriters.

 

(a)                               Delivery of certificates or security entitlements for the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m. New York time, on May 26, 2017, or such other time and date not later than 1:30 p.m. New York time, on June 12, 2017, as the Representatives shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”).  Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

 

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(b)                              Public Offering of the Securities.  The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Securities as soon after this Agreement has been executed the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.

 

(c)                               Payment for the Securities.  Payment for the Securities shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.

 

It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Securities.  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, individually and not as the Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(d)                             Delivery of the Securities.  Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the facilities of DTC unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.  Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.

 

(e)                               Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters.  Not later than 10:00 a.m. on the second business day following the date the Securities are first released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives shall reasonably request.

 

4.                                    Covenants.  The Company covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:

 

(a)                               Representatives Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements.  During the period beginning at the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

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(b)                              Securities Act Compliance.  After the date of this Agreement and during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (i) when the Registration Statement, if not effective at the Applicable Time, shall have become effective, (ii) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (iii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iv) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, and (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes (including any notice or order pursuant to Section 8A or Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act).  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or notice of prevention or suspension of such use.  If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or issue any such notice at any time, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting or reversal of such order or notice at the earliest possible moment, or, subject to Section 4(a), will file an amendment to the Registration Statement or will file a new registration statement and use its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.  Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.

 

(c)                               Final Term Sheet.  The Company will prepare a final term sheet in a form approved by the Representatives, and will file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act within the time required by such rule (such term sheet, the “Final Term Sheet”).

 

(d)                             Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.  The Company represents that it has not made, and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make, any offer relating to the Securities that constitutes or would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that otherwise constitutes or would constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) or a portion thereof required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Representatives hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule B hereto and any electronic road show.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted

 

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Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping. The Company consents to the use by any Underwriter of a free writing prospectus that (a) is not an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433, or (b) contains only (1) information describing the preliminary terms of the Securities or their offering, (2) information that describes the final terms of the Securities or their offering and that is included in the Final Term Sheet of the Company contemplated in Section 1(d) or (3) information permitted under Rule 134 under the Securities Act; provided that each Underwriter severally covenants with the Company not to take any action without the Company’s consent which consent shall be confirmed in writing that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.

 

(e)                               Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters.  If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would 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, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to comply with law, the Company agrees to (i) notify the Representatives of any such event or condition and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section 4(a) and 4(e) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, necessary in order to make the statements in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.

 

(f)                                Copies of Any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus.  The Company agrees to furnish to the Representatives, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) and the Disclosure Package as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

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(g)                              Copies of the Registration Statements and the Prospectus.  The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters signed copies of the Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith but excluding any documents incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto and the Disclosure Package as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(h)                              Blue Sky Compliance.  The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial securities laws or other foreign laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Representatives and consented to by the Company, and the Company shall comply in all material respects with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities.  The Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof as soon as possible.

 

(i)                                  Use of Proceeds.  The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(j)                                  Agreement Not to Offer to Sell Additional Securities.  During the period from the date hereof through and including the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Merrill Lynch (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the Company having a tenor of more than one year or securities exchangeable for or convertible into such debt securities of the Company (other than as contemplated by this Agreement).

 

(k)                              DTC.  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Representatives in obtaining the approval of DTC to permit the Securities to be eligible for “book-entry” transfer and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

(l)                                  Earnings Statement.  As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement

 

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(which need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158 under the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement.

 

(m)                          Periodic Reporting Obligations.  During the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Nasdaq Global Select Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.

 

(n)                              Filing Fees.  The Company agrees to pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) of the Securities Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act.

 

(o)                              Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and use its best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(p)                              No Manipulation of Price.  The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

 

5.                                    Payment of ExpensesThe Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution (including any form of electronic distribution) of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities (but not, however, legal fees and expenses of the Underwriters’ counsel incurred in connection with any of the foregoing), (v) all filing fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of the several states of the United States, the provinces of Canada or other jurisdictions designated by the Underwriters (including, without limitation, the cost of preparing, printing and mailing preliminary and final blue sky or legal investment memoranda, (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities,

 

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(vii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities with the ratings agencies, (viii) the filing fees for FINRA’s review of the offering of the Securities, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with compliance with FINRA’s rules and regulations, (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company in connection with approval of the Securities by DTC for “book-entry” transfer, and the performance by the Company of its other obligations under this Agreement, (x) reasonable expenses incurred by the Company incident to the “road show” for the offering of the Securities, (xi) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement, and (xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 5. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 5, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 10 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel.

 

6.                                    Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters.  The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties of the Company herein are true and correct at and as of the date hereof and the Closing Date, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of their respective obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

 

(a)                               Accountants’ Comfort Letter.  On the date hereof, the Underwriters shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, covering certain financial information included in or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and other customary information.

 

(b)                              Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order.  For the period from and after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Securities:

 

(i)                                  the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rules 430A, 430B and 430C under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;

 

(ii)                              the Final Term Sheet, and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings under such Rule 433; and

 

(iii)                          no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and the Company shall not have received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form.

 

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(c)                               No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change.  For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

 

(i)                                  In the judgment of the Representatives, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and

 

(ii)                              No downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities, including the Securities, by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any of the Company’s securities, including the Securities (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

 

(d)                             Opinion of Counsel for the Company.  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Underwriters, at the request of the Company, their written opinion letters and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, (x) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and (y) with respect to tax matters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

 

(e)                               Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters.  On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the opinion and 10b-5 statement of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to, and addressed to, the Underwriters, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto), the Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(f)                                Officer’s Certificate.  On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a certificate of an executive officer or treasurer of the Company who has specific knowledge of the Company’s financial matters and is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and this Agreement, to the effect set forth in subsections (b) and (c)(ii) of this Section 6, and further to the effect that:

 

(i)                                  for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;

 

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(ii)                              the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of the Closing Date; and

 

(iii)                          the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its respective part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(g)                              Bring-down Comfort Letter.  On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 6, except that (i) it shall cover certain financial information included in or incorporated by reference to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(h)                              Good Standing.  The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of organization, in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(i)                                  Form of Securities and Indenture.  The Securities and the Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and the Trustee, and the Securities shall have been duly executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer of the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee.

 

(j)                                  Closing Documents.  At the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished counsel for the Company or the Underwriters, as the case may be, such documents as they reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties or fulfillment of any of the conditions herein contained.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 5, Section 7, Section 8, Section 12 and Section 15 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

-19-



 

7.         Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses.

 

If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 6, Section 9 or Section 10, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter for such costs and expenses in the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to the second sentence of Section 9.

 

8.         Indemnification.

 

(a)        Indemnification of the Underwriters.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

(b)        Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following paragraphs in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus: the fourth paragraph, the third and fourth sentences of the sixth paragraph and the seventh paragraph, under the heading “Underwriting” in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

-20-



 

(c)        Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above.  If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 8 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred.  In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person 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 Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.  It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors and officers and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company.  The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is

 

-21-



 

or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

(d)       Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case, as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities.  The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

(e)        Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above.  The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (d) above, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraph (d) above are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

 

-22-



 

(f)        Non-Exclusive Remedies.  The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

 

9.         Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters.

 

If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the principal amount of Securities to be purchased set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 5, Section 7, Section 8, Section 12 and Section 15 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.  In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 9.  Any action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

 

10.       Termination of this Agreement.

 

This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

-23-



 

11.       No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.

 

The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, and the Company are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company or any of its affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the several Underwriters have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate.

 

This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the several Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.  The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the several Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

 

12.       Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any (A) investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or employees of any Underwriter, or any person controlling the Underwriter or (B) acceptance of the Securities and payment for them hereunder.  The provisions of Section 5, Section 7, Section 8, this Section 12 and Section 15 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.

 

13.       Notices.  All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

 

-24-



 

If to the Representatives:

 

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
50 Rockefeller Plaza
NY1-050-12-01
New York, NY  10020
Facsimile:  (646) 855-5958
Attention:  High Grade Transaction Management/Legal

 

If to the Company:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90405
Facsimile: (310) 255-2152
Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.

 

14.       Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 9 hereof, and to the benefit of (i) the Company, its directors, any person who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, (ii) the Underwriters, the affiliates, officers, directors, employees and agents of the Underwriters, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and (iii) the respective successors and assigns of any of the above, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.  The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser of any of the Securities from any of the several Underwriters merely because of such purchase.

 

15.       Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial ProvisionsTHIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.  THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE UNDERWRITERS HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

-25-



 

16.       General ProvisionsThis Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile, email or other electronic transmission (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.  The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 8, and is fully informed regarding said provisions.  Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 8 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

-26-



 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Dennis Durkin

 

 

Name:

Dennis Durkin

 

 

Title:

Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer

 

-27-



 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.

 

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

INCORPORATED

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

Acting as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.

 

By:

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

 

 

Incorporated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Laurie Campbell

 

 

Name:

Laurie Campbell

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Stephen L. Sheiner

 

 

Name:

Stephen L. Sheiner

 

 

Title:

Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Patrick Jordan

 

 

Name:

Patrick Jordan

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

-28-



 

SCHEDULE A

 

 

Underwriters

 

Principal Amount
of
2022 Notes
To Be
Purchased

 

Principal
Amount of
2027 Notes
To Be
Purchased

 

Principal
Amount of
2047 Notes
To Be
Purchased

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated

 

$68,000,000

 

$68,000,000

 

$68,000,000

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

 

68,000,000

 

68,000,000

 

68,000,000

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

56,000,000

 

56,000,000

 

56,000,000

 

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

 

46,000,000

 

46,000,000

 

46,000,000

 

MUFG Securities Americas Inc.

 

46,000,000

 

46,000,000

 

46,000,000

 

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc.

 

46,000,000

 

46,000,000

 

46,000,000

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

15,000,000

 

Barclays Capital Inc.

 

4,500,000

 

4,500,000

 

4,500,000

 

PNC Capital Markets LLC

 

4,500,000

 

4,500,000

 

4,500,000

 

Academy Securities, Inc.

 

1,000,000

 

1,000,000

 

1,000,000

 

Total

 

$400,000,000

 

$400,000,000

 

$400,000,000

 

 



 

SCHEDULE B

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

 

 

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package:

 

1.            Final Term Sheet dated May 23, 2017, substantially in the form attached hereto.

 



 

SCHEDULE C

 

Significant Subsidiaries

 

 

Activision Publishing, Inc.

ATVI C.V.

Activision Blizzard International BV

King.com Limited

 



 

Exhibit A

 

 

Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company

 

Exhibit A-1



 

Form of Tax Opinion of Counsel for the Company

 

Exhibit A-2


Exhibit 4.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

----------

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of May 26, 2017

 

----------

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Trustee

 

 

 

 



 

Reconciliation and tie between

Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture*

 

Trust Indenture

 

 

Act Section          

 

Indenture Section

 

 

 

§ 310 (a)

 

11.04(a), 16.02

(b)

 

11.01(f), 11.04(b), 11.05(1), 16.02

(b)(1)

 

11.04(b), 16.02

§ 311

 

11.01(f), 16.02

§ 312

 

14.02(d), 16.02

(b)

 

11.10, 16.02

(c)

 

11.10, 16.02

§ 313 (a)

 

10.01(a), 16.02

§ 314

 

16.02

§ 315 (e)

 

11.05, 16.02

§ 316

 

16.02

§ 317

 

16.02

§ 318

 

16.02

 

*This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.

 

i



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS*

 

 

 

PAGE

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Definitions

1

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

FORMS OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 2.01

Terms of the Securities

11

Section 2.02

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

12

Section 2.03

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 3.01

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

13

Section 3.02

Denominations

16

Section 3.03

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

16

Section 3.04

Temporary Securities

18

Section 3.05

Registrar

19

Section 3.06

Transfer and Exchange

20

Section 3.07

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

23

Section 3.08

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

24

Section 3.09

Cancellation

25

Section 3.10

Computation of Interest

25

Section 3.11

Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities

26

Section 3.12

Judgments

26

Section 3.13

CUSIP Numbers

27

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 4.01

Applicability of Right of Redemption

27

 


 

*                   The Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture.

 

i



 

Section 4.02

Selection of Securities to be Redeemed

27

Section 4.03

Notice of Redemption

28

Section 4.04

Deposit of Redemption Price

29

Section 4.05

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

29

Section 4.06

Securities Redeemed in Part

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

 

 

Section 5.01

Applicability of Sinking Fund

29

Section 5.02

Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation

30

Section 5.03

Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price

30

Section 5.04

Application of Sinking Fund Payment

30

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

 

 

Section 6.01

Payments of Securities

32

Section 6.02

Paying Agent

32

Section 6.03

To Hold Payment in Trust

32

Section 6.04

Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

34

Section 6.05

Compliance Certificate

34

Section 6.06

Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities

35

Section 6.07

Statement by Officers as to Default

35

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

 

 

 

Section 7.01

Events of Default

35

Section 7.02

Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

37

Section 7.03

Other Remedies

38

Section 7.04

Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact

39

Section 7.05

Priorities

40

Section 7.06

Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults

40

Section 7.07

Limitation on Suits

40

Section 7.08

Undertaking for Costs

41

Section 7.09

Remedies Cumulative

41

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

 

 

Section 8.01

Evidence of Action of Securityholders

42

Section 8.02

Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities

42

Section 8.03

Persons Deemed Owners

43

 

ii



 

Section 8.04

Effect of Consents

43

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

 

 

Section 9.01

Purposes of Meetings

43

Section 9.02

Call of Meetings by Trustee

44

Section 9.03

Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders

44

Section 9.04

Qualifications for Voting

44

Section 9.05

Regulation of Meetings

45

Section 9.06

Voting

45

Section 9.07

No Delay of Rights by Meeting

46

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS

 

 

 

Section 10.01

Reports by Trustee

46

Section 10.02

Reports by the Company

46

Section 10.03

Securityholders’ Lists

47

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

 

 

Section 11.01

Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity

47

Section 11.02

Duties of Trustee

50

Section 11.03

Notice of Defaults

51

Section 11.04

Eligibility; Disqualification

51

Section 11.05

Resignation and Notice; Removal

52

Section 11.06

Successor Trustee by Appointment

53

Section 11.07

Successor Trustee by Merger

54

Section 11.08

Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate

54

Section 11.09

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

55

Section 11.10

Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders

56

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

 

 

Section 12.01

Applicability of Article

56

Section 12.02

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

56

Section 12.03

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations

57

Section 12.04

Repayment to Company

59

Section 12.05

Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations

59

 

iii



 

Section 12.06

Deposits to Be Held in Escrow

59

Section 12.07

Application of Trust Money

60

Section 12.08

Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies

60

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS

 

 

 

Section 13.01

No Personal Liability

60

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

 

 

Section 14.01

Without Consent of Securityholders

61

Section 14.02

With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations

63

Section 14.03

Trustee Protected

64

Section 14.04

Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture

64

Section 14.05

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

64

Section 14.06

Conformity with TIA

65

 

 

 

ARTICLE XV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

Section 15.01

Agreement to Subordinate

65

Section 15.02

Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities

65

Section 15.03

No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness

67

Section 15.04

Payments on Securities Permitted

67

Section 15.05

Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination

67

Section 15.06

Notices to Trustee

67

Section 15.07

Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness

68

Section 15.08

Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness

68

Section 15.09

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

69

Section 15.10

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

69

Section 15.11

Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness

69

 

 

 

ARTICLE XVI

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

 

 

Section 16.01

Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent

69

Section 16.02

Trust Indenture Act Controls

70

Section 16.03

Notices to the Company and Trustee

71

Section 16.04

Notices to Securityholders; Waiver

71

Section 16.05

Legal Holiday

71

Section 16.06

Effects of Headings and Table of Contents

72

 

iv



 

Section 16.07

Successors and Assigns

72

Section 16.08

Separability Clause

72

Section 16.09

Benefits of Indenture

72

Section 16.10

Counterparts Originals

72

Section 16.11

Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

72

 

v



 

INDENTURE dated as of May 26, 2017, among ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “Securities”) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

That, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof for the equal and proportionate benefit of all of the present and future Holders of the Securities, each party agrees and covenants as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)                               the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(b)                              unless otherwise defined in this Indenture or the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein without definition which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(c)                               the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and

 

(d)                             references to “Article” or “Section” or other subdivision herein are references to an Article, Section or other subdivision of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

Section 1.01                Definitions.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Section 1.01 shall for all purposes of this Indenture have the meanings hereinafter set forth:

 



 

Affiliate:

 

The term “Affiliate,” with respect to any specified Person shall mean any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

Authenticating Agent:

 

The term “Authenticating Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.09.

 

Board of Directors:

 

The term “Board of Directors” shall mean either the board of directors of the Company or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect hereof.

 

Board Resolution:

 

The term “Board Resolution” shall mean a copy of a resolution or resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or by a committee of the Board of Directors to the extent that any such other committee has been authorized by the Board of Directors to establish or approve the matters contemplated) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Business Day:

 

The term “Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or such location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Capital Stock:

 

The term “Capital Stock” shall mean:

 

(a)                      in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(b)                    in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(c)                     in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

 

2



 

(d)                   any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

 

Code:

 

The term “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Company:

 

The term “Company” shall mean the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

Company Order:

 

The term “Company Order” shall mean a written order signed in the name of the Company by any Officer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Corporate Trust Office:

 

The term “Corporate Trust Office,” or other similar term, shall mean the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 333 S. Grand Avenue, Fifth Floor, Suite 5A, Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attention: Michael Tu – Account Manager, but with respect to presentation of notes for registration of transfer or exchange or redemption 600 South 4th Street, 7th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55415, Attention: Bondholder Communications or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust officer of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

Currency:

 

The term “Currency” shall mean U.S. Dollars or Foreign Currency.

 

Default:

 

The term “Default” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.03.

 

Defaulted Interest:

 

The term “Defaulted Interest” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b).

 

3



 

Depositary:

 

The term “Depositary” shall mean, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, each Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 until one or more successor Depositaries shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

Designated Currency:

 

The term “Designated Currency” shall have the same meaning assigned to it in Section 3.12.

 

Discharged:

 

The term “Discharged” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.03.

 

DTC:

 

The term “DTC” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, Inc. and its successors.

 

Event of Default:

 

The term “Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

 

Exchange Act:

 

The term “Exchange Act” shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

Exchange Rate:

 

The term “Exchange Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.01.

 

Floating Rate Security:

 

The term “Floating Rate Security” shall mean a Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Foreign Currency:

 

The term “Foreign Currency” shall mean a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States or a composite currency, the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.

 

4



 

GAAP:

 

The term “GAAP,” with respect to any computations required or permitted hereunder, shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States as in effect from time to time; provided, however if the Company is required by the SEC to adopt (or is permitted to adopt and so adopts) a different accounting framework, including but not limited to the International Financial Reporting Standards, “GAAP” shall mean such new accounting framework as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, in each case, those accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

 

Global Security:

 

The term “Global Security” shall mean any Security that evidences all or part of a series of Securities, issued in fully-registered certificated form to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Section 3.03 and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 3.03(g).

 

Holder; Holder of Securities:

 

The terms “Holder” and “Holder of Securities” are defined under “Securityholder; Holder of Securities; Holder.”

 

Indebtedness:

 

The term “Indebtedness” shall mean any and all obligations of a Person for money borrowed which, in accordance with GAAP, would be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person as a liability on the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined.

 

Indenture:

 

The term “Indenture” or “this Indenture” shall mean this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01; provided, however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.01, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any

 

5



 

provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such person had become such Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided, further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

 

Individual Securities:

 

The term “Individual Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.01(p).

 

Interest:

 

The term “interest” shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, interest payable on any Securities, and with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.

 

Interest Payment Date:

 

The term “Interest Payment Date” shall mean, with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment:

 

The term “Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).

 

Maturity:

 

The term “Maturity,” with respect to any Security, shall mean the date on which the principal of such Security shall become due and payable as therein and herein provided, whether by declaration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

Members:

 

The term “Members” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.03(i).

 

Officer:

 

The term “Officer” shall mean any of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, the President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Legal Officer, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, Controller, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company.

 

Officer’s Certificate:

 

The term “Officer’s Certificate” shall mean a certificate signed by any Officer and delivered to the Trustee.  Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 16.01 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

6



 

Opinion of Counsel:

 

The term “Opinion of Counsel” shall mean an opinion in writing signed by one or more legal counsel, who may be an employee of or of counsel to the Company, and meets the requirements provided for in Section 16.01.

 

Optional Sinking Fund Payment:

 

The term “Optional Sinking Fund Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).

 

Original Issue Discount Security:

 

The term “Original Issue Discount Security” shall mean any Security that is issued with “original issue discount” within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or any successor provision, and any other Security designated by the Company as issued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

Outstanding:

 

The term “Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(a)                      Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)                    Securities or portions thereof for which payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities or Securities as to which the Company’s obligations have been Discharged; provided, however, that if such Securities or portions thereof are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

(c)                     Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.07(b) or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of a series Outstanding have performed any action hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such action, only Securities of such series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be

 

7



 

regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.  In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of a series have performed any action hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02 and the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount calculated pursuant to Section 3.11(b).

 

Paying Agent:

 

The term “Paying Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.02(a).

 

Person:

 

The term “Person” shall mean any individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

 

Place of Payment:

 

The term “Place of Payment” shall mean, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Predecessor Security:

 

The term “Predecessor Security” shall mean, with respect to any Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

Record Date:

 

The term “Record Date” shall mean, with respect to any interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, any date specified in such Security or pursuant to Section 3.01with respect to such Security as the record date for the payment of interest .

 

Redemption Date:

 

The term “Redemption Date” shall mean, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture and the terms of such Security, which, in the case of a Floating Rate Security, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, shall be an Interest Payment Date only.

 

8



 

Redemption Price:

 

The term “Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, shall mean the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to the terms of the applicable Security and this Indenture.

 

Register:

 

The term “Register” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).

 

Registrar:

 

The term “Registrar” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).

 

Responsible Officers:

 

The term “Responsible Officers” of the Trustee hereunder shall mean any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer, any assistant trust officer, secretary, associate or any other officer associated with the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

SEC:

 

The term “SEC” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as constituted from time to time.

 

Security:

 

The term “Security” or “Securities” shall have the meaning stated in the recitals and shall more particularly mean one or more of the Securities duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Security Custodian:

 

The term “Security Custodian” shall mean the custodian with respect to any Global Security appointed by the Depositary, or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be the Trustee.

 

Securityholder; Holder of Securities; Holder:

 

The term “Securityholder” or “Holder of Securities” or “Holder,” shall mean the Person in whose name Securities shall be registered in the Register kept for that purpose hereunder.

 

9



 

Senior Indebtedness:

 

The term “Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (x) Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed other than (a) any Indebtedness of the Company which when incurred, and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code, was without recourse to the Company, (b) any Indebtedness of the Company to any of its Subsidiaries, (c) Indebtedness to any employee of the Company, (d) any liability for taxes, (e) Trade Payables and (f) any Indebtedness of the Company which is expressly subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company, and (y) renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such Indebtedness.  For purposes of the foregoing and the definition of “Senior Indebtedness,” the phrase “subordinated in right of payment” means debt subordination only and not lien subordination, and accordingly, (i) unsecured indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinated in right of payment to secured indebtedness merely by virtue of the fact that it is unsecured, and (ii) junior liens, second liens and other contractual arrangements that provide for priorities among Holders of the same or different issues of indebtedness with respect to any collateral or the proceeds of collateral shall not constitute subordination in right of payment. This definition may be modified or superseded by a supplemental indenture.

 

Special Record Date:

 

The term “Special Record Date” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b)(i).

 

Stated Maturity:

 

The term “Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of interest thereon, shall mean the date specified in such Security or pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to such Security as the fixed date on which the principal (or any portion thereof) of or premium, if any, on such Security or such installment of interest is due and payable.

 

Subsidiary:

 

The term “Subsidiary,” when used with respect to any Person, shall mean with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership association, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or other business entity which is required to be consolidated with such Person in accordance with GAAP.

 

Successor Company:

 

The term “Successor Company” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.06(i).

 

Trade Payables:

 

The term “Trade Payables” means accounts payable or any other Indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company or any Subsidiary of

 

10



 

the Company in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities).

 

Trust Indenture Act; TIA:

 

The term “Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 14.06 and except to the extent any amendment to the Trust Indenture Act expressly provides for application of the Trust Indenture Act as in effect on another date.

 

Trustee:

 

The term “Trustee” shall mean the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.

 

U.S. Dollars:

 

The term “U.S. Dollars” shall mean such currency of the United States as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

U.S. Government Obligations:

 

The term “U.S. Government Obligations” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.03.

 

United States:

 

The term “United States” shall mean the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia.

 

ARTICLE II

 

FORMS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 2.01                Terms of the Securities.

 

(a)                     The Securities of each series shall be substantially in the form set forth in a Board Resolution, a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, and shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with

 

11



 

any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which any series of the Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such series may be quoted, or to conform to usage, all as determined by any of the officers executing such Securities as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

(b)                    The terms and provisions of the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

Section 2.02                Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

(a)                     Only such of the Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate substantially in the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication hereinafter recited, executed by the Trustee by manual signature, shall be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or entitle the Holder thereof to any right or benefit under this Indenture.

 

(b)                    Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, except that any Global Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated in Section 3.01.

 

(c)                     The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

Date of authentication: ___________

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

Section 2.03                Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent.  If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by such Authenticating Agent to be borne by Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

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Date of authentication: ___________

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

[NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT]

 

 

as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01                Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.  The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.  The Securities may be issued in one or more series.  The title and terms on each series of Securities shall be as set forth in a Board Resolution, Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

(a)                     the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series, except to the extent that additional Securities of an existing series are being issued);

 

(b)                    any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 4.06, or 14.05);

 

(c)                     the dates on which or periods during which the Securities of the series may be issued, and the dates on, or the range of dates within, which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series are or may be payable or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended;

 

(d)                   the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, whether such interest shall be payable in cash or additional Securities of the same series or shall accrue and increase the aggregate principal amount outstanding of such series (including if such Securities were originally issued at a discount), the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, and the Record Dates for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on such Interest Payment Dates or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the duration of such extension or deferral;

 

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(e)                     if other than U.S. Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which Securities of the series shall be denominated or in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable and any other terms concerning such payment;

 

(f)                      if the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method including, but not limited to, an index based on a Currency or Currencies other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(g)                    if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated or stated to be payable without such election, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made and the time and the manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which the Securities are denominated or payable without such election and the Currency in which the Securities are to be paid if such election is made;

 

(h)                    the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, and where Securities of any series may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;

 

(i)                        the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;

 

(j)                        the obligation or right, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the Currency or Currencies in which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(k)                    if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(l)                        if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02;

 

(m)                the guarantors, if any, of the Securities of the series, and the extent of the guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination, and the release of the guarantors), if any, and any additions or changes to permit or facilitate guarantees of such Securities;

 

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(n)                    whether the Securities of the series are to be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities and the amount of discount with which such Securities may be issued;

 

(o)                    if the provisions of Article XII hereof shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series; or any addition to or change in the provisions of Article XII and, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.08;

 

(p)                    whether the Securities of the series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities, and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for the individual securities represented thereby in definitive form registered in the name or names of Persons other than such Depositary or a nominee or nominees thereof (“Individual Securities”);

 

(q)                    the date as of which any Global Security of the series shall be dated if other than the original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

(r)                       the form or forms of the Securities of the series including such legends as may be required by applicable law;

 

(s)                      if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities or property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any additions or changes, if any, to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

 

(t)                       whether the Securities of such series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination (for avoidance of doubt, Article XV shall not apply to the Securities of any series unless the terms of such series expressly state it applies);

 

(u)                    whether the Securities of such series are to be secured and the terms of such security;

 

(v)                    any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series;

 

(w)                any addition or change in the provisions related to compensation and reimbursement of the Trustee which applies to Securities of such series;

 

(x)                    any addition or change in the provisions related to supplemental indentures set forth in Sections 14.01, 14.02 and 14.04 which applies to Securities of such series;

 

(y)                    provisions, if any, granting special rights to Holders upon the occurrence of specified events;

 

(z)                     any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of

 

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such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 and any addition or change in the provisions set forth in Article VII which applies to Securities of the series;

 

(aa)              any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article VI which applies to Securities of the series; and

 

(bb)            any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the TIA, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of this Indenture with respect to such series).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or set forth in a Board Resolution, a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to this Section 3.01, the Company may, at its option, at any time and from time to time, issue additional Securities of any series of Securities previously issued under this Indenture which together shall constitute a single series of Securities under this Indenture.

 

Section 3.02                Denominations.  In the absence of any specification pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable only as Securities in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, and shall be payable only in U.S. Dollars.

 

Section 3.03                Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

(a)                     The Securities shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of any Officer.  If the Person whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated and delivered, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

 

(b)                    At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities and, if required pursuant to Section 3.01, a supplemental indenture or Company Order setting forth the terms of the Securities of a series.  The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities without any further action by the Company.  The Company Order shall specify the amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.

 

(c)                     In authenticating the first Securities of any series and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 11.02) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each prepared in accordance with Section 16.01 stating that the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture have been complied with.

 

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(d)                   The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities under this Section 3.03 if the issue of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

(e)                     Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

(f)                      Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of this Section 3.03, if all of the Securities of any series are not to be originally issued at the same time, then the documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 3.03 must be delivered only once prior to the authentication and delivery of the first Security of such series.

 

(g)                    If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

 

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH SHALL BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, INC. (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

 

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The aggregate principal amount of each Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Security Custodian, as provided in this Indenture.

 

(h)                    Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as such Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

(i)                        Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Security Custodian under such Global Security, and the Depositary shall be treated by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar and any of their agents as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar or any of their agents from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.  The Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Members and Persons that may hold interests through Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

 

(j)                        No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in one of the forms provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee or by an Authenticating Agent by manual or facsimile signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee or Authenticating Agent, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

Section 3.04                Temporary Securities.

 

(a)                     Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized denominations, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.  Any such temporary Security may be in the form of one or more Global Securities, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series.  Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Security or Securities in lieu of which it is issued.

 

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(b)                    If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay.  After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder.  Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor.  Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

(c)                     Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the Individual Securities represented thereby pursuant to this Section 3.04 or Section 3.06, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed.

 

Section 3.05                Registrar.

 

(a)                     The Company will keep, at an office or agency to be maintained by it in a Place of Payment where Securities may be presented for registration or presented and surrendered for registration of transfer or of exchange, and where Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable (the “Registrar”), a security register for the registration and the registration of transfer or of exchange of the Securities (the registers maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Register”), as in this Indenture provided, which Register shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection by the Trustee.  Such Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.  The Company may have one or more co-Registrars; the term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar.

 

(b)                    The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or co-Registrar not a party to this Indenture.  The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent.  The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent.  If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar for any series, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 11.01.  The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Registrar, co-Registrar or transfer agent.

 

(c)                     The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Registrar in connection with the Securities and this Indenture, until such time as another Person is appointed as such.

 

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Section 3.06                Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)                     Transfer.

 

(i)                        Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Registrar the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations.  The transfer of any Security shall not be valid as against the Company or the Trustee unless registered at the Registrar at the request of the Holder, or at the request of his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

(ii)                    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the Individual Securities represented thereby, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(b)                    Exchange.

 

(i)                        At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at the Registrar.

 

(ii)                    Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

(c)                     Exchange of Global Securities for Individual Securities.  Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive Individual Securities.

 

(i)                        Individual Securities shall be issued to all owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security in exchange for such interests if: (A) at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.03(h) and, in each case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, or (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and the Registrar an Company Order stating that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable.

 

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In connection with the exchange of an entire Global Security for Individual Securities pursuant to this subsection (c), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Individual Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities of authorized denominations.

 

(ii)                    The owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be entitled to receive an Individual Security in exchange for such interest if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.  Upon receipt by the Security Custodian and Registrar of instructions from the Holder of a Global Security directing the Security Custodian and Registrar to (x) issue one or more Individual Securities in the amounts specified to the owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security and (y) debit or cause to be debited an equivalent amount of beneficial interest in such Global Security, subject to the rules and regulations of the Depositary:

 

(A)              the Security Custodian and Registrar shall notify the Company and the Trustee of such instructions, identifying the owner and amount of such beneficial interest in such Global Security;

 

(B)               the Company shall promptly execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Individual Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver to such beneficial owner Individual Securities in an equivalent amount to such beneficial interest in such Global Security; and

 

(C)               the Security Custodian and Registrar shall decrease such Global Security by such amount in accordance with the foregoing.  In the event that the Individual Securities are not issued to each such beneficial owner promptly after the Registrar has received a request from the Holder of a Global Security to issue such Individual Securities, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 7.07 hereof, the right of any beneficial Holder of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial Holder’s Securities as if such Individual Securities had been issued.

 

(iii)                If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Individual Securities of such series on such terms as are acceptable to

 

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the Company and such Depositary.  Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

 

(A)              to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Individual Security or new Individual Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

 

(B)               to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

 

(iv)                In any exchange provided for in clauses (i) through (iii), the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver Individual Securities in registered form in authorized denominations.

 

(v)                    Upon the exchange in full of a Global Security for Individual Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee.  Individual Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee.  The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

(d)                   All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered for such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(e)                     Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or by his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

(f)                      No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.  The Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or charge to the Holders.

 

(g)                    The Company shall not be required to (i) register, transfer or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the

 

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day of the transmission of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 4.02 and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmission, or (ii) register, transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

(h)                    In case a successor Company (“Successor Company”) has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.04, any of the Securities previously authenticated or delivered may, from time to time, at the request of the Successor Company, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the Successor Company with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Company Order of the Successor Company, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange.  If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a Successor Company pursuant to this Section 3.06 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such Successor Company, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities at the time Outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.

 

(i)                        The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

(j)                        Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

Section 3.07                Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

(a)                     If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to them to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, then the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, such that neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from such exchange or substitution.

 

(b)                    In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay the amount due on such Security in accordance with its terms.

 

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(c)                     Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

(d)                   Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

(e)                     The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

Section 3.08                Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

(a)                     Interest on any Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the Record Date.  Payment of interest on Securities shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01) or, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Register or, in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

 

(b)                    Any interest on any Security that is payable but is not punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Record Date by virtue of his, her or its having been such a Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

 

(i)                        The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “Special Record Date”), which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than

 

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10 calendar days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holders of such Securities at their addresses as they appear in the Register, not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii).

 

(ii)                    The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

(c)                     Subject to the provisions set forth herein relating to Record Dates, each Security delivered pursuant to any provision of this Indenture in exchange or substitution for, or upon registration of transfer of, any other Security shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

Section 3.09                Cancellation.  Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or credit against any sinking fund or otherwise shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and shall be promptly canceled by it and, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Securities held by it in accordance with its then customary procedures and deliver evidence of such disposal to the Company upon its written request therefor.  The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 3.10                Computation of Interest.  Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

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Section 3.11                Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities.

 

(a)                     Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on Securities of such series will be made in U.S. Dollars.

 

(b)                    For purposes of any provision of the Indenture where the Holders of Outstanding Securities may perform an action that requires that a specified percentage of the Outstanding Securities of all series perform such action and for purposes of any decision or determination by the Trustee of amounts due and unpaid for the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of all series in respect of which moneys are to be disbursed ratably, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Outstanding Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency will be the amount in U.S. Dollars based upon exchange rates, determined as specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, as of the date for determining whether the Holders entitled to perform such action have performed it or as of the date of such decision or determination by the Trustee, as the case may be.

 

(c)                     Any decision or determination to be made regarding exchange rates shall be made by an agent appointed by the Company; provided, that such agent shall accept such appointment in writing and the terms of such appointment shall, in the opinion of the Company at the time of such appointment, require such agent to make such determination by a method consistent with the method provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for the making of such decision or determination.  All decisions and determinations of such agent regarding exchange rates shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee and all Holders of the Securities.

 

Section 3.12                Judgments.  The Company may provide pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series that (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or U.S. Dollars (the “Designated Currency”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of such Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other Currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency) immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.

 

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Section 3.13                CUSIP Numbers.  The Company in issuing any Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption or exchange with respect to such series provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.  The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 4.01                Applicability of Right of Redemption. Redemption of Securities (other than pursuant to a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision) permitted by the terms of any series of Securities shall be made (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

 

Section 4.02                Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

(a)                     If the Company shall at any time elect to redeem all or any portion of the Securities of a series then Outstanding, it shall at least 30 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as the Trustee shall deem appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.  In any case where more than one Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security of such series.  The Trustee shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Company in writing of the Securities and portions of Securities so selected.

 

(b)                    For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed.  If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

 

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Section 4.03                Notice of Redemption.

 

(a)                     Notice of redemption shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request at least 5 Business Days (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) prior to the delivery of the Notice of Redemption to the Holders, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed in whole or in part pursuant to this Article, in the manner provided in Section 16.04.  Any notice so given shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.  Failure to give such notice, or any defect in such notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption, in whole or in part, shall not affect the sufficiency of any notice of redemption with respect to the Holder of any other Security of such series.

 

(b)                    All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if available along with the statement in Section 3.13) and shall state:

 

(i)                        such election by the Company to redeem Securities of such series pursuant to provisions contained in this Indenture or the terms of the Securities of such series or a supplemental indenture establishing such series, if such be the case;

 

(ii)                    the Redemption Date and whether the redemption is contingent upon any transaction or event and, if such redemption is subject to the satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall describe each such condition, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Redemption Date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied or waived, or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied or waived by the Redemption Date, or by the Redemption Date as so delayed;

 

(iii)                the Redemption Price;

 

(iv)                if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the Securities of such series to be redeemed;

 

(v)                    that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed, and that, if applicable, interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

 

(vi)                the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and

 

(vii)            that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

 

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Section 4.04                Deposit of Redemption Price.  On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 6.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of such Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 4.05                Securities Payable on Redemption Date.  Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, any Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price and from and after such date (unless the Company shall Default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest.  Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price; provided, however, that (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) installments of interest that have a Stated Maturity on or prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities shall be payable according to the terms of such Securities and the provisions of Section 3.08.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal thereof and premium, if any, thereon shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by or prescribed in such Securities.

 

Section 4.06                Securities Redeemed in Part.  Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency of the Company as is specified in the notice of redemption with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered.  In the case of a Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Security or Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

 

ARTICLE V

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 5.01                Applicability of Sinking Fund.

 

(a)                     Redemption of Securities permitted or required pursuant to a sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series by the terms of such series of Securities shall be

 

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made in accordance with such terms of such series of Securities and this Article, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Article IV for Securities of such series, provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

 

(b)                    The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “Optional Sinking Fund Payment.”  If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 5.02.

 

Section 5.02                Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation.  The Company may, at its option, satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, in whole or in part, with respect to a particular series of Securities by (a) delivering to the Trustee Securities of such series in transferable form theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or redeemed at the election of the Company pursuant to Article IV or (b) receiving credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee.  The Trustee shall credit such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation with an amount equal to the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment shall be reduced accordingly.  If the Company shall elect to so satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officer’s Certificate, which shall designate the Securities (and portions thereof, if any) so delivered or credited and which shall be accompanied by such Securities (to the extent not theretofore delivered) in transferable form.  In case of the failure of the Company, at or before the time so required, to give such notice and deliver such Securities the Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation shall be paid entirely in moneys.

 

Section 5.03                Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price.  In addition to the sinking fund requirements of Section 5.02, to the extent, if any, provided for by the terms of a particular series of Securities, the Company may, at its option, make an Optional Sinking Fund Payment with respect to such Securities.  Unless otherwise provided by such terms, (a) to the extent that the right of the Company to make such Optional Sinking Fund Payment shall not be exercised in any year, it shall not be cumulative or carried forward to any subsequent year, and (b) such optional payment shall operate to reduce the amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation as to Securities of the same series.  If the Company intends to exercise its right to make such optional payment in any year it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officer’s Certificate stating that the Company will exercise such optional right, and specifying the amount which the Company will pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date.  Such Officer’s Certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

Section 5.04                Application of Sinking Fund Payment.

 

(a)                     If the sinking fund payment or payments made in funds pursuant to either Section 5.02 or 5.03 with respect to a particular series of Securities plus any unused

 

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balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in funds with respect to such series shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request, or such equivalent sum for Securities denominated other than in U.S. Dollars), it shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date next following the date of such payment, unless the date of such payment shall be a sinking fund payment date, in which case such payment shall be applied on such sinking fund payment date, to the redemption of Securities of such series at the redemption price specified pursuant to Section 4.03(b).  The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 4.02, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date, a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said funds, as nearly as may be, and shall, at the expense and in the name of the Company, thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 4.03(a) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company, except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Securities are being redeemed for the sinking fund.  Any sinking fund moneys not so applied by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next sinking fund payment received in funds by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.04.  Any and all sinking fund moneys held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

(b)                    On or prior to each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee a sum equal to all interest accrued to but not including the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 5.04.

 

(c)                     The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of Securities of such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on any Securities of such series or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge, except that if the notice of redemption of any Securities of such series shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities if funds sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Article.  Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund at the time any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of all the Securities of such series; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date on which such moneys are required to be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.04.

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company hereby covenants and agrees as follows:

 

Section 6.01                Payments of Securities.  The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, on each series of Securities, and the interest which shall have accrued thereon, at the dates and place and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture.

 

Section 6.02                Paying Agent.

 

(a)                     The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served (the “Paying Agent”).  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

(b)                    The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies where the Securities of any series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and of any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency.  The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture.  The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent.  The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent.  The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Paying Agent.

 

Section 6.03                To Hold Payment in Trust.

 

(a)                     If the Company or an Affiliate thereof shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, then, on or before the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption shall become payable, the Company or such Affiliate will segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest which shall have so become payable until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act in that regard.  Upon any proceeding under any federal bankruptcy laws with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof, if the Company or such Affiliate is then acting as Paying Agent, the Trustee shall replace the Company or such Affiliate as Paying Agent.

 

(b)                    If the Company shall appoint, and at the time have, a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any series of Securities, then prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which the principal of and premium, if

 

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any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series shall become payable as aforesaid, whether by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption, the Company will deposit with such Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee), the Company or any other obligor of such Securities will promptly notify the Trustee of its payment or failure to make such payment.

 

(c)                     If the Paying Agent shall be other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 6.03, that such Paying Agent shall:

 

(i)                        hold all moneys held by it for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(ii)                    give to the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series in the making of any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series; and

 

(iii)                at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

(d)                   Anything in this Section 6.03 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a release, satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee as required by this Section 6.03, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent.

 

(e)                     Subject to applicable escheatment laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Order along with any interest that has accumulated thereon as a result of such money being invested at the direction of the Company, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust, and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such amounts without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Trustee and the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money

 

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remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 6.04                Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets.  Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities:

 

(a)                     The Company will not consolidate with any other entity or permit a merger of any other entity into the Company or permit the Company to be merged into any other entity, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to another entity, unless (i) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) shall be organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly assume, by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered by such entity prior to or simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all other obligations to the Holders and the Trustee under this Indenture or under the Securities to be performed or observed by the Company; and (ii) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease the Company or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) would not be in Default in the performance of any covenant or condition of this Indenture.

 

(b)                    Upon any consolidation with or merger into any other entity, or any sale, conveyance or transfer lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with this Section 6.04, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which the Company is sold or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and from time to time such entity may exercise each and every right and power of the Company under this Indenture, in the name of the Company, or in its own name; and any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture required or permitted to be done by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company may be done with like force and effect by the like board or officer of any entity that shall at the time be the successor of the Company hereunder.  In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company (or any successor entity which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Section 6.04) shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may thereupon be dissolved and liquidated.

 

Section 6.05                Compliance Certificate.  Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee annually, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from an Officer, who shall be the principal financial officer, principal executive officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture and, in the event of any Default, describing each such Default of which such person may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking

 

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or proposing to take with respect thereto.  Such certificates need not comply with Section 16.01 of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.06                Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities.  Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may fail or omit in any particular instance to comply with a covenant or condition set forth herein with respect to any series of Securities if the Company shall have obtained and filed with the Trustee, prior to the time of such failure or omission, evidence (as provided in Article VIII) of the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding (except as to a covenant or condition which under Section 14.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected, in which case the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected shall be required), either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, or impair any right consequent thereon and, until such waiver shall have become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 6.07                Statement by Officers as to Default.  The Company shall deliver to the Trustee as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.01                Events of Default.  Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term “Event of Default” as used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series shall mean any of the following described events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated in Section 3.01:

 

(a)                     the failure of the Company to pay any installment of interest on any Security of such series when and as the same shall become payable, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;

 

(b)                    the failure of the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security of such series, when and as the same shall become payable, whether at Maturity as therein expressed, by call for redemption (otherwise than pursuant to a sinking fund), upon acceleration under this Indenture or otherwise;

 

(c)                     the failure of the Company to pay a sinking fund installment, if any, when and as the same shall become payable by the terms of a Security of such series, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;

 

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(d)                   the failure of the Company, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, to perform any covenants or satisfy any conditions contained in this Indenture (or the terms of the Securities of such series or a supplemental indenture establishing such series) (other than a covenant or condition which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series and other than a covenant or condition a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section 7.01 specifically addressed), which failure shall not have been remedied, or without provision deemed to be adequate for the remedying thereof having been made, for a period of 90 days after written notice shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or shall have been given to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such failure, requiring the Company to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

(e)                     the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days;

 

(f)                      the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Company to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the Company to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any action; or

 

(g)                    the occurrence of any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 3.01;

 

provided, however, that no event described in clause (d) or (other than with respect to a payment default) (g) above shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series the Outstanding, notify the Company (and the Trustee in case of notice by the Holders) of the Default, specifying the Default, requiring the Company to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, if the principal or any premium or interest on any Security is payable in a Currency other than the Currency of the United States and such Currency is not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by

 

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making such payment in the Currency of the United States in an amount equal to the Currency of the United States equivalent of the amount payable in such other Currency, as determined by the Company’s agent in accordance with Section 3.11(c) hereof by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such Currency (“Exchange Rate”), as such Exchange Rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, any payment made under such circumstances in the Currency of the United States where the required payment is in a Currency other than the Currency of the United States will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.

 

Section 7.02                Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(a)                     Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, if any one or more of the above-described Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f)) shall happen with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, during the continuance of any such Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and all accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such acceleration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall become immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified by the terms of that series) of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any acceleration or any other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become due and payable immediately.  Upon payment of such amounts in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to the last paragraph of Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01), all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of such series shall terminate.

 

(b)                    The provisions of Section 7.02(a), however, are subject to the condition that, at any time after the principal and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series, to which any one or more of the above-described Events of Default is applicable, shall have been so declared to be or shall have automatically become due and payable, and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that Series then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annual such acceleration if:

 

(i)                        the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated

 

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(subject to the last paragraph of Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay:

 

(A)              all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a) (provided, however, that all sums payable under this clause (A) shall be paid in U.S. Dollars);

 

(B)               all accrued and unpaid interest, if any, upon all the Securities of such series with interest thereon to the extent that interest thereon shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue installment of interest at the rate borne by or prescribed in such Securities; and

 

(C)               the principal of and accrued and unpaid premium, if any, on any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such acceleration with interest thereon to the extent that interest thereon shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue installment of interest at the rate borne by or prescribed in such Securities; and

 

(ii)                    every other Default and Event of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 7.06.

 

(c)                     No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

(d)                   For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such acceleration, unless such acceleration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.

 

Section 7.03                Other Remedies.  If the Company shall fail for a period of 30 days to pay any installment of interest on the Securities of any series or shall fail to pay any principal of and premium, if any, on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity, or by call for redemption (other than pursuant to the sinking fund), by acceleration as authorized by this Indenture, or otherwise, or shall fail for a period of 30 days to make any required sinking fund payment as to a series of Securities, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series then Outstanding the whole amount which then shall have become

 

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due and payable on all the Securities of such series for principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, with interest (so far as the same may be legally enforceable) on the overdue principal and on the overdue premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest at the rate borne by or prescribed in such Securities, and all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a).

 

In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, wherever situated, in the manner provided by law.  Every recovery of judgment in any such action or other proceeding, subject to the payment to the Trustee of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a), shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of such series of Securities which shall be the subject of such action or proceeding.  All rights of action upon or under any of the Securities or this Indenture may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities and without the production of any thereof at any trial or any proceeding relative thereto.

 

Section 7.04                Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact.  The Trustee is hereby appointed, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have appointed the Trustee, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of such Holder, with authority to make or file (whether or not the Company shall be in Default in respect of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities), in its own name and as trustee of an express trust or otherwise as it shall deem advisable, in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or to their respective creditors or property, any and all claims, proofs of claim, proofs of debt, petitions, consents, other papers and documents and amendments of any thereof, as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of the Holders of the Securities allowed in any such proceeding and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to execute and deliver any and all other papers and documents and to do and perform any and all other acts and things, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to enforce in any such proceeding any of the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of any of such Holders in respect of any of the Securities; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor in any such proceeding is hereby authorized, and each and every taker or Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have authorized any such receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor, to make any such payment or delivery only to or on the order of the Trustee, and to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a); provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower the Trustee to consent to or accept or adopt, on behalf of any Holder of Securities, any plan of reorganization or readjustment affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize or empower the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of any Securities in any such proceeding.

 

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Section 7.05                Priorities.  Any moneys or properties collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities under this Article VII shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or properties and, in the case of the distribution of such moneys or properties on account of the Securities of any series, upon presentation of the Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a).

 

Second: Subject to Article XV (to the extent applicable to any series of Securities then outstanding), to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Outstanding Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively.

 

Any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Company or as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

Section 7.06                Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee hereunder, or of exercising any trust or power hereby conferred upon the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Sections 11.01 and 11.02, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining in such direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability.  Prior to any acceleration of the Maturity of the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a Default in the payment of interest or any premium on or the principal of the Securities of such series and except as to a covenant or condition which under Section 14.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected, in which case the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected shall be required for such waiver.  Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.  Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 7.06, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

Section 7.07                Limitation on Suits.  No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity for the execution of any trust hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder, in each

 

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case with respect to an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of one or more of the Events of Default herein specified with respect to such series of Securities, and unless also the Holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have requested the Trustee in writing to take action in respect of the matter complained of, and unless also there shall have been offered to the Trustee security and indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, loss, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after receipt of such notification, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and such notification, request and offer of indemnity are hereby declared in every such case to be conditions precedent to any such action, suit or proceeding by any Holder of any Security of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of the Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by his, her, its or their action to enforce any right hereunder, except in the manner herein provided, and that every action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal benefit of all Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series; provided, however, that nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series to the respective Holders of such Securities at the respective due dates in such Securities stated, or affect or impair the right, which is also absolute and unconditional, of such Holders to institute suit to enforce the payment thereof.

 

Section 7.08                Undertaking for Costs.  All parties to this Indenture and each Holder of any Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed that any court may in its discretion require, in any action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any action, suit or proceeding against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding of an undertaking to pay the costs of such action, suit or proceeding, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 7.08 shall not apply to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee, to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any one or more Holders of Securities holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any series Outstanding, or to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any Holder of Securities of any series for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or the interest on, any of the Securities of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities.

 

Section 7.09                Remedies Cumulative.  No remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of any series is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy or remedies, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute.  No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of the Securities of any series to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article VII to the Trustee and to

 

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the Holders of Securities of any series, respectively, may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities of such series, as the case may be.  In case the Trustee or any Holder of Securities of any series shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and the proceedings for the enforcement thereof shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of waiver or for any other reason or shall have been adjudicated adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder of Securities, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall severally and respectively be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and thereafter all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken, except as to any matters so waived or adjudicated.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 8.01                Evidence of Action of Securityholders.  Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage or a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage or majority have joined therein may be evidenced by (a) any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Securityholders in person, by an agent or by a proxy appointed in writing, including through an electronic system for tabulating consents operated by the Depositary for such series or otherwise (such action becoming effective, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, when such instruments or evidence of electronic consents are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company), or (b) by the record of the Holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Securityholders.

 

Section 8.02                Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities.  Proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his, her or its agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

 

(a)                     The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument may be proved (i) by the certificate of any notary public or other officer in any jurisdiction who, by the laws thereof, has power to take acknowledgments or proof of deeds to be recorded within such jurisdiction, that the Person who signed such instrument did acknowledge before such notary public or other officer the execution thereof, or (ii) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution sworn to before any such notary or other officer.  Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.

 

(b)                    The ownership of Securities of any series shall be proved by the Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.

 

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(c)                     The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.

 

(d)                   The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.02 as it shall deem appropriate or necessary, so long as the request is a reasonable one.

 

(e)                     If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities of any series any action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so.  Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion.  If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of such series have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be computed as of such record date.

 

Section 8.03                Persons Deemed Owners.

 

(a)                     The Company, the Trustee or any of their agents shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest, if any, on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any of their agents shall be affected by notice to the contrary.  All payments made to any Holder, or upon his, her or its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon such Security.

 

(b)                    None of the Company, the Trustee, or any of their agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Section 8.04                Effect of Consents.  After an amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective as to any series of Securities, a consent to it by a Holder of such series of Securities is a continuing consent conclusive and binding upon such Holder and every subsequent Holder of the same Securities or portion thereof, and of any Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in place thereof, even if notation of the consent is not made on any such Security.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section 9.01                Purposes of Meetings.  A meeting of Securityholders of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX for any of the following purposes:

 

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(a)                     to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article VIII;

 

(b)                    to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article XI;

 

(c)                     to consent to the execution of an Indenture or of indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.02; or

 

(d)                   to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any one or more or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

Section 9.02                Call of Meetings by Trustee.  The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of all Securityholders of any or all series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken, to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine.  Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders of a series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed at the expense of the Company to Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as they shall appear on the Register of the Company.  Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

Section 9.03                Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.  In case at any time the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series then Outstanding that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders of such series, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.

 

Section 9.04                Qualifications for Voting.  To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities affected by the action proposed to be taken at the meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more such Securities.  The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel. Unless otherwise expressly provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of any series, any vote, consent, waiver or other action given or taken by the Holders of any series of Securities at a meeting shall be given or taken, as the case may be, by the Holders of such series of Securities as a separate class.

 

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Section 9.05                Regulation of Meetings.

 

(a)                     Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem fit.

 

(b)                    The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chair.  A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.

 

(c)                     At any meeting of Securityholders of a series, each Securityholder of such series of such Securityholder’s proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series Outstanding held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding.  If the Securities of any series are issuable in minimum denominations of less than $1,000, then a Holder of such a Security in a principal amount of less than $1,000 shall be entitled to a fraction of one vote which is equal to the fraction that the principal amount of such Security bears to $1,000.  The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Securities of such series held by him or her or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him or her as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders.  At any meeting of the Securityholders of any series duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or 9.03, the presence of Persons holding or representing Securities of such series in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action as it concerns the Securities of such series upon the business for the transaction of which such meeting was called shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, and any such meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 9.06                Voting.  The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Securityholders of a series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts of the Securities of such series held or represented by them.  The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting.  A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 9.02.  The record shall show the principal amounts of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution.  The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee.

 

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Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

Section 9.07                No Delay of Rights by Meeting.  Nothing contained in this Article IX shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Securityholders of any series or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders of such series under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE X

 

REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS

 

Section 10.01        Reports by Trustee.

 

(a)                     So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided therein.  If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each anniversary following the date of this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

 

(b)                    The Trustee shall, at the time of the transmission to the Holders of Securities of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01, file a copy of such report with each stock exchange upon which the Securities are listed, if any, and also with the SEC in respect of a Security listed and registered on a national securities exchange, if any.  The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when, as and if the Securities become listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.

 

(c)                     The Company will reimburse the Trustee for all expenses incurred in the preparation and transmission of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01 and of Section 10.02.

 

Section 10.02        Reports by the Company.  The Company shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that, unless available on EDGAR, any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 30 days after the same is filed with the SEC, it being understood that the Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether such reports are available on EDGAR.

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein,

 

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including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

Section 10.03        Securityholders’ Lists.  The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)                     semi-annually, within 15 days after each Record Date, but in any event not less frequently than semi-annually, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to which such Record Date applies, as of such Record Date, and

 

(b)                    at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;

 

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 11.01        Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity.  The Trustee accepts the trusts created by this Indenture upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the parties hereto and the Holders from time to time of the Securities agree:

 

(a)                     The Trustee shall receive such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (including in any agent capacity in which it acts).  The compensation of the Trustee shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee (including the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its own negligence or willful misconduct as adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

The Company also agrees to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee hereunder for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, cost, liability, damage, claim, or expense incurred without its own negligence or willful misconduct as adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the performance of its duties (including in any agent capacity in which it acts), as well as the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, the Holders or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except those attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.  The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel of its selection and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not

 

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pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 11.01(a), the Trustee shall have a lien upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust by the Trustee to pay principal of, premium and interest on any Securities.  Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the Trustee under this Section 11.01(a) shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the termination of this Indenture and any satisfaction and discharge under Article XII.  When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

 

(b)                    The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereof and perform any duty hereunder either directly or by its agents and attorneys and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

(c)                     The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of the recitals herein or in the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon) contained, all of which are made solely by the Company; and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon), and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein.  The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Securities, or the proceeds of any Securities, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

(d)                   The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and advice of counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by the Trustee hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice of counsel.

 

(e)                     The Trustee may rely upon the certificate of the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company as to the adoption of any Board Resolution or resolution of the stockholders of the Company, and any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by, and whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee may rely upon, an Officer’s Certificate of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed).

 

(f)                      The Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311

 

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of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have had if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

 

(g)                    Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

(h)                    Any action taken by the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof at the request or with the consent of any Person who at the time is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding in respect of such Security upon all future Holders thereof or of any Security or Securities which may be issued for or in lieu thereof in whole or in part, whether or not such Security shall have noted thereon the fact that such request or consent had been made or given.

 

(i)                        The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

(j)                        The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of the Securities, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, unless such Holders of the Securities shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it therein or thereby.

 

(k)                    The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within its discretion or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(l)                        The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless the Company or Holders of not less than 25% of the Outstanding Securities notify the Trustee thereof.

 

(m)                The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, may, but shall not be required to, make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

 

(n)                    The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.

 

(o)                    In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to,

 

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loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

(p)                    The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

(q)                    The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.

 

(r)                       The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties.

 

Section 11.02        Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)                     If one or more of the Events of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened, then, during the continuance thereof, the Trustee shall, with respect to such Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and shall use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b)                    None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as relieving the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that, anything in this Indenture contained to the contrary notwithstanding,

 

(i)                        unless and until an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened which at the time is continuing,

 

(A)              the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties with respect to the Securities of that series as are specifically set out in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, whose duties and obligations shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(B)               the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, upon certificates and opinions furnished to it pursuant to the express provisions of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which, by the provisions of this Indenture, are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical

 

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calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein);

 

(ii)                    the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(iii)                the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of Securityholders given as provided in Section 7.06, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to it or exercising any trust or power conferred upon it by this Indenture.

 

(c)                     None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)                   Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 11.02.

 

Section 11.03        Notice of Defaults.  Within 90 days after the occurrence thereof, and if known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to the Holders of the Securities of a series notice of each Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series known to the Trustee, by transmitting such notice to Holders at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register of the Company, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term “Default” being hereby defined to be the events specified in Section 7.01, which are, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, Events of Default as defined in said Section).  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become payable, or to make any sinking fund payment as to Securities of the same series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice, if and so long as a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series.

 

Section 11.04        Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

(a)                     The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA Section 310(a).  The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition, and shall have a Corporate Trust Office.  If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.04, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

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(b)                    The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(i) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(i) are met.  If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture.  If Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act is amended any time after the date of this Indenture to change the circumstances under which a Trustee shall be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series or to change any of the definitions in connection therewith, this Section 11.04 shall be automatically amended to incorporate such changes.

 

Section 11.05        Resignation and Notice; Removal.  The Trustee, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts hereby created with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving to the Company notice in writing.  Such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Trustee.  Any Trustee hereunder may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by the filing with such Trustee and the delivery to the Company of an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)                              the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or

 

(2)                              the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 11.04 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or

 

(3)                              the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by written notice to the Trustee may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series) may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated and at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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In addition, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of any series without cause if the Company gives written notice to the Trustee of such proposed removal at least three months in advance of the proposed effective date of such removal.

 

Upon its resignation or removal, any Trustee shall be entitled to the payment of reasonable compensation for the services rendered hereunder by such Trustee and to the payment of all reasonable expenses incurred hereunder and all moneys then due to it hereunder.  The Trustee’s rights to indemnification provided in Section 11.01(a) shall survive its resignation or removal.

 

Section 11.06        Successor Trustee by Appointment.

 

(a)                     In case at any time the Trustee shall resign, or shall be removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, with respect to Securities of any or all series, the Compay shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  However, if all or substantially all the assets of the Company shall be in the possession of one or more custodians or receivers lawfully appointed, or of trustees in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (including a trustee or trustees appointed under the provisions of the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted), or of assignees for the benefit of creditors, such receivers, custodians, trustees or assignees, as the case may be, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any or all series.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 11.04 and 11.05, upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series shall cease to be Trustee hereunder.  After any such appointment other than by the Holders of Securities of any such series, the Person making such appointment shall forthwith cause notice thereof to be mailed to the Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register of the Company.  Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of such appointment.

 

(b)                    If any Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall resign or be removed and a successor Trustee shall not have been appointed by the Company or, if any successor Trustee so appointed shall not have accepted its appointment within 30 days after such appointment shall have been made, the resigning Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.  If in any other case a successor Trustee shall not be appointed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.06 within three months after such appointment might have been made hereunder, the Holder of any Security of the applicable series or any retiring Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, in any such case, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(c)                     Any successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee and to the Company, or to the receivers, trustees, assignees or court appointing it, as the case may be, an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations with respect to such series of such

 

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predecessor Trustee with like effect as if originally named as Trustee hereunder, and such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to pay over, and such successor Trustee shall be entitled to receive, all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee as Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a).  Nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee or of the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any such series then Outstanding, such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its said charges and disbursements, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee upon the trusts herein expressed all the rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and shall assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a); and, upon request of any such successor Trustee or the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations.

 

Section 11.07        Successor Trustee by Merger.  Any Person into which the Trustee or any successor to it in the trusts created by this Indenture shall be merged or converted, or any Person with which it or any successor to it shall be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee or any such successor to it shall be a party, or any Person to which the Trustee or any successor to it shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article.  In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any successor to such Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

Section 11.08        Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate.  Whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto delivered to the Trustee, and such Officer’s Certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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Section 11.09        Appointment of Authenticating Agent.  The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities, and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve.  Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.

 

Each Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Article XI, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Article XI, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article XI.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Article XI, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.09, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 11.09.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 11.09.

 

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Section 11.10        Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders.  Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities.  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to such communications.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

 

Section 12.01        Applicability of Article.  The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of all series issued pursuant to this Indenture, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

 

Section 12.02        Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.  This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series (if all series issued under this Indenture are not to be affected), shall, upon Company Order, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to receive, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable and except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of this Section 12.02), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, when,

 

(a)                     either:

 

(i)                        all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07 and (B) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 6.03(e)) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(ii)                    all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,

 

(A)              have become due and payable, or

 

(B)               will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(C)               if redeemable at the option of the Company (including, without limitation, by operation of any mandatory sinking fund), are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

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and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in trust for the purpose an amount in cash in the Currency in which such Securities are payable (subject to Section 12.08) sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity thereof or, in the case of Securities of such series which are to be called for redemption as contemplated by (C) above, the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and including any mandatory sinking fund payments as and when the same shall become due and payable;

 

(b)                    the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(c)                     the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 11.01, the provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.10, 6.02 and 6.03 and this Article XII, and, if the Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity (including, without limitation, pursuant to a mandatory sinking fund), the provisions of Article IV hereof, and, if the Securities of such series are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, the rights of the Holders of such Securities to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into other securities or property, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 12.07 and Section 6.03(e) shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

Section 12.03        Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government Obligations.  At the Company’s option, either (x) the Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below) from its obligations with respect to Securities of any series on the first day after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied or (y) the Company shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 6.04 and Section 10.02 with respect to Securities of any series (and, if so specified pursuant to Section 3.01, any other restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such series pursuant to Section 3.01) (“covenant defeasance”) upon the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth below:

 

(a)                     the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations (as defined below) that, through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient (without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest) to pay and

 

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discharge each installment of principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of and premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due and, if the Securities of such series are to be called for redemption as described in clause (d) below, to pay and discharge the Redemption Price on the Securities called for redemption on the applicable Redemption Date;

 

(b)                    no Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the borrowing of funds and the grant of any related liens to be applied to such deposit) and, solely in the case of Discharge pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 12.03, no Default with respect to the Securities of such series under either clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 shall have occurred at any time during the period ending on and including the 91st day after the date of such deposit;

 

(c)                     the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this Section and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised and, in the case of the Securities of such series being Discharged pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section 12.03, such Opinion of Counsel shall be based upon and accompanied by a ruling to that effect received by the Company from or published by the Internal Revenue Service;

 

(d)                   if the monies or U.S. Government Obligations or combination thereof, as the case may be, deposited under clause (a) above are sufficient to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series (including, without limitation, any mandatory sinking fund payment) or any portion thereof to be redeemed on a particular Redemption Date (including, without limitation, pursuant to a mandatory sinking fund), the Company shall have given to the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Securities on such date and shall have made arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of such redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company; and

 

(e)                     the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to such action under this Indenture have been complied with.

 

“Discharged” means, with respect to the Securities of any series, that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities of such series (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following, all of which shall survive such Discharge and remain in full force and effect with respect to the Securities of such series: (A) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (a) above, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) Sections 3.04, 3.05, 3.06, 3.07, 3.10, 6.02 and 6.03, (C) if the Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, the

 

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provisions of Article IV hereof, (D) if the Securities of such series are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, the rights of the Holders of such Securities to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into such other securities or property, (E) the provisions of this Article XII and (F) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States the timely of payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States, that, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

Section 12.04        Repayment to Company.  The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company (or to its designee) upon delivery of a Company Order any moneys or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 12.02 and 12.03 with respect to the Securities of any series and held by them that are in excess of the monies and/or U.S. Government Obligations that were required to effect the satisfaction and discharge, covenant defeasance or Discharge, as applicable, with respect to the Securities of such series, including any such moneys or obligations held by the Trustee under any escrow trust agreement entered into pursuant to Section 12.06.  The provisions of Section 6.03(e) shall apply to any money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article.

 

Section 12.05        Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.  The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal or interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

 

Section 12.06        Deposits to Be Held in Escrow.  Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 12.03 above shall be irrevocable (except to the extent provided in Sections 12.04 and 6.03(e)) and shall be made under the terms of an escrow trust agreement.  If any Outstanding Securities of a series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund requirement, the applicable escrow trust agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

 

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Section 12.07        Application of Trust Money.

 

(a)                     Neither the Trustee nor any other Paying Agent shall be required to pay interest on any moneys deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, except such as it shall agree with the Company in writing to pay thereon.

 

(b)                    Subject to Section 6.03(e), any monies and U.S. Government Obligations which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other Paying Agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any of the Securities shall be and are hereby assigned, transferred and set over to the Trustee or such other Paying Agent in trust for the respective Holders of the Securities for the purpose for which such moneys shall have been deposited, and such funds shall be applied by the Trustee or Paying Agent in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture to the payment of all sums due and to become due on such Securities in respect of principal and premium, if any, and interest; but such moneys need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective Affiliates may act as Paying Agent for any Securities in respect of which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to this Article XII.

 

Section 12.08        Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee under the foregoing provisions of this Article shall be as set forth in a Board Resolution, a Company Order or in one or more supplemental indentures hereto.

 

ARTICLE XIII

 

IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS

 

Section 13.01        No Personal Liability.  No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, or interest on, any Security or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof or of the Indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture and the Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, because of the incurring of the Indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants, promises or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities, or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director is, by the acceptance of the Securities and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities expressly waived and released.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 14.01        Without Consent of Securityholders.  Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any one or more of or all the following purposes:

 

(a)                     to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company, to be observed thereafter and during the period, if any, in such supplemental indenture or indentures expressed, and to add Events of Default, in each case for the protection or benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series as shall be identified therein), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

 

(b)                    to delete or modify any Events of Default with respect to any series of the Securities, the form and terms of which are being first established pursuant to such supplemental indenture as permitted in Section 3.01 (and, if any such Event of Default is applicable to fewer than all such series of the Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable), and to specify the rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders of such Securities in connection therewith;

 

(c)                     to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide, change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

 

(d)                   to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and as to which such supplemental indenture would apply;

 

(e)                     to evidence the succession of another entity to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company contained in the Securities of one or more series and in this Indenture or any supplemental indenture;

 

(f)                      to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 11.06(c);

 

(g)                    to secure any series of Securities;

 

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(h)                    to evidence any changes to this Indenture pursuant to Sections 11.05, 11.06 or 11.07 hereof as permitted by the terms thereof;

 

(i)                        to cure any ambiguity or inconsistency or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or to conform the terms hereof, as amended and supplemented, that are applicable to the Securities of any series to the description of the terms of such Securities in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to such Securities at the time of initial sale thereof;

 

(j)                        to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(k)                    to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to any series of Securities or to release guarantors from their guarantees of Securities in accordance with the terms of the applicable series of Securities;

 

(l)                        to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of the Holders of such Securities;

 

(m)                to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities;

 

(n)                    to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect;

 

(o)                    to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; or

 

(p)                    to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01, or to authorize the issuance of additional Securities of a series previously authorized or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.03, the Trustee is authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property or assets thereunder.

 

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 14.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding.

 

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Section 14.02        With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations.

 

(a)                     With the consent of the Holders (evidenced as provided in Article VIII) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture voting separately, the Company and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of each such series affected thereby,

 

(i)                        extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest thereon or any premium payable thereon, or extend the Stated Maturity of, or change the place of payment where, or the Currency in which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such Security is denominated or payable, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02, change the ranking of any Security or, in the case of any subordinated Security, the definition of Senior Indebtedness applicable thereto, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or materially adversely affect the economic terms of any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01; or

 

(ii)                    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain Defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or

 

(iii)                modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 7.06 or Section 6.06, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section and Section 6.06, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 11.06 and 14.01(f); or

 

(iv)                modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee.

 

(b)                    A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

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(c)                     It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 14.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

 

(d)                   The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of the Holders of each series of Securities entitled to give a written consent or waive compliance by the Company as authorized or permitted by this Section.  Such record date shall not be more than 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or waiver or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(e)                     Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 14.02, the Company shall mail a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Holders of Securities at their addresses as the same shall then appear in the Register of the Company.  Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

Section 14.03        Trustee Protected.  Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 16.01 each stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and such supplemental indenture is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (provided, however, that such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof) and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of consent of the Holders if the supplemental indenture is to be executed pursuant to Section 14.02, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of said supplemental indenture unless said supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into said supplemental indenture.  The Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel.

 

Section 14.04        Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture.  Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of all of the Securities or of the Securities of any series affected, as the case may be, shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 14.05        Notation on or Exchange of Securities.  Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in the form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company or the Trustee shall so

 

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determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for the Securities then Outstanding in equal aggregate principal amounts, and such exchange shall be made without cost to the Holders of the Securities.

 

Section 14.06        Conformity with TIA.  Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 15.01        Agreement to Subordinate. In the event a series of Securities is designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01, and except as otherwise provided in a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, the Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities of such series by his, her or its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Securities of such series is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.  In the event a series of Securities is not designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01(s), this Article XV shall have no effect upon the Securities.

 

Section 15.02        Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities. Subject to Section 15.01, upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):

 

(a)                     the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; and

 

(b)                    any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV shall be paid by the liquidation trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may

 

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have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and

 

(c)                     in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness or his, her or its representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instrument evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, as calculated by the Company, for application to payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

(d)                   Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness (to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to such holder have been applied to the payment of Senior Indebtedness) to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 15.06, shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereof and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

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Section 15.03        No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness. Subject to Section 15.01, no payment by the Company on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on the Securities shall be made at any time if: (i) a default on Senior Indebtedness exists that permits the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and (ii) the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or the Company has received notice of such default. The Company may resume payments on the Securities when full payment of amounts then due for principal (premium, if any), sinking funds and interest on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.03, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, but only to the extent that the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on such Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 15.04        Payments on Securities Permitted. Subject to Section 15.01, nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall (a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 15.02 and 15.03, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities or (b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys or assets deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any fact prohibiting the making of such payment from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee more than two Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment.

 

Section 15.05        Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination. Subject to Section 15.01, each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his, her or its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 15.06        Notices to Trustee. The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies or assets to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV.  Subject to Section 15.01, notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any fact which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys or assets to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless

 

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and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects conclusively to presume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys or assets may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys or assets the notice provided for in this Section 15.06, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys or assets and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

Section 15.07        Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to Section 15.01, the Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 7.05 or 11.01.

 

Section 15.08        Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness. Subject to Section 15.01, any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article XV or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

 

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Section 15.09        Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent. Subject to Section 15.01, upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.10        Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. Subject to Section 15.01, amounts and U.S. Government Obligations deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article XII and not, at the time of such deposit, prohibited to be deposited under Sections 15.02 or 15.03 shall not be subject to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.11        Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness.  With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.  The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.  The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company, or any other Person, moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE XVI

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section 16.01        Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.

 

(a)                     Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

(b)                    Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 6.05 of this Indenture) shall include (i) a statement that the Person giving such certificate or opinion has read such covenant

 

69



 

or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the view or opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed view or opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the view or opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

(c)                     Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion is based are erroneous.  Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

(d)                   Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel to the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based are erroneous.  Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent registered public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

(e)                     In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

(f)                      Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

Section 16.02        Trust Indenture Act Controls.  If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

 

70



 

Section 16.03        Notices to the Company and Trustee.  Any notice or demand authorized by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the Company or the Trustee shall be sufficiently made, given, furnished or filed for all purposes if it shall be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to:

 

(a)                     the Company, at Activision Blizzard, Inc., 3100 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, California 90405, Attention: Chief Legal Officer, or at such other address or email or facsimile number as may have been furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

(b)                    the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, Attention: Michael Tu, Account Manager.

 

Any such notice, demand or other document shall be in the English language.

 

Section 16.04        Notices to Securityholders; Waiver.  Any notice required or permitted to be given to Securityholders shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided),

 

(a)                     if to Holders, if given in writing by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such Holders at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Register of the Company; provided, that in the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder; or

 

(b)                    If a series of Securities has been issued in the form of one or more Global Securities through DTC as Depositary, notice may be provided with respect to such series of Securities by delivery of such notice to DTC for posting through its “Legal Notice Service” (LENS) or a successor system thereof.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance on such waiver.  In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail; neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.  In any case where notice to Holders is given by publication, any defect in any notice so published as to any particular Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is published in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.

 

Section 16.05        Legal Holiday.  Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity of any Security of any series shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Securities of that series, then payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or

 

71



 

Maturity and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day.

 

Section 16.06        Effects of Headings and Table of Contents.  The Table of Contents and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 16.07        Successors and Assigns.  All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind their respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of their permitted successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 16.08        Separability Clause.  In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 16.09        Benefits of Indenture.  Nothing in this Indenture expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any Person or corporation other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities any benefit or any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.

 

Section 16.10        Counterparts Originals.  The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

 

Section 16.11        Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.  This Indenture and the Securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of New York.

 

EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 16.12        U.S.A. Patriot Act.  The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the

 

72



 

Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

Section 16.13        Force Majeure.  In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

73



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.,

 

as Issuer

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Chris B. Walther

 

Name: Chris B. Walther

 

Title: Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Maddy Hughes

 

Name: Maddy Hughes

 

Title: Vice President

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.

 

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY TRUST COMPANY, INC. (“DTC”)TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., INC. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

 

TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

 

A-1



 

 

CUSIP No. _________

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.
__________NOTES DUE 20__

 

No. ___

$_________

 

As revised by the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto

 

Interest. Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to ___________ or registered assigns, the principal sum of ___ million dollars ($_________), as revised by the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto, on ________, 20__ and to pay interest thereon from _______, 20__ or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on _______ and _______ in each year, commencing _______, 20__ at the rate of ____% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.

 

Method of Payment.  The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest, which shall be _______ or _______, as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice thereof having been given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.  Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office in U.S. Dollars.

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Authentication.  Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

A-2



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

 

Dated: _______, 20__

 

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

Date of authentication: ___________

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

A-3



 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

 

Indenture.  This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of __________, 20__, [as supplemented by a ___ Supplemental Indenture dated _______, 20__] (as so supplemented, herein called the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $_________.

 

Optional Redemption.  The Securities of this series are subject to redemption at the Company’s option, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, at a Redemption Price equal to __________.

 

For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

 

__________

 

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each registered Holder of the Securities to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions of the Securities called for redemption.  If fewer than all of the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select, not more than __ days prior to the Redemption Date, the particular Securities or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding Securities not previously called by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate.

 

Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable by the Company prior to maturity [and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund].

 

Defaults and Remedies.  If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

 

Amendment, Modification and Waiver.  The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.

 

A-4



 

Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

Denominations, Transfer and Exchange.  The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the Registrar accompanied by a written request for transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Persons Deemed Owners.  Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Miscellaneous.  The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of law rules of said State.

 

All terms used in this Security and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

A-5



 

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

 

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange

 

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of
this Global Security

 

Amount of decrease
in Principal Amount
of this Global
Security

 

Principal Amount of
this Global Security
following each
decrease or increase

 

Signature of
authorized signatory
of Trustee

 

A-6


Exhibit 4.2

 

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

Dated as of May 26, 2017

 

Between

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

and

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee

 


2.600% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2022,

 

3.400% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

 

and

 

4.500% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2047

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

 

Supplemental

 

 

Indenture Section

310 (a)(1)

 

7.10

(a)(2)

 

7.10

(a)(3)

 

N.A.

(a)(4)

 

N.A.

(a)(5)

 

7.10

(b)

 

7.10

(c)

 

N.A.

311 (a)

 

7.11

(b)

 

7.11

(c)

 

N.A.

312 (a)

 

2.05

(b)

 

12.03

(c)

 

12.03

313 (a)

 

7.06

(b)(1)

 

N.A.

(b)(2)

 

7.06;7.07

(c)

 

7.06;12.02

(d)

 

7.06

314 (a)

 

12.05

(b)

 

N.A.

(c)(1)

 

12.04

(c)(2)

 

12.04

(c)(3)

 

N.A.

(d)

 

N.A.

(e)

 

12.05

(f)

 

N.A.

315 (a)

 

7.01

(b)

 

7.05;12.02

(c)

 

7.01

(d)

 

7.01

(e)

 

6.14

316 (a)(last sentence)

 

2.09

(a)(1)(A)

 

6.05

(a)(1)(B)

 

6.04

(a)(2)

 

N.A.

(b)

 

6.07

(c)

 

2.12;9.04

317 (a)(1)

 

6.08

(a)(2)

 

6.12

(b)

 

2.04

318 (a)

 

12.01

(b)

 

N.A.

(c)

 

12.01

 

N.A. means not applicable.

 

*  This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Supplemental Indenture.

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL APPLICATION

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Definitions

2

Section 1.02

Other Definitions

14

Section 1.03

Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

15

Section 1.04

Rules of Construction

15

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2

 

THE NOTES

 

 

 

Section 2.01

Form and Dating; Terms

16

Section 2.02

Execution and Authentication

17

Section 2.03

Registrar, Paying Agent and Depositary

17

Section 2.04

Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

17

Section 2.05

Holder Lists

18

Section 2.06

Transfer and Exchange

18

Section 2.07

Replacement Notes

22

Section 2.08

Outstanding Notes

22

Section 2.09

Treasury Notes

22

Section 2.10

Temporary Notes

23

Section 2.11

Cancellation

23

Section 2.12

Defaulted Interest

23

Section 2.13

CUSIP/ISIN Numbers

24

Section 2.14

Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities

24

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3

 

REDEMPTION

 

 

 

Section 3.01

Notices to Trustee

24

Section 3.02

Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased

24

Section 3.03

Notice of Redemption

25

Section 3.04

Effect of Notice of Redemption

26

Section 3.05

Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price

26

Section 3.06

Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part

26

Section 3.07

Optional Redemption

27

Section 3.08

Mandatory Redemption

27

 

ARTICLE 4

 

COVENANTS

 

 

 

Section 4.01

Payment of Notes

27

 

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Page

 

 

 

Section 4.02

Maintenance of Office or Agency

27

Section 4.03

Reports and Other Information

28

Section 4.04

Compliance Certificate

29

Section 4.05

Taxes

29

Section 4.06

[RESERVED]

29

Section 4.07

Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

29

Section 4.08

Liens

30

Section 4.09

Corporate Existence

30

Section 4.10

Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control

31

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5

 

SUCCESSORS

 

 

 

Section 5.01

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

33

Section 5.02

Successor Corporation Substituted

34

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

 

 

Section 6.01

Events of Default

34

Section 6.02

Acceleration

36

Section 6.03

Other Remedies

36

Section 6.04

Waiver of Defaults

36

Section 6.05

Control by Majority

37

Section 6.06

Limitation on Suits

37

Section 6.07

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment

37

Section 6.08

Collection Suit by Trustee

37

Section 6.09

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

38

Section 6.10

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

38

Section 6.11

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

38

Section 6.12

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

38

Section 6.13

Priorities

39

Section 6.14

Undertaking for Costs

39

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7

 

TRUSTEE

 

 

 

Section 7.01

Duties of Trustee

39

Section 7.02

Rights of Trustee

40

Section 7.03

Individual Rights of Trustee

41

Section 7.04

Trustee’s Disclaimer

42

Section 7.05

Notice of Defaults

42

Section 7.06

Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes

42

Section 7.07

Compensation and Indemnity

42

Section 7.08

Replacement of Trustee

43

Section 7.09

Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

44

Section 7.10

Eligibility; Disqualification

44

Section 7.11

Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer

44

 

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Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

 

 

Section 8.01

Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

45

Section 8.02

Legal Defeasance and Discharge

45

Section 8.03

Covenant Defeasance

45

Section 8.04

Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance

46

Section 8.05

Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions

47

Section 8.06

Repayment to Issuer

48

Section 8.07

Reinstatement

48

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9

 

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

 

 

Section 9.01

Without Consent of Holders of Notes

48

Section 9.02

With Consent of Holders of Notes

49

Section 9.03

Revocation and Effect of Consents

51

Section 9.04

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

51

Section 9.05

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

51

Section 9.06

Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

51

Section 9.07

Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount

52

 

ARTICLE 10

 

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE 11

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

 

 

Section 11.01

Satisfaction and Discharge

52

Section 11.02

Application of Trust Money

53

 

ARTICLE 12

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

Section 12.01

Trust Indenture Act Controls

54

Section 12.02

Notices

54

Section 12.03

Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes

55

Section 12.04

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

55

Section 12.05

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

55

Section 12.06

Rules by Trustee and Agents

56

Section 12.07

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders

56

Section 12.08

Governing Law

56

Section 12.09

Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction

56

Section 12.10

Force Majeure

56

Section 12.11

No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

57

 

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Page

 

 

 

Section 12.12

Successors

57

Section 12.13

Severability

57

Section 12.14

Counterpart Originals

57

Section 12.15

Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

57

Section 12.16

Qualification of Supplemental Indenture

57

Section 12.17

U.S.A. Patriot Act

57

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A-1

Form of 2022 Note

 

Exhibit A-2

Form of 2027 Note

 

Exhibit A-3

Form of 2047 Note

 

 

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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of May 26, 2017, between Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee.

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer and the Trustee entered into that certain Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”), pursuant to which the Issuer may from time to time issue its debt securities in the form of one or more series of unsecured debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (collectively, the “Securities”); and

 

WHEREAS, Section 14.01(p) of the Base Indenture provides that the Issuer and the Trustee may, without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, enter into a supplemental indenture to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the creation of an issue of (i) 2.600% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Initial 2022 Notes”),(ii) 3.400% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Initial 2027 Notes”) and (iii) 4.500% Senior Notes due 2047 (the “Initial 2047 Notes”), in each case as they may be issued from time to time under this Supplemental Indenture, and in connection therewith, there being no Notes Outstanding at the time of execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, the Issuer has duly determined to make, execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to set forth the terms and provisions of the Notes as required by the Base Indenture and to modify, amend, supplement and delete certain provisions of the Base Indenture in respect of the Notes; and

 

WHEREAS, the Form of 2022 Note, the Form of 2027 Note, the Form of 2047 Note, the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be borne by each Note, the Form of Option of Holder to Elect Purchase and the Form of Assignment to be borne by the Notes are to be substantially in the forms hereinafter provided for; and

 

WHEREAS, this Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent, when the Notes have been so executed, authenticated and delivered, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer, have been done; and

 

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement according to its terms, and a valid and legally binding amendment of, and supplement to, the Base Indenture, have been done.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all such Holders, as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL APPLICATION

 



 

This Supplemental Indenture is a supplemental indenture within the meaning of the Base Indenture and constitutes a part of the Base Indenture (the provisions of which, as modified by this Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to each series of Notes in respect of such series of Notes, and the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.  This Supplemental Indenture, however, shall not modify, amend or otherwise affect the Base Indenture insofar as it relates to any other series of Securities or modify, amend or otherwise affect in any manner the terms and conditions of the Securities of any other series.  In the event of any inconsistency between the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture shall govern.

 

All capitalized terms contained in this Supplemental Indenture shall, except as specifically provided for herein and except as the context may otherwise require, have the meanings given to such terms in the Base Indenture.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Section 1.01                  Definitions.

 

2022 Notes” means the Initial 2022 Notes and any Additional 2022 Notes.

 

2027 Notes” means the Initial 2027 Notes and any Additional 2027 Notes.

 

2047 Notes” means the Initial 2047 Notes and any Additional 2047 Notes.

 

Additional 2022 Notes” means additional 2022 Notes issued from time to time under the Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.

 

Additional 2027 Notes” means additional 2027 Notes issued from time to time under the Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.

 

Additional 2047 Notes” means additional 2047 Notes issued from time to time under the Indenture in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.

 

Additional Notes” means Additional 2022 Notes, Additional 2027 Notes and Additional 2047 Notes.

 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.  For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

 

Agent” means any Registrar or Paying Agent.

 

Applicable Premium” means:

 

(1)        with respect to any 2022 Note on any Redemption Date, the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such 2022 Note on such Redemption Date, plus (B) all required interest payments due on such 2022 Note through May 15, 2022 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption

 

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Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the applicable Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 15 basis points; over (ii) the principal amount of such 2022 Note;

 

(2)        with respect to any 2027 Note on any Redemption Date, the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such 2027 Note on such Redemption Date, plus (B) all required interest payments due on such 2027 Note through March 15, 2027 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the applicable Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 20 basis points; over (ii) the principal amount of such 2027 Note; and

 

(3)        with respect to any 2047 Note on any Redemption Date, the excess, if any, of (i) the present value at such Redemption Date of (A) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such 2047 Note on such Redemption Date, plus (B) all required interest payments due on such 2047 Note through December 15, 2046 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the applicable Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 25 basis points; over (ii) the principal amount of such 2047 Note.

 

The Issuer shall calculate the Applicable Premium.

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, Euroclear and/or Clearstream that apply to such transfer or exchange.

 

Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Base Indenture” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means the occurrence of a Change of Control that is accompanied or followed by a downgrade of the Notes within the Ratings Decline Period by each of the Rating Agencies to a rating that is not an Investment Grade Rating. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, no Change of Control Repurchase Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

 

Business Day” means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

 

Capital Stock” means:

 

(1)        in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

 

(2)        in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3)        in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

(4)        any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

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Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(1)        the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person;

 

(2)        the Issuer becomes aware of (by way of a report or any other filing pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, proxy, vote, written notice or otherwise) the acquisition by any Person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), including any group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act or any successor provision), in a single transaction or in a related series of transactions, by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination or purchase, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor provision) of a majority or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Issuer; or

 

(3)        the approval of any plan or proposal for the winding up or liquidation of the Issuer.

 

For purposes of this definition, any direct or indirect holding company of the Issuer shall not itself be considered a “Person” or “group” for purposes of clause (2) above; provided that no “Person” or “group” beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, more than a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such holding company.

 

Change of Control Repurchase Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

 

Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, Société Anonyme.

 

Consolidated Total Assetsmeans, as of any date of determination, the total assets of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as shown on or reflected in the Issuer’s most recent internal consolidated balance sheet (including, without duplication, the notes related thereto) prepared in accordance with GAAP, provided that Consolidated Total Assets shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to any investments, acquisitions or dispositions occurring subsequent to the date of such balance sheet, as well as any such transaction giving rise to the need to calculate Consolidated Total Assets.

 

Contingent Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation of such Person guaranteeing any leases, dividends or other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness (“primary obligations”) of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, whether or not contingent:

 

(1)        to purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security therefor,

 

(2)        to advance or supply funds:

 

(a)        for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation, or

 

(b)        to maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, or

 

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(3)        to purchase property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.

 

Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” shall be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 12.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Holders and the Issuer. With respect to registration for transfer or exchange, presentation at maturity or for redemptions, such office shall also mean the office or agency of the Trustee located at the date hereof at Corporate Trust Operations, MAC N9300-070, 600 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415.

 

Custodian” means the Trustee when serving as custodian for the Depositary with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

 

Default” means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.

 

Definitive 2022 Note” means a certificated 2022 Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, except that such 2022 Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Definitive 2027 Note” means a certificated 2027 Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, except that such 2027 Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Definitive 2047 Note” means a certificated 2047 Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.06(c) hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 hereto, except that such 2047 Note shall not bear the Global Note Legend and shall not have the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto.

 

Definitive Notes” means, collectively, Definitive 2022 Notes, Definitive 2027 Notes and Definitive 2047 Notes.

 

Depositary” means, with respect to the Notes issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.03 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Notes, and any and all successors thereto appointed as Depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock, but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock.

 

Euroclear” means Euroclear S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear system.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States which are in effect on the Issue Date.

 

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Global Note Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.06(f) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under the Indenture.

 

Global Notes” means, individually and collectively, each of the Global Notes, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, A-2 or A-3 hereto, as the case may be, issued in accordance with Section 2.01 hereof.

 

Government Securities” means securities that are:

 

(1)        direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America for the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged; or

 

(2)        obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America,

 

which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any such Government Securities or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Government Securities held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Securities or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Government Securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

 

Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, commodity swap agreement, commodity cap agreement, commodity collar agreement, foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or similar agreement providing for the transfer or mitigation of interest rate or currency risks either generally or under specific contingencies.

 

Holder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

 

Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, if and to the extent any such indebtedness would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, Indebtedness shall be deemed not to include (a) Contingent Obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business or (b) obligations under or in respect of Receivables Facilities.

 

Indenture” means the Base Indenture as supplemented and modified by this Supplemental Indenture, as originally executed and as either may be amended or supplemented from time to time with respect to the Notes.

 

Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Note through a Participant.

 

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Initial 2022 Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Initial 2027 Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Initial 2047 Notes” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Initial Notes” means the Initial 2022 Notes, the Initial 2027 Notes and the Initial 2047 Notes.

 

Interest Payment Date” means June 15 and December 15 of each year to stated maturity.

 

Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other Rating Agency, without regard to outlook.

 

Issue Date” means May 26, 2017.

 

Issuer” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto, until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, and thereafter “Issuer” shall mean such successor Person.

 

Issuer Order” means a written request or order signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banking institutions or the place of payment are not required to be open in the State of New York.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien (statutory or otherwise), pledge, hypothecation, charge, security interest, preference, priority or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction; provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

Notes” means the Initial 2022 Notes, the Initial 2027 Notes and the Initial 2047 Notes and more particularly means any Note authenticated and delivered under the Indenture.  For all purposes of the Indenture, the term “Notes” shall also include any Additional 2022 Notes, Additional 2027 Notes and Additional 2047 Notes that may be issued under the Indenture.  The 2022 Notes, 2027 Notes and the 2047 Notes are separate series of Notes, but shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture, except as set forth herein.  For purposes of the Indenture, all references to Notes to be issued or authenticated upon transfer, replacement or exchange shall be deemed to refer to Notes of the applicable series.

 

Obligations” means any principal (including any accretion), interest (including any interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable state, federal or foreign law), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements

 

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(including reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and banker’s acceptances), damages and other liabilities, and guarantees of payment of such principal (including any accretion), interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities, payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.

 

Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Legal Officer, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretaries of the Issuer.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Issuer by an Officer of the Issuer that meets the requirements set forth in this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer or the Trustee.

 

Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, a Person who has an account with the Depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, respectively (and, with respect to DTC, shall include Euroclear and Clearstream).

 

Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1)        pledges, deposits or security by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, employers’ health tax, and other social security laws or similar legislation or other insurance related obligations (including, but  not limited to, in respect of deductibles, self-insured retention amounts and premiums and adjustments thereto) or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or U.S. government bonds to secure surety, stay, customs or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (including letters of credit issued in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof and including those to secure health, safety and environmental obligations), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2)        Liens imposed by law or regulation, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3)        Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet overdue for a period of more than 30 days or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of such Person in accordance with GAAP;

 

(4)        Liens in favor of issuers of performance, surety bonds or bid, indemnity, warranty, release, appeal or similar bonds or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of

 

-8-



 

credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;

 

(5)        minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions (including, without limitation, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances) as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental, to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

 

(6)        Liens securing Indebtedness incurred to finance the construction, acquisition (including acquisition through merger or consolidation), purchase or lease of, or repairs, improvements or additions to any property, plant or equipment of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Lien shall not extend to any other property owned by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries at the time the Lien is incurred (other than property affixed or appurtenant thereto), and the Indebtedness (other than any interest thereon) secured by the Lien shall not be incurred more than 18 months after the later of the acquisition, completion of construction, repair, improvement, addition or commencement of full operation of the property subject to the Lien;

 

(7)        Liens existing on the Issue Date;

 

(8)        Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary;

 

(9)        Liens on property at the time the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however, that such Liens are not created or incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition, merger or consolidation;

 

(10)      Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Issuer or another Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(11)      Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as, in the case of Hedging Obligations related to interest, the related Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

 

(12)      Liens on specific items of inventory of other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or trade letters of credit  issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(13)      leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses (including of intellectual property) granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and do not secure any Indebtedness;

 

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(14)      Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statute) financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(15)      Liens in favor of the Issuer;

 

(16)      Liens on equipment of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)      Liens on accounts receivable and related assets incurred in connection with a Receivables Facility;

 

(18)      Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancing, refunding, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in clause (B) of the second paragraph under Section 4.08 and in the foregoing clauses (7), (8), (9) and (17); provided, however, that (a) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property), and (b) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (7), (8), (9) and (17) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture, and (ii) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, and accrued and unpaid interest related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement;

 

(19)      deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure liability to insurance carriers;

 

(20)      Liens on property or assets incurred in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 4.07;

 

(21)      Liens securing judgments for the payment of money so long as such Liens are adequately bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings that may have been duly initiated for the review of such judgment have not been finally terminated or the period within which such proceedings may be initiated has not expired;

 

(22)      Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the ordinary course of business;

 

(23)      Liens (i) of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code or any comparable or successor provision on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) in favor of banking or other financial institutions arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

 

(24)      Liens deemed to exist in connection with investments in repurchase agreements; provided that such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those that are the subject of such repurchase agreement;

 

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(25)         Liens encumbering reasonable customary initial deposits and margin deposits and similar Liens attaching to commodity trading accounts or other brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(26)         Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (i) relating to the establishment of depository relations with banks not given in connection with the issuance of Indebtedness, (ii) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

 

(27)         Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries that secure Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiaries;

 

(28)         any encumbrance or restriction (including put and call arrangements) with respect to capital stock of any joint venture or similar arrangement pursuant to any joint venture or similar agreement; and

 

(29)         Liens on property or assets used to defease or to irrevocably satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is not prohibited by the Indenture.

 

For purposes of this definition, the term “Indebtedness” shall be deemed to include interest on and the costs in respect of such Indebtedness.

 

Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

 

Prospectus” means that certain Prospectus Supplement, dated May 23, 2017, together with the base prospectus, dated September 7, 2016, which forms part of the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-213520), relating to the issuance and sale of the Initial Notes.

 

Rating Agencies” means Moody’s and S&P or if Moody’s or S&P or both shall not make a rating on the Notes publicly available, a nationally recognized statistical rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected by the Issuer which shall be substituted for Moody’s or S&P or both, as the case may be.

 

Ratings Decline Period” means the period commencing on the earlier of (a) the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or (b) the public announcement by the Issuer of its intention to effect a Change of Control, and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the applicable series of Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible rating downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies on such 60th day, such extension to last with respect to each such Rating Agency until the date on which such Rating Agency considering such possible downgrade either (x) rates the applicable series of Notes below Investment Grade or (y) publicly announces that it is no longer considering such Notes for possible downgrade, provided that no such extension shall occur if on such 60th day the applicable series of Notes is rated Investment Grade by at least one of such Rating Agencies in question and is not subject to review for possible downgrade by such Rating Agency).

 

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Receivables Facility” means any of one or more receivables financing facilities as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated or refunded from time to time, the Obligations of which are non-recourse (except for customary representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) pursuant to which the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries sells its accounts receivable to either (a) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) a Receivables Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Receivables Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary formed for the purpose of, and that solely engages only in one or more Receivables Facilities and other activities reasonably related thereto.

 

Record Date” for the interest payable on any applicable Interest Payment Date means June 1 or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day) next preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 

Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such Person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture.

 

Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, each direct and indirect Subsidiary of the Issuer that is not then an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Unrestricted Subsidiary ceasing to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall be included in the definition of “Restricted Subsidiary.”

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.

 

Sale and Lease-Back Transaction” means any arrangement providing for the leasing by the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of any real or tangible personal property, which property has been or is to be sold or transferred for value by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary to a third Person in contemplation of such leasing.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.

 

Senior Credit Facilities” means the credit facility under the credit agreement dated as of October 11, 2013 by and among the Issuer, the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders party thereto in their capacities as lenders thereunder and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02(w)(1) or (2) of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act, as such regulation is in effect on the Issue Date.

 

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Subordinated Indebtedness” means, any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is by its terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1)           any corporation, association, or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and

 

(2)           any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which

 

(x)           more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership or otherwise, and

 

(y)           such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

 

Treasury Rate” means, as of any redemption date, the weekly average rounded to the nearest 1/100th of a percentage point (for the most recently completed week for which such information is available as of the date that is two Business Days prior to the redemption date) of the yield to maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 with respect to each applicable day during such week (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published (or the relevant information no longer available thereon), any publicly available source of similar market data)) nearly equal to the period from the redemption date to May 15, 2022 (in the case of 2022 Notes), March 15, 2027 (in the case of 2027 Notes) or December 15, 2046 (in the case of 2047 Notes); provided, however, that if the period from the redemption date to May 15, 2022 (in the case of 2022 Notes), March 15, 2027 (in the case of 2027 Notes) or December 15, 2046 (in the case of 2047 Notes) is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

 

Trust Indenture Act means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).

 

Trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Supplemental Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

 

(1)           any Subsidiary of the Issuer which at the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the Issuer, as provided below); and

 

(2)           any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

 

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The Issuer may designate any Subsidiary of the Issuer (including any existing Subsidiary and any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on, any property of, the Issuer or any Subsidiary of the Issuer (other than solely any Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated); provided that:

 

(1)           any Unrestricted Subsidiary must be an entity of which the Equity Interests entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that may be cast by all Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or Persons performing a similar function are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Issuer; and

 

(2)           each of:

 

(a)           the Subsidiary to be so designated; and

 

(b)           its Subsidiaries

 

has not at the time of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Any such designation by the Issuer shall be notified by the Issuer to the Trustee by promptly delivering to the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the board of directors of the Issuer or any committee thereof giving effect to such designation and an Officer’s Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

 

Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the board of directors of such Person.

 

Section 1.02                             Other Definitions.

 

Term

 

 

Defined in
Section

 

“Applicable Premium Deficit”

 

8.04

“Authentication Order”

 

2.02

“Change of Control Offer”

 

4.10

“Change of Control Payment”

 

4.10

“Change of Control Payment Date”

 

4.10

“Covenant Defeasance”

 

8.03

“DTC”

 

2.03

“Event of Default”

 

6.01

“Legal Defeasance”

 

8.02

“Note Register”

 

2.03

“Paying Agent”

 

2.03

“Redemption Date”

 

3.07

“Registrar”

 

2.03

“Second Change of Control Payment Date”

 

4.10

“Successor Company”

 

5.01

“Successor Person”

 

5.01

 

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Section 1.03                             Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.

 

Whenever this Supplemental Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

The following Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Supplemental Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“indenture securities” means the Notes;

 

“indenture security holder” means a Holder of a Note;

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Supplemental Indenture;

 

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

 

“obligor” on the Notes means the Issuer and any successor obligor upon the Notes.

 

All other terms used in this Supplemental Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the Trust Indenture Act have the meanings so assigned to them.

 

Section 1.04                             Rules of Construction.

 

Unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a)           a term has the meaning assigned to it;

 

(b)           an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

 

(c)           “or” is not exclusive;

 

(d)           words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;

 

(e)           “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;

 

(f)            provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

(g)           references to sections of, or rules under, the Securities Act shall be deemed to include substitute, replacement or successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time;

 

(h)           unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article,” “Section” or “clause” refers to an Article, Section or clause, as the case may be, of this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(i)            the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not any particular Article, Section, clause or other subdivision.

 

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ARTICLE 2

 

THE NOTES

 

Article II of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 2.

 

Section 2.01                             Form and Dating; Terms.

 

(a)           General.  The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (in the case of the 2022 Notes), Exhibit A-2 (in the case of the 2027 Notes) hereto and Exhibit A-3 (in the case of the 2047 Notes).  The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage.  Each Note shall be dated the date of the Trustee’s authentication.  The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000.

 

(b)           Global Notes.  Notes issued in global form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (in the case of the 2022 Notes), Exhibit A-2 (in the case of the 2027 Notes) and Exhibit A-3 (in the case of the 2047 Notes) attached hereto (including the Global Note Legend thereon and the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Notes issued in definitive form shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 (in the case of the 2022 Notes), Exhibit A-2 (in the case of the 2027 Notes) and Exhibit A-3 (in the case of the 2047 Notes) attached hereto (but without the Global Note Legend thereon and without the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto).  Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified in the “Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note” attached thereto and each shall provide that it shall represent up to the aggregate principal amount of Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as applicable, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.  Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee as Custodian, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.06 hereof.

 

(c)           [Reserved]

 

(d)           Terms.  The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is unlimited.

 

The terms and provisions contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Indenture and the Issuer and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.  However, to the extent any provision of any Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

The Notes shall be subject to repurchase by the Issuer pursuant to a Change of Control Offer as provided in Section 4.10 hereof.  The Notes shall not be redeemable, other than as provided in Article 3.

 

Additional Notes ranking pari passu with the Initial Notes may be created and issued from time to time by the Issuer without notice to or consent of the Holders and shall be consolidated with and form a single class with the Initial Notes and shall have the same terms as to status, redemption or

 

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otherwise as the Initial Notes.  Any Additional Notes shall be issued with the benefit of an indenture supplemental to the Indenture.

 

Section 2.02                             Execution and Authentication.

 

At least one Officer of the Issuer shall execute the Notes by manual or facsimile signature.

 

If an Officer whose signature is on a Note no longer holds that office at the time a Note is authenticated, the Note shall nevertheless be valid.

 

A Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, Exhibit A-2 or Exhibit A-3 attached hereto, as the case may be, by the manual signature of the Trustee.  The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Note has been duly authenticated and delivered under the Indenture.

 

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Issuer Order (an “Authentication Order”), authenticate and deliver (i) the Initial 2022 Notes, (ii) the Initial 2027 Notes and (iii) the Initial 2047 Notes.  In addition, at any time, from time to time, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Authentication Order authenticate and deliver any Additional Notes for an aggregate principal amount specified in such Authentication Order for such Additional Notes issued hereunder.

 

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Issuer to authenticate Notes.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in the Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Issuer.

 

Section 2.03                             Registrar, Paying Agent and Depositary.

 

The Issuer shall maintain (i) an office or agency where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and (ii) an office or agency in the continental United States where Notes may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”).  The Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes (“Note Register”) and of their transfer and exchange.  The Issuer may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents.  The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar.  The Issuer shall maintain a registrar in the continental United States.  The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agents.  The Issuer initially appoints the Trustee as (i) Registrar and Paying Agent and (ii) the Custodian with respect to the Global Notes.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to any Holder.  The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to the Indenture.  If the Issuer fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such.  The Issuer or any of its respective Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.  All Agents other than the Trustee appointed under the Indenture shall be appointed pursuant to agency agreements among the Issuer, the Trustee and the Agent, as applicable.

 

The Issuer initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Notes.

 

Section 2.04                             Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

 

The Issuer shall require the Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying

 

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Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Issuer in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Issuer at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries) shall have no further liability for the money.  If the Issuer or one of its Subsidiaries acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.  Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Issuer, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 2.05                             Holder Lists.

 

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a).  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee at least five Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Notes and the Issuer shall otherwise comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 312(a).

 

Section 2.06                             Transfer and Exchange.

 

(a)           Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes.  Except as otherwise set forth in this Section 2.06, a Global Note may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor thereto or a nominee of such successor.  A beneficial interest in a Global Note shall be exchangeable for a Definitive Note of the same series if (A) the Depositary (x) notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, a qualified successor Depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days or (B) in the case of any Global Note, there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note.  Upon the occurrence of any of the preceding events in (A) or (B) above, Definitive Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note of the same series or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).  Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Sections 2.07 and 2.10 hereof.  Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note of the same series or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.06 or Section 2.07 or 2.10 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Note, except for Definitive Notes issued subsequent to any of the preceding events in (A) or (B) above and pursuant to Section 2.06(c) hereof.  A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 2.06(a); provided, however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Section 2.06(b) or (c) hereof.

 

(b)           Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes.  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture and the Applicable Procedures.  Beneficial interests in Global Notes shall be transferred or exchanged only for beneficial interests in Global Notes pursuant to this clause (b).  Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (i) or (ii) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

 

(i)            Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note.  Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial

 

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interest in a Global Note.  No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfer described in this Section 2.06(b)(i).

 

(ii)     All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes.  In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 2.06(b)(i) hereof, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either (A) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note of the same series in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase or (B) (1) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Note of the same series in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (2) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Note shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in (1) above.  Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof.

 

(c)           Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive NotesIf any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon the occurrence of any of the events in subsection (A) or (B) of Section 2.06(a) hereof and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.06(b)(ii) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 2.06(h) hereof, and the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the applicable principal amount.  Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 2.06(c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant.  The Trustee shall mail such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

 

(d)           Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests.  A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Note to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time.  Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.

 

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to this Section 2.06(d) at a time when a Global Note has not yet been issued, the Issuer shall issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof, the Trustee shall authenticate one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

(e)           Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes.  Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 2.06(e), the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes.  Definitive Notes shall be exchanged only for Definitive Notes pursuant to this Section 2.06(e).  Prior to such registration of transfer

 

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or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing.  In addition, the requesting Holder shall provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 2.06(e).

 

(f)            LegendsEach Global Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(h) OF THE INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.06(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.11 OF THE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE ISSUER.  UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE ISSUER OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

 

(g)           Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes.  At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note shall be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

 

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(h)                              General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.

 

(i)               To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.02 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.

 

(ii)           No service charge shall be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 2.07, 2.10, 3.06, 3.09, 4.10 and 9.05 hereof).

 

(iii)       Neither the Registrar nor the Issuer shall be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

(iv)       All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes shall be the valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under the Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(v)           The Issuer shall not be required (A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection, (B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part or (C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a Record Date and the next succeeding Interest Payment Date.

 

(vi)       Prior to due presentment at maturity (with respect to certificated notes) or for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Issuer may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Issuer shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

(vii)   Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note at the office or agency of the Issuer designated pursuant to Section 4.02 hereof, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more replacement Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount.

 

(viii)  At the option of the Holder, Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denomination or denominations of a like aggregate principal amount upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at such office or agency.  Whenever any Global Notes or Definitive Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and mail, the replacement Global Notes and Definitive Notes which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.02 hereof.

 

(ix)       All certifications, orders, instructions and other documents required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.06 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile or electronic PDF transmission.

 

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(x)           The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under the Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among Depositary Participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Notes) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, the Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

(xi)       Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

Section 2.07                  Replacement Notes.

 

If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee, the Registrar or the Issuer and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Note, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate a replacement Note if the Trustee’s requirements are met.  An indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Issuer to protect the Issuer, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Note is replaced.  The Issuer may charge for its expenses (including the expenses of the Trustee) in replacing a Note.

 

Every replacement Note is a contractual obligation of the Issuer and shall be entitled to all of the benefits of the Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

Section 2.08                  Outstanding Notes.

 

The Notes outstanding at any time are all the Notes authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Note effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.08 as not outstanding.  Except as set forth in Section 2.09 hereof, a Note does not cease to be outstanding because the Issuer or an Affiliate of the Issuer holds the Note.

 

If a Note is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Note is held by a bona fide purchaser.

 

If the principal amount of any Note is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.

 

If the Paying Agent (other than the Issuer, a Subsidiary of the Issuer or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Notes payable on that date, then on and after that date such Notes shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding and shall cease to accrue interest.

 

Section 2.09                  Treasury Notes.

 

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Notes owned by the Issuer, or by any Affiliate of the Issuer, shall be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Notes that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.  Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith shall not be disregarded if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the

 

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Trustee the pledgee’s right to deliver any such direction, waiver or consent with respect to the Notes and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Issuer or of such other obligor.

 

Section 2.10                  Temporary Notes.

 

Until certificates representing Notes are ready for delivery, the Issuer may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, shall authenticate temporary Notes.  Temporary Notes shall be substantially in the form of certificated Notes but may have variations that the Issuer consider appropriate for temporary Notes and as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.  Without unreasonable delay, the Issuer shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Notes in exchange for temporary Notes.

 

Holders and beneficial holders, as the case may be, of temporary Notes shall be entitled to all of the benefits accorded to Holders, or beneficial holders, respectively, of Notes under the Indenture.

 

Section 2.11                  Cancellation.

 

The Issuer at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment.  The Trustee or, at the direction of the Trustee, the Registrar or the Paying Agent and no one else shall cancel all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Notes (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act in accordance with its customary procedures).  The Issuer may not issue new Notes to replace Notes that they have paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

Section 2.12                  Defaulted Interest.

 

If the Issuer defaults in a payment of interest on a series of Notes, it shall pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest to the Persons who are Holders of Notes of such series on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.  The Issuer shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Issuer shall deposit with the Trustee, an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such defaulted interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such defaulted interest as provided in this Section 2.12.  The Trustee shall fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date shall be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer of such special record date.  At least 15 days before the special record date, the Issuer (or, upon the written request of the Issuer or the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Issuer) shall mail or cause to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid (or sent electronically in the case of notes held in book entry form), to each Holder a notice at his or her address as it appears in the Note Register that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 and for greater certainty, each Note delivered under the Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

 

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Section 2.13                  CUSIP/ISIN Numbers.

 

The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use CUSIP or ISIN numbers, as applicable, (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP or ISIN numbers, as applicable, in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.  The Issuer will as promptly as practicable notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN Code numbers, as applicable.

 

Section 2.14                  Calculation of Principal Amount of Securities.

 

The aggregate principal amount of the Notes, at any date of determination, shall be the sum of (1) the principal amount of the 2022 Notes at such date of determination plus (2) the principal amount of the 2027 Notes at such date of determination plus (3) the principal amount of the 2047 Notes at such date of determination.  With respect to any matter requiring consent, waiver, approval or other action of the Holders of a specified percentage of the principal amount of all the Notes (and not solely the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes as provided for in the proviso to the second sentence of Section 9.02), such percentage shall be calculated, on the relevant date of determination, by dividing (a) the principal amount, as of such date of determination, of Notes, the Holders of which have so consented by (b) the aggregate principal amount, as of such date of determination, of the Notes then outstanding, in each case, as determined in accordance with the preceding sentence, Section 2.08 and Section 2.09 of this Supplemental Indenture.  Any such calculation made pursuant to this Section 2.14 shall be made by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate.

 

ARTICLE 3

 

REDEMPTION

 

Article IV of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 3.

 

Section 3.01                  Notices to Trustee.

 

If the Issuer elects to redeem Notes pursuant to Section 3.07 hereof, they shall furnish to the Trustee, at least 5 Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be mailed or caused to be mailed (or sent electronically in the case of notes held in book entry form) to the applicable Holders pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth (i) the paragraph or subparagraph of such Note and/or Section of this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (ii) the redemption date, (iii) the principal amount of the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes, as the case may be, to be redeemed and (iv) the redemption price.

 

Section 3.02                  Selection of Notes to Be Redeemed or Purchased.

 

If less than all of the 2022 Notes, 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes, as the case may be, are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee, shall select the Notes to be redeemed or purchased (a) if the Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Notes are listed or (b)  by lot or by such other similar method in accordance with the procedures of DTC so that only Notes in denominations

 

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of $2,000, or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000, shall be purchased.  In the event of partial redemption or purchase by lot, the particular Notes to be redeemed or purchased shall be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee from the outstanding Notes not previously called for redemption or purchase.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Notes selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Note selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased.  Notes and portions of Notes selected shall be in amounts of $2,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; no Notes of $2,000 or less can be redeemed in part, except that if all of the Notes of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Notes held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased.  Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Supplemental Indenture that apply to Notes called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Notes called for redemption or purchase.

 

Section 3.03                  Notice of Redemption.

 

Subject to Section 3.09 hereof, the Issuer shall mail or cause to be mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or electronically or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, notices of redemption at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at such Holder’s registered address, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 hereof.

 

The notice shall identify the Notes (including the CUSIP or ISIN number) to be redeemed and shall state:

 

(a)                               the redemption date;

 

(b)                              the redemption price;

 

(c)                               if any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount of that Note that is to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Note, a new Note or Notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Note representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed will be issued in the name of the Holder of the Notes upon cancellation of the original Note;

 

(d)                              the name and address of the Paying Agent;

 

(e)                               that Notes called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

 

(f)                                that, unless the Issuer default in making such redemption payment, interest on Notes called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

 

(g)                               the paragraph or subparagraph of the Notes and/or Section of this Supplemental Indenture pursuant to which the Notes called for redemption are being redeemed;

 

(h)                              that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP or ISIN number, as applicable, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Notes; and

 

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(i)                                  any condition to such redemption as provided for in Paragraph 5(c) of the applicable Note.

 

The Issuer shall provide written notice to the Trustee prior to the close of business two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date if any such redemption has been rescinded or delayed, and upon receipt the Trustee shall provide such notice to each Holder of the Notes in the same manner in which the notice of redemption was given.

 

At the Issuer’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Issuer’s names and at their expense; provided that the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee, at least 5 Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be sent to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

Section 3.04                  Effect of Notice of Redemption.

 

Once notice of redemption is sent in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Notes called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price (except as provided for in Paragraph 5(c) of the applicable Note).  The notice, if mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to give such notice by mail (or electronically) or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Note designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.  Subject to Section 3.05 hereof, on and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on Notes or portions of Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 3.05                  Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.

 

Prior to 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the redemption or purchase date, the Issuer shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be redeemed or purchased on that date.  The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Issuer any money deposited with the Paying Agent by the Issuer in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Notes to be redeemed or purchased.

 

If the Issuer complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest shall cease to accrue on the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes, as applicable, or the portions of 2022 Notes, 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes, as applicable called for redemption or purchase.  If a Note is redeemed or purchased on or after a Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Note was registered at the close of business on such Record Date.  If any Note called for redemption or purchase shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Issuer to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest accrued to the redemption or purchase date not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Notes and in Section 4.01 hereof.

 

Section 3.06                  Notes Redeemed or Purchased in Part.

 

Upon surrender of a Note that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Issuer shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Issuer a new Note equal in principal

 

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amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered representing the same indebtedness to the extent not redeemed or purchased; provided that each new Note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  It is understood that, notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, only an Authentication Order and not an Opinion of Counsel or Officer’s Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Note.

 

Section 3.07                  Optional Redemption.

 

The Notes may be redeemed, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Paragraph 5 of the form of Notes set forth in Exhibit A-1, Exhibit A-2 and Exhibit A-3 hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this Supplemental Indenture, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.

 

Section 3.08                  Mandatory Redemption.

 

The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

 

ARTICLE 4

 

COVENANTS

 

Article VI of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 4.

 

Section 4.01                  Payment of Notes.

 

The Issuer shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes.  Principal, premium, if any, and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Issuer or a Subsidiary, holds as of 12:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the due date money deposited by the Issuer in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.

 

The Issuer shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal at the rate equal to the then applicable interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02                  Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Issuer shall maintain the office or agency required under Section 2.03 where Notes may be surrendered at maturity for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be served.  The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any time the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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The Issuer may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain an office or agency required under Section 2.03.  The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.

 

The Issuer hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Issuer in accordance with Section 2.03 hereof.

 

Section 4.03                  Reports and Other Information.

 

Notwithstanding that the Issuer may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC, the Issuer shall file with the SEC (and make available (without exhibits) without cost to (i) Holders of the Notes, upon their request, and (ii) the Trustee, within 15 days after it files them with the SEC, in each case, to the extent not publicly available on the SEC’s EDGAR system or the Issuer’s public website; provided that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such filings have been made) from and after the Issue Date,

 

(1)                              within the time period then in effect under the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Form 10-K by a non-accelerated filer (plus any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), annual reports on Form 10-K, or any successor or comparable form, containing the information required to be contained therein, or required in such successor or comparable form; and

 

(2)                              within the time period then in effect under the rules and regulations of the Exchange Act with respect to the filing of a Form 10-Q by a non-accelerated filer (plus any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), for each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, reports on Form 10-Q containing all quarterly information that would be required to be contained in Form 10-Q, or any successor or comparable form;

 

in each case, in a manner that complies in all material respects with the requirements specified in such form; provided that the Issuer shall not be so obligated to file such reports with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, in which event the Issuer will post on its website within 15 days after the time the Issuer would be required to file such reports with the SEC, if it were subject to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; and provided further, that that financial information required by Rule 3-10 or 3-16 (or any successor thereto) of Regulation S-X shall not be required and such reports shall not be required to comply with Sections 302, 906 and 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or related items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K, and the Issuer will not be required to provide financial statements in interactive data format using the extensible Business Reporting Language.  In addition, to the extent not satisfied by the foregoing, the Issuer will agree that, for so long as any Notes are outstanding, it will furnish to Holders and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.03 is for informational purposes only and its receipt of such reports shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any of the covenants under the Indenture or the Notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, our

 

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compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or the SEC’s EDGAR system or any website under the Indenture, or participate in any conference calls.

 

Section 4.04                  Compliance Certificate.

 

(a)                               The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the Issue Date, a certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer stating that a review of the activities of the Issuer and the Restricted Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled their obligations under the Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Issuer has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every condition and covenant contained in the Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions, covenants and conditions of the Indenture (or, if a Default shall have occurred and is continuing, describing all such Defaults of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Issuer is taking or propose to take with respect thereto).

 

(b)                              When any Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, or if the Trustee or the holder of any other evidence of Indebtedness of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries gives any notice to the Issuer or, to the knowledge of the Issuer, takes any other action with respect to a claimed Default, the Issuer shall promptly (which shall be no more than ten (10) Business Days after becoming aware of any Default) deliver to the Trustee by registered or certified mail, electronically or by facsimile transmission an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto, but only to the extent such Default has not been cured by the end of such ten (10) Business Day period.

 

Section 4.05                  Taxes.

 

The Issuer shall pay, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 4.06                  [RESERVED].

 

Section 4.07                  Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions.

 

The Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with another Person (other than with the Issuer or the Restricted Subsidiaries) unless:

 

(1)                              such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction was entered into prior to the Issue Date;

 

(2)                              such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction involves a lease for not more than three years (or which may be terminated by the Issuer or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary within a period of not more than three years);

 

(3)                              the Lien securing the Indebtedness with respect to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is a Permitted Lien; or

 

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(4)                              the Issuer or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary applies an amount equal to the net proceeds from the sale of such property to the purchase of other property or assets used or useful in the business of the Issuer or its Restricted Subsidiaries or to the retirement of Indebtedness that is pari passu in right of payment with the Notes (including the Notes) within 365 days before or after the effective date of any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction; provided that, in lieu of applying such amount to the retirement of pari passu Indebtedness, the Issuer may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation, such Notes to be credited at the cost thereof to the Issuer.

 

Notwithstanding the restrictions set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries may enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions if, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all attributable debt with respect to all such Sale and Lease-Back Transactions (not including attributable debt with respect to Sale and Lease-Back Transactions permitted under clauses (1) through (4) above), together with all Indebtedness secured by a Lien outstanding pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 4.08 hereof, does not exceed 7.5% of the Issuer’s Consolidated Total Assets.

 

Section 4.08                  Liens.

 

The Issuer will not, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien (except Permitted Liens) that secures obligations under any Indebtedness or any related guarantee, on any asset or property of the Issuer unless:

 

(1)                              in the case of Liens securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the Notes are secured by a Lien on such property or assets that is senior in priority to such Liens; or

 

(2)                              in all other cases, the Notes are equally and ratably secured.

 

The foregoing shall not apply to (A) Liens securing the Notes and (B) Liens securing other Indebtedness; provided that, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Indebtedness and any substantially concurrent retirement of any Indebtedness secured by Liens (other than Permitted Liens), the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness secured by Liens pursuant to this subclause (B), together with all attributable debt outstanding pursuant to the second paragraph of Section 4.07, does not exceed 7.5% of the Issuer’s Consolidated Total Assets.

 

Any Lien created for the benefit of the Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 4.08 shall be deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release and discharge of the applicable Lien described in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 4.08 without any further action on the part of the Holders.

 

Section 4.09                  Corporate Existence.

 

Subject to Article 5 hereof, the Issuer shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its existence, and the existence of each of its Restricted Subsidiaries and (ii) the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the existence of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, if the Issuer in good faith shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

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Section 4.10                  Offer to Repurchase Upon Change of Control.

 

(a)                               If a Change of Control Repurchase Event occurs after the Issue Date, unless the Issuer has previously or concurrently mailed a redemption notice with respect to all the outstanding Notes as described under Section 3.07 hereof, the Issuer shall make an offer to purchase all of the Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at a price in cash (the “Change of Control Payment”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of purchase, subject to the right of Holders of the Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.  Within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Issuer shall send notice of such Change of Control Offer by first-class mail or electronically, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of Notes to the address of such Holder appearing in the security register with a copy to the Trustee or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, with the following information:

 

(1)                              that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 4.10. and that all Notes properly tendered pursuant to such Change of Control Offer will be accepted for payment by the Issuer;

 

(2)                              the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, unless the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of the related Change of Control (the “Change of Control Payment Date”);

 

(3)                              that any Note not properly tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest;

 

(4)                              that unless the Issuer defaults in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest on the Change of Control Payment Date;

 

(5)                              that Holders electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender such Notes, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of such Notes completed, to the paying agent specified in the notice at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date. Notes held in book entry form shall be purchased in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures;

 

(6)                              that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their tendered Notes and their election to require the Issuer to purchase such Notes, provided that the paying agent receives, not later than the close of business on the 30th day following the date of the Change of Control Repurchase Event notice, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder of the Notes, the principal amount of Notes tendered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its tendered Notes and its election to have such Notes purchased. Notes held in book entry form shall be withdrawn in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures;

 

(7)                              that if the Issuer is redeeming less than all of the Notes, the Holders of the remaining Notes will be issued new Notes and such new Notes will be equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.  The unpurchased portion of the Notes must be equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

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(8)                              if such notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Change of Control, stating that the Change of Control Offer is conditional on the occurrence of such Change of Control, and if applicable, shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time as the Change of Control shall occur, or that such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that the Issuer shall determine that such condition will not be satisfied by the Change of Control Payment Date or by the Change of Control Payment as so delayed; and

 

(9)                              the other instructions, as determined by the Issuer, consistent with this Section 4.10, that a Holder must follow.

 

The notice, if mailed in a manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.  If (a) the notice is mailed in a manner herein provided and (b) any Holder fails to receive such notice or a Holder receives such notice but it is defective, such Holder’s failure to receive such notice or such defect shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Notes as to all other Holders that properly received such notice without defect.  The Issuer shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer.  To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of this Section 4.10, the Issuer shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 4.10 by virtue thereof.

 

(b)                              On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Issuer will, to the extent permitted by law,

 

(1)                              accept for payment all Notes issued by it or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer,

 

(2)                              no later than 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the aggregate Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof so tendered, and

 

(3)                              deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee for cancellation the Notes so accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate to the Trustee stating that such Notes or portions thereof have been tendered to and purchased by the Issuer.

 

(c)                               The Issuer shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section 4.10 applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Issuer and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, a Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of Control, conditional upon such Change of Control (whether or not a Below Investment Grade Rating Event has occurred), if a definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at the time of making of the Change of Control Offer.

 

(d)                              If Holders of not less than 90% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes of a series validly tender and do not withdraw such Notes in a Change of Control Offer and the Issuer, or any third party making a Change of Control Offer in lieu of the Issuer as described above in this Section 4.10, purchases all of the Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by such Holders, the Issuer or such third party will have the right, upon not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, provided

 

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that such notice is given not more than 30 days following such purchase pursuant to the Change of Control Offer described above, to redeem all Notes of a series that remain outstanding following such purchase on a date (the “Second Change of Control Payment Date”) at a price in cash equal to the applicable Change of Control Payment in respect of the Second Change of Control Payment Date.

 

(e)                               Other than as specifically provided in this Section 4.10, any purchase pursuant to this Section 4.10 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.05 and 3.06 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 5

 

SUCCESSORS

 

Section 6.04 of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 5.

 

Section 5.01                  Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets.

 

(a)                               The Issuer may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Person is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

 

(1)                              the Issuer is the surviving Person or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Issuer) or the Person to whom such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);

 

(2)                              the Successor Company, if other than the Issuer, expressly assumes all the obligations of the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to supplemental indentures or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;

 

(3)                              immediately after such transaction, no Default exists; and

 

(4)                              the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indentures, if any, comply with the Indenture and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

(b)                              The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Issuer under the Indenture and the Notes and except in the case of a lease, the Issuer will automatically be released and discharged from its obligations under the Indenture and the Notes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing:

 

(x)                              any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or part of its properties and assets to the Issuer, or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(y)                              the Issuer may merge with an Affiliate of the Issuer solely for the purpose of reorganizing the Issuer in a State of the United States, the District of Columbia or any territory thereof so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

 

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Section 5.02                  Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer in accordance with Section 5.01 hereof, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Issuer is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of the Indenture referring to the Issuer shall refer instead to the successor corporation and not to the Issuer), and may exercise every right and power of the Issuer under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Issuer herein; provided that the predecessor Issuer shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Notes except in the case of a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all of the Issuer’s assets that meets the requirements of Section 5.01 hereof.

 

ARTICLE 6

 

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

 

Article VII of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 6.

 

Section 6.01                  Events of Default.

 

(a)                               An “Event of Default” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events with respect to a particular series of Notes:

 

(1)                              default in payment when due and payable, upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise, of principal of, or premium, if any, on such series of Notes;

 

(2)                              default for 30 days or more in the payment when due of interest on or with respect to such series of Notes;

 

(3)                              the failure by the Issuer for 90 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with any of its obligations under Section 4.03;

 

(4)                              failure by the Issuer for 60 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding to comply with any of its other obligations, covenants or agreements (other than a default referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) of this Section 6.01(a)) contained in the Indenture or the Notes with respect to such series of Notes;

 

(5)                              default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued or by which there is secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary, other than Indebtedness owed to the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries, whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issuance of the Notes, if both:

 

(i)                                  such default either results from the failure to pay any principal of such Indebtedness at its stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay principal of any such Indebtedness

 

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at its stated final maturity and results in the holder or holders of such Indebtedness causing such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; and

 

(ii)                              the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal at stated final maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace periods), or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregate $200.0 million or more at any one time outstanding;

 

(6)                              the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i)                                  commences proceedings to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(ii)                              consents to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under applicable Bankruptcy law;

 

(iii)                          consents to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of it or for all or substantially all of its property;

 

(iv)                          makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

(v)                              generally is not paying its debts as they become due; or

 

(7)                              a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i)                                  is for relief against the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, in a proceeding in which the Issuer or any such Restricted Subsidiaries, that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, is to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent;

 

(ii)                              appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary, or for all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary; or

 

(iii)                          orders the liquidation of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries that is a Significant Subsidiary or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary;

 

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days.

 

(b)                              In the event of any Event of Default specified in clause (5) of Section 6.01(a) hereof, such Event of Default and all consequences thereof (excluding any resulting payment default, other

 

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than as a result of acceleration of the Notes) shall be annulled, waived and rescinded, automatically and without any action by the Trustee or the Holders, if within 30 days after such Event of Default arose:

 

(1)                              the Indebtedness or guarantee that is the basis for such Event of Default has been discharged; or

 

(2)                              the holders thereof have rescinded or waived the acceleration, notice or action (as the case may be) giving rise to such Event of Default; or

 

(3)                              the default that is the basis for such Event of Default has been cured.

 

Section 6.02                  Acceleration.

 

(a)                               If any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) hereof) occurs and is continuing under the Indenture with respect to a particular series of Notes, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then total outstanding Notes of such series may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately.

 

Upon the effectiveness of such declaration, such principal and interest with respect to such series of Notes shall be due and payable immediately.  The Trustee shall have no obligation to accelerate the Notes if and so long as a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines acceleration is not in the best interest of the Holders of the Notes.

 

(b)                              Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising under clause (6) or (7) of Section 6.01(a) hereof, all outstanding Notes shall be due and payable immediately without further action or notice.

 

Section 6.03                  Other Remedies.

 

Subject to the duties of the Trustee as provided for in Article 7, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or the Indenture.

 

The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Notes or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.  A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of a Note in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default.  All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.

 

Section 6.04                  Waiver of Defaults.

 

Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of the applicable series by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes of the applicable series waive any existing Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Note of the applicable series held by a non-consenting Holder; and may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration.  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of

 

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the Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.05                  Control by Majority.

 

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes of the applicable series may direct in writing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee.  The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder of a Note of the applicable series or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability (it being understood that the Trustee shall not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such direction is unduly prejudicial to any other holder).

 

Section 6.06                  Limitation on Suits.

 

Subject to Section 6.07 hereof, no Holder of a Note may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the applicable series of Notes unless:

 

(1)                              such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing with respect to such series of Notes;

 

(2)                              Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the total outstanding applicable series of Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(3)                              Holders of the applicable series of Notes have offered the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, cost, liability, claim or expense;

 

(4)                              the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of security or indemnity; and

 

(5)                              Holders of a majority in principal amount of the total outstanding Notes of the applicable series have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

A Holder of a Note may not use the Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of a Note or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of a Note (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders).

 

Section 6.07                  Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with a Change of Control Offer), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.08                  Collection Suit by Trustee.

 

If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(1) or (2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust

 

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against the Issuer for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

Section 6.09                  Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under the Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding has been instituted.

 

Section 6.10                  Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes in Section 2.07 hereof, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 6.11                  Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 6.12                  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Notes allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member in any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof.  To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize

 

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the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 6.13                  Priorities.

 

If the Trustee or any Agent collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

(i)                                  to the Trustee, the Agents, their agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee or any Agent and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

(ii)                              to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal, premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

(iii)                          to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct, if applicable.

 

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 6.13.

 

Section 6.14                  Undertaking for Costs.

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under the Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant.  This Section 6.14 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes.

 

ARTICLE 7

 

TRUSTEE

 

Each of Article XI and Section 10.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 7.

 

Section 7.01                  Duties of Trustee.

 

(a)                               If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by the Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, that a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(b)                              Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

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(i)               the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of the Indenture and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in the Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into the Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(ii)           in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of the Indenture.  However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of the Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculation or other facts stated therein).

 

(c)                               The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i)               this paragraph (c) does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;

 

(ii)           the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(iii)       the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.

 

(d)                              Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of the Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 7.01.

 

(e)                               The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of the Notes unless the Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, cost, liability or expense.

 

(f)                                The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Issuer.  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 7.02                  Rights of Trustee.

 

(a)                               The Trustee may conclusively rely upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person.  The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Issuer, personally or by agent or attorney at the sole cost of the Issuer and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

(b)                              Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificates or Opinion of Counsel.  The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full

 

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and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(c)                               The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent or attorney appointed with due care.

 

(d)                              The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by the Indenture.

 

(e)                               Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Issuer shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Issuer.

 

(f)                                None of the provisions of the Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers.

 

(g)                               The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default or be required to act (including the sending of any notice) unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and the Indenture.

 

(h)                              In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

(i)                                  The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

 

(j)                                  The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder.

 

(k)                              The Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to the Indenture.

 

(l)                                  Under no circumstances shall the Trustee be liable in its individual capacity for the obligation evidenced by the Notes.

 

(m)                          The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by the Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty.

 

Section 7.03                  Individual Rights of Trustee.

 

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and may otherwise deal with the Issuer or any Affiliate of the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the SEC for permission to continue as trustee or resign.

 

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Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties.  The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11 hereof.

 

Section 7.04                  Trustee’s Disclaimer.

 

The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of the Indenture or the Notes, it shall not be accountable for the Issuer’s use of the proceeds from the Notes or any money paid to the Issuer or upon the Issuer’s direction under any provision of the Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it shall not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in the Notes or any other document in connection with the sale of the Notes or pursuant to the Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.

 

Section 7.05                  Notice of Defaults.

 

If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail or cause to be sent electronically to Holders of Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs.  Except in the case of a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold from the Holders notice of any continuing Default if and so long as in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Notes.  The Trustee shall not be deemed to know of any Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is such a Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

Section 7.06                  Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Notes.

 

Within 60 days after each March 15, beginning with the March 15 following the date of this Supplemental Indenture, and for so long as Notes remain outstanding, the Trustee shall mail to the Holders of the Notes a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) (but if no event described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted).  The Trustee also shall comply with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2).  The Trustee shall also transmit by mail all reports as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c).

 

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Notes shall be mailed to the Issuer and filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Notes are listed in accordance with Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d).  The Issuer shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing when any series of Notes are listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.

 

Section 7.07                  Compensation and Indemnity.

 

The Issuer shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its acceptance of this Supplemental Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time.  The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Issuer shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or made by it in addition to the compensation for its services.  Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

 

The Issuer shall indemnify the Trustee for, and hold the Trustee harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it

 

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(as evidenced in an invoice from the Trustee) in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder (including the costs and expenses of enforcing the Indenture against the Issuer (including this Section 7.07) or defending itself against any claim whether asserted by any Holder or the Issuer, or liability in connection with the acceptance, exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder).  The Trustee shall notify the Issuer promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity.  Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer of their obligations hereunder.  The Issuer shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Issuer shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel.  The Issuer need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct or negligence as adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

To secure the payment obligations of the Issuer in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Notes on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Notes.  Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture.

 

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(6) or (7) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.

 

Section 7.08                  Replacement of Trustee.

 

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.  The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Issuer.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and the Issuer in writing.  The Issuer may remove the Trustee if:

 

(a)                               the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;

 

(b)                              the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

 

(c)                               a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

 

(d)                              the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

 

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Issuer.

 

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If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee (at the Issuer’s expense), the Issuer or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Issuer.  Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under the Indenture.  The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Holders.  The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof.  Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Issuer’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

Section 7.09                  Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.

 

If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

 

Section 7.10                  Eligibility; Disqualification.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.

 

The Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of Trust Indenture Act Sections 310(a)(1), (2) and (5).  The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 310(b).

 

Section 7.11                  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Issuer.

 

The Trustee is subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in Trust Indenture Act Section 311(b).  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Trust Indenture Act Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

 

ARTICLE 8

 

LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Each of Sections 12.03 through 12.08 of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 8.

 

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Section 8.01                  Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The Issuer may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof applied to all outstanding Notes of a particular series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.

 

Section 8.02                  Legal Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Issuer shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from their obligations with respect to all outstanding Notes of a particular series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Legal Defeasance”).  For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by such series of outstanding Notes, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Supplemental Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such series of Notes and the Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(a)                               the rights of Holders of Notes with respect to such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such series of Notes when such payments are due solely out of the trust created pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;

 

(b)                              the Issuer’s obligations with respect to such series of Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes of such series, registration of such Notes of such series, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes of such series and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust;

 

(c)                               the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee, and the Issuer’s obligations in connection therewith; and

 

(d)                              the provisions of this Section 8.02.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Issuer may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of their option under Section 8.03 hereof.

 

Section 8.03                  Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Issuer shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09 and 4.10 hereof and clause (4) of Section 5.01(a), Sections 5.01(c) and 5.01(d) hereof with respect to the outstanding Notes of a particular series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), and such series of Notes shall thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Notes shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes).  For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such series of outstanding Notes, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect

 

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of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of the Indenture and such series of Notes shall be unaffected thereby.  In addition, upon the Issuer’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Sections 6.01(3), 6.01(4), 6.01(5), 6.01(6) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries that are Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), 6.01(7) (solely with respect to Restricted Subsidiaries that are Significant Subsidiaries or any group of Restricted Subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) and 6.01(8) hereof shall not constitute Events of Default.

 

Section 8.04                  Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to any series of outstanding Notes:

 

In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to a series of Notes:

 

(1)                              the Issuer must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of such series of Notes, cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal amount of, premium, if any, and interest due on such series of Notes on the stated maturity date or on the redemption date, as the case may be, of such principal amount, premium, if any, or interest on such series of Notes and the Issuer must specify whether such series of Notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date; provided, that in connection with any defeasance to a Redemption Date prior to May 15, 2022, in the case of the 2022 Notes, or March 15, 2027, in the case of the 2027 Notes, or December 15, 2046, in the case of the 2047 Notes, the amount deposited in respect of the Applicable Premium shall be sufficient for purpose of the Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the deposit, with any deficit on such Redemption Date (any such amount, the “Applicable Premium Deficit”) only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the corresponding Redemption Date, and with any excess on such Redemption Date required to be returned to the Issuer by the Trustee. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

 

(2)                              in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions,

 

(a)                               the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

 

(b)                              since the issuance of such series of Notes, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law,

 

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in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of such series of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as applicable, as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(3)                              in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of such series of Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to such tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(4)                              no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness, and, in each case the granting of Liens in connection therewith) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit with respect to such series of Notes;

 

(5)                              such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which, the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

(6)                              the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Issuer with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Issuer or any others; and

 

(7)                              the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions) each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

Section 8.05                  Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Notes shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of such Notes and the Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through the Paying Agent (including the Issuer or a Subsidiary acting as Paying Agent), the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Notes of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Notes.

 

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Anything in this Article 8 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Issuer from time to time upon the request of the Issuer any money or Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Section 8.06                  Repayment to Issuer.

 

Subject to applicable escheatment laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Issuer, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, and premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer on its request or (if then held by the Issuer) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or any Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Issuer as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

 

Section 8.07                  Reinstatement.

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any United States dollars or Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided that, if the Issuer makes any payment of principal of, premium or interest on any Note following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 9

 

AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER

 

Article XIV of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 9.

 

Section 9.01                  Without Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Notwithstanding Section 9.02 hereof, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or Notes without the consent of any Holder:

 

(1)                              to cure any ambiguity, omission, mistake, defect or inconsistency;

 

(2)                              to provide for uncertificated Notes of such series in addition to or in place of certificated Notes or to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes;

 

(3)                              to comply with Section 5.01 hereof;

 

(4)                              to provide the assumption of the Issuer’s obligations to the Holders;

 

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(5)                              to secure the Notes or make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders or that does not materially adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture of any such Holder;

 

(6)                              to add covenants for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Issuer;

 

(7)                              to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(8)                              to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment under the Indenture of a successor Trustee thereunder pursuant to the requirements thereof;

 

(9)                              to provide for the issuance of exchange notes or private exchange notes, which are identical to exchange notes except that they are not freely transferable;

 

(10)                      to conform the text of the Indenture or the Notes to any provision of the “Description of Notes” section of the Prospectus to the extent that such provision in such “Description of Notes” section was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture or Notes as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate; or

 

(11)                      to make any amendment to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of Notes as permitted by the Indenture, including, without limitation to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Notes or comply with the procedures of any securities depositary; provided, however, that (i) compliance with the Indenture as so amended would not result in Notes being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer Notes.

 

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by resolutions of its board of directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of the Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.02                  With Consent of Holders of Notes.

 

Except as provided below in this Section 9.02, the Issuer and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the Notes of any series with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding voting as a single class (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes of such series), and, subject to Sections 6.04 and 6.07 hereof, any existing Default or Event of Default (other than a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on the Notes of such series, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded) or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes of such series may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes voting as a single class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for, or purchase of, the Notes of such series).  Section 2.08 hereof and Section 2.09 hereof shall determine which series of Notes are considered to be “outstanding” for the purposes of this Section 9.02; provided, however, that if

 

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any amendment, waiver or other modification will only affect the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes, only the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then disadvantaged series of Notes (and not the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of all Notes), shall be required.

 

Upon the request of the Issuer accompanied by resolutions of its board of directors authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Notes as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental indenture.

 

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Notes under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.

 

After an amendment, supplement or waiver under Sections 9.01 or 9.02 becomes effective, the Issuer shall mail or cause to be sent electronically to the Holders of such series of Notes affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver.  Any failure of the Issuer to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such amended or supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Without the consent of each affected Holder of Notes, an amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may not (with respect to any Notes of a series held by a non-consenting Holder):

 

(1)                              reduce the principal amount of such series of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

(2)                              reduce the principal amount of or change the fixed final maturity of any such Note or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes (other than provisions relating to Section 4.10 hereof to the extent that any such amendment or waiver does not have the effect of reducing the principal of or changing the fixed final maturity of any such Note or altering or waiving the provisions with respect to the redemption of such Notes);

 

(3)                              reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note of such series;

 

(4)                              waive a Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes of such series, except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes of such series by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration, or in respect of a covenant or provision contained in the Indenture which cannot be amended or modified without the consent of all Holders;

 

(5)                              make any such Note payable in money other than that stated therein;

 

(6)                              make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes of such series;

 

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(7)                              make any change in these amendment and waiver provisions as it relates to such series of Notes;

 

(8)                              amend the contractual right expressly set forth in the Indenture of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates thereof or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such due dates; or

 

(9)                              make any change to or modify the ranking of the Notes of such series that would adversely affect the Holders.

 

Section 9.03                  Revocation and Effect of Consents.

 

Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Note is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Note and every subsequent Holder of a Note or portion of a Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Note.  However, any such Holder of a Note or subsequent Holder of a Note may revoke the consent as to its Note if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the waiver, supplement or amendment becomes effective.  An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

 

The Issuer may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement, or waiver.  If a record date is fixed, then, notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement, or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.  No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date unless the consent of the requisite number of Holders has been obtained.

 

Section 9.04                  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every amendment or supplement to the Indenture or the Notes shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

Section 9.05                  Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Note thereafter authenticated.  The Issuer in exchange for all Notes may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Notes that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 9.06                  Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.

 

The Trustee shall sign any amendment, supplement or waiver authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee.  The Issuer may not sign an amendment, supplement or waiver until its board of directors approves it.  In executing any amendment, supplement or waiver, the Trustee shall receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, in addition to the

 

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documents required by Section 12.04 hereof, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by the Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03) (provided, however, that such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof).

 

Section 9.07                  Additional Voting Terms; Calculation of Principal Amount.

 

All Notes issued under the Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters (as to which any of such Notes may vote) as one class and no series of Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate series on any matter; provided, however, that if any amendment, waiver or other modification will only affect the 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes, only the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding 2022 Notes, 2027 Notes or the 2047 Notes (and not the consent of the Holders of at least a majority of all Notes), as the case may be, shall be required.  Determinations as to whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent shall be made in accordance with this Article 9 and Section 2.14.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE 11

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 12.02 of the Base Indenture is hereby modified, amended, supplemented and deleted as it relates to the Notes except as described in, and to the extent of, this Article 11.

 

Section 11.01          Satisfaction and Discharge.

 

The Indenture shall be discharged and shall cease to be of further effect as to a series of Notes, when either:

 

(1)                              all Notes of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered, except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes of such series which have been replaced or paid and Notes of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust, have been irrevocably delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(2)                              (A) all Notes of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise, will become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption and redeemed within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Issuer, and the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes of such series cash in U.S. dollars, Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the

 

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date of maturity or redemption; provided, that upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purpose of the Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption, with any Applicable Premium Deficit only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the redemption date, and with any excess on such redemption date required to be returned to the Issuer by the Trustee. Any Applicable Premium Deficit shall be set forth in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee simultaneously with the deposit of such Applicable Premium Deficit that confirms that such Applicable Premium Deficit shall be applied toward such redemption;

 

(B)                            no Default (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith) with respect to the Indenture as it relates to such series of Notes or the Notes of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the Senior Credit Facilities or any other material agreement or instrument governing Indebtedness (other than the Indenture) to which the Issuer is a party or by which the Issuer is bound (other than that resulting from borrowing funds to be applied to make such deposit and any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other Indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of Liens in connection therewith);

 

(C)                            the Issuer has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the Indenture; and

 

(D)                           the Issuer has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes of such series at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

 

In addition, the Issuer must deliver an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (A) of clause (2) of this Section 11.01, the provisions of Section 11.02 and Section 8.06 hereof shall survive.

 

Section 11.02          Application of Trust Money.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and the Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Issuer acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof; provided that if the Issuer has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Notes because of the reinstatement of its obligations,

 

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the Issuer shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Notes to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

ARTICLE 12

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01          Trust Indenture Act Controls.

 

If any provision of the Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Trust Indenture Act Section 318(c), the imposed duties shall control.

 

Section 12.02          Notices.

 

Any notice or communication by the Issuer, the Trustee or any Paying Agent to the others is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), fax or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:

 

If to the Issuer:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90405
Fax No.:  (310) 255-2152
Attention:  Chief Legal Officer

 

If to the Trustee:

 

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

Corporate Municipal and Escrow Services

MAC E2064-05A

333 S. Grand Avenue, 5th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90071
Fax No.:  (213) 253-7598
Attention:  Maddy Hughes

 

The Issuer, the Trustee or any Paying Agent, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five calendar days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed by first-class mail; when receipt acknowledged, if faxed; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery; provided that any notice or communication delivered to the Trustee shall be deemed effective upon actual receipt thereof.

 

Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar.  Any notice or communication shall also be so mailed to any Person described in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), to the extent required by the Trust Indenture

 

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Act.  Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. Notes held in book entry form shall be given in accordance with DTC’s applicable procedures.

 

If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

If the Issuer mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

 

Section 12.03          Communication by Holders of Notes with Other Holders of Notes.

 

Holders may communicate pursuant to Trust Indenture Act Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under the Indenture or the Notes.  The Issuer, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Trust Indenture Act Section 312(c).

 

Section 12.04          Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.

 

Upon any request or application by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under the Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee:

 

(a)                               An Officer’s Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signer, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and

 

(b)                              An Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 12.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied.

 

Section 12.05          Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.

 

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in the Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof or Trust Indenture Act Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of Trust Indenture Act Section 314(e) and shall include:

 

(a)                               a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

(b)                              a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(c)                               a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officer’s Certificate as to matters of fact); and

 

(d)                              a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

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Section 12.06          Rules by Trustee and Agents.

 

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders.  The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

 

Section 12.07          No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders.

 

No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Issuer or any of their parent companies shall have any liability for any obligations of the Issuer under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  Each Holder by accepting Notes waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes.

 

Section 12.08          Governing Law.

 

THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 12.09          Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction.

 

THE ISSUER, THE HOLDERS AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Supplemental Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the non exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.  Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court.  The Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders (by their acceptance of the Securities) each hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

Section 12.10          Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Supplemental Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

 

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Section 12.11          No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.

 

This Supplemental Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Issuer or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or of any other Person.  Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 12.12          Successors.

 

All agreements of the Issuer in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind their successors.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.

 

Section 12.13          Severability.

 

In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

Section 12.14          Counterpart Originals.

 

The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture.  Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.  The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

 

Section 12.15          Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

 

The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 12.16          Qualification of Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Issuer shall qualify this Supplemental Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses for the Issuer and the Trustee) incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, costs and expenses of qualification of this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes and printing this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes.  The Trustee shall be entitled to receive from the Issuer any such Officer’s Certificates, Opinions of Counsel or other documentation as it may reasonably request in connection with any such qualification of this Supplemental Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 12.17          U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee.  The parties to this Supplemental Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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[Signatures on following page]

 

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ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Chris B. Walther

 

 

 

Name: Chris B. Walther

 

 

 

Title: Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 



 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Maddy Hughes

 

 

 

Name: Maddy Hughes

 

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Signature Page to Indenture (Senior Notes)

 



 

EXHIBIT A-1

 

[Face of 2022 Note]

 

 

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Supplemental Indenture]

 

A-1-1



 

CUSIP  [          ]

ISIN  [          ]

 

 

GLOBAL NOTE

representing up to

$______________]

2.600% Senior Notes due 2022

 

 

No.            

[$                                ]

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto] [of                                                  United States Dollars] on June 15, 2022.

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:  June 15 and December 15

 

Record Dates:  June 1 and December 1

 

A-1-2



 

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

A-1-3



 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the 2022 Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

Date of Authentication:  May 26, 2017

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

 

A-1-4



 

[Back of 2022 Note]

 

2.600% Senior Notes due 2022

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.         INTEREST.  Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this 2022 Note at 2.600% per annum from May 26, 20171 until maturity.  The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the 2022 Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 15, 2017.  The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the 2022 Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest, if any, (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the 2022 Notes.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.         METHOD OF PAYMENT.  The Issuer will pay interest on the 2022 Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of 2022 Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such 2022 Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) with respect to defaulted interest.  Payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other 2022 Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent.  Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.         PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR.  Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders.  The Issuer or any of their Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4.         INDENTURE.  The Issuer issued the 2022 Notes under that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), between the Issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to that certain Base Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017, between the Issuer and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and, together with the Supplemental Indenture and any future supplemental indenture entered into thereunder, the “Indenture”).  This 2022 Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 2.600% Senior Notes due 2022.  The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional 2022 Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Supplemental Indenture.  The 2022 Notes, the 2027 Notes and the 2047 Notes issued under the Indenture (collectively, referred to herein as the “Notes”) are separate series of Notes, but shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture, unless otherwise specified in the Indenture.  The terms of the 2022 Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to

 


1                                           With respect to the Initial 2022 Notes.

 

A-1-5



 

the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).  The 2022 Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms.  To the extent any provision of this 2022 Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

5.         OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

 

(a)        Except as described below under clause 5(b) hereof, the 2022 Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option before May 15, 2022.

 

(b)        At any time prior to May 15, 2022, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the 2022 Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail or electronically to the registered address of each Holder of 2022 Notes or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2022 Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of the Redemption Date, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of 2022 Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(c)        Any redemption of 2022 Notes or notice of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. In addition, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed and such redemption provisions may be adjusted to comply with the requirements of any depositary.

 

(d)        On and after May 15, 2022, the Issuer may redeem the 2022 Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or electronically or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of 2022 Notes at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2022 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of 2022 Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(e)        Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

6.         MANDATORY REDEMPTION.  The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the 2022 Notes.

 

7.         NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  Subject to Section 3.03 of the Supplemental Indenture, notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail or electronically at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 of the Supplemental Indenture) to each Holder whose 2022 Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.  2022 Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.  On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on 2022 Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

A-1-6



 

8.         OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Issuer shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s 2022 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).  The Change of Control Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

9.         DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE.  The 2022 Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The transfer of 2022 Notes may be registered and 2022 Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.  The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuer may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any 2022 Note or portion of a 2022 Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any 2022 Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any 2022 Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of 2022 Notes to be redeemed.

 

10.       PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.  The registered Holder of a 2022 Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11.       AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.  The Indenture or the 2022 Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

12.       DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.  The Events of Default relating to the 2022 Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Supplemental Indenture.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding 2022 Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding 2022 Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice.  Holders may not enforce the Indenture, the 2022 Notes except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.  The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the 2022 Notes notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 2022 Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the 2022 Notes waive any existing Default or and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any of the 2022 Notes held by a non-consenting Holder.  The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer is required within ten (10) Business Days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and what action the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

13.       AUTHENTICATION.  This 2022 Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

 

14.       GOVERNING LAW.  THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE AND THE 2022 NOTES.

 

A-1-7



 

15.       CUSIP NUMBERS.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the 2022 Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the 2022 Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.  Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90405
Fax No.: (310) 255-2152
Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

A-1-8



 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this 2022 Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this 2022 Note to:

 

                                                                                                        (Insert assignee’ legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint

 

to transfer this 2022 Note on the books of the Issuer.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                            

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this 2022 Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                               

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-1-9



 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this 2022 Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the box below:

 

[   ] Section 4.10

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this 2022 Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$                           

 

Date:                            

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this 2022 Note)

 

 

 

 

Tax Identification No.:

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                               

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-1-10



 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

 

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $                      .  The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange

 

Amount of
decrease
in Principal
Amount

 

Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

 

Principal Amount
of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of
authorized
signatory
of Trustee or
Note Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*This schedule should be included only if the 2022 Note is issued in global form.

 

A-1-11



 

EXHIBIT A-2

 

[Face of 2027 Note]

 

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-2-1



 

CUSIP  [          ]

ISIN  [          ]

 

GLOBAL NOTE
representing up to
$                          ]

3.400% Senior Notes due 2027

 

 

No.         

[$                        ]

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto] [of                                          United States Dollars] on June 15, 2027.

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:  June 15 and December 15

 

Record Dates:  June 1 and December 1

 

A-2-2



 

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

A-2-3



 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the 2027 Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

Date of Authentication:  May 26, 2017

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

A-2-4



 

[Back of 2027 Note]

 

3.400% Senior Notes due 2027

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.                                    INTEREST.  Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this 2027 Note at 3.400% per annum from May 26, 20171 until maturity.  The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the 2027 Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 15, 2017.  The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the 2027 Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the 2027 Notes.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.                                    METHOD OF PAYMENT.  The Issuer will pay interest on the 2027 Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of 2027 Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such 2027 Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) with respect to defaulted interest.  Payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other 2027 Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent.  Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.                                    PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR.  Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders.  The Issuer or any of their Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4.                                    INDENTURE.  The Issuer issued the 2027 Notes under that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), between the Issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to that certain Base Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017, between the Issuer and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and, together with the Supplemental Indenture and any future supplemental indenture entered into thereunder, the “Indenture”).  This 2027 Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 3.400% Senior Notes due 2027.  The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional 2027 Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Supplemental Indenture.  The 2027 Notes, the 2022 Notes and the 2047 Notes issued under the Indenture (collectively, referred to herein as the “Notes”) are separate series of Notes, but shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture, unless otherwise specified in the Indenture.  The terms of the 2027 Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to

 


1                                           With respect to the Initial 2027 Notes.

 

A-2-5



 

the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).  The 2027 Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms.  To the extent any provision of this 2027 Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

5.                                    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

 

(a)                               Except as described below under clause 5(b) hereof, the 2027 Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option before March 15, 2027.

 

(b)                              At any time prior to March 15, 2027, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the 2027 Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail or electronically to the registered address of each Holder of 2027 Notes or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of the Redemption Date, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of 2027 Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(c)                               Any redemption of 2027 Notes or notice of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. In addition, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed and such redemption provisions may be adjusted to comply with the requirements of any depositary.

 

(d)                              On and after March 15, 2027, the Issuer may redeem the 2027 Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or electronically or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of 2027 Notes at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2027 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of 2027 Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(e)                               Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

6.                                    MANDATORY REDEMPTION.  The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the 2027 Notes.

 

7.                                    NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  Subject to Section 3.03 of the Supplemental Indenture, notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail or electronically at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 of the Supplemental Indenture) to each Holder whose 2027 Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.  2027 Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.  On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on 2027 Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

A-2-6



 

8.                                    OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Issuer shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s 2027 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).  The Change of Control Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

9.                                    DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE.  The 2027 Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The transfer of 2027 Notes may be registered and 2027 Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.  The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuer may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any 2027 Note or portion of a 2027 Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any 2027 Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any 2027 Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of 2027 Notes to be redeemed.

 

10.                            PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.  The registered Holder of a 2027 Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11.                            AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.  The Indenture or the 2027 Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

12.                            DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.  The Events of Default relating to the 2027 Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Supplemental Indenture.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding 2027 Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding 2027 Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice.  Holders may not enforce the Indenture, the 2027 Notes except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.  The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the 2027 Notes notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 2027 Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the 2027 Notes waive any existing Default or and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any of the 2027 Notes held by a non-consenting Holder.  The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer is required within ten (10) Business Days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and what action the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

13.                            AUTHENTICATION.  This 2027 Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

 

14.                            GOVERNING LAW.  THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE AND THE 2027 NOTES.

 

A-2-7



 

15.                            CUSIP NUMBERS.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the 2027 Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the 2027 Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.  Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90405
Fax No.: (310) 255-2152
Attention: Chief Legal Officer

 

A-2-8



 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this 2027 Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this 2027 Note to:

 

                                                                                                        (Insert assignee’ legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint

 

to transfer this 2027 Note on the books of the Issuer.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                            

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this 2027 Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                               

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-2-9



 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this 2027 Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the box below:

 

[   ] Section 4.10

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this 2027 Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$                           

 

Date:                            

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this 2027 Note)

 

 

 

 

Tax Identification No.:

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                               

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-2-10



 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

 

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $                      The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange

 

Amount of
decrease
in Principal
Amount

 

Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

 

Principal Amount
of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of
authorized
signatory
of Trustee or
Note Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*This schedule should be included only if the 2027 Note is issued in global form

 

A-2-11



 

EXHIBIT A-3

 

[Face of 2047 Note]

 

[Insert the Global Note Legend, if applicable pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture]

 

A-3-1



 

CUSIP  [          ]

ISIN  [          ]

 

GLOBAL NOTE

representing up to

$                            ]

4.500% Senior Notes due 2047

 

 

No.         

[$                        ]

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, the principal sum [set forth on the Schedule of Exchanges of Interests in the Global Note attached hereto] [of                                           United States Dollars] on June 15, 2047.

 

Interest Payment Dates:  June 15 and December 15

 

Record Dates:  June 1 and December 1

 

A-3-2



 

IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Issuer has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

A-3-3



 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the 2047 Notes referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture:

 

Date of Authentication:  May 26, 2017

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

 

A-3-4



 

[Back of 2047 Note]

 

4.500% Senior Notes due 2047

 

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture referred to below unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.                                    INTEREST.  Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this 2047 Note at 4.500% per annum from May 26, 20171 until maturity.  The Issuer will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  Interest on the 2047 Notes will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the date of issuance; provided that the first Interest Payment Date shall be December 15, 2017.  The Issuer will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal and premium, if any, from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the 2047 Notes; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace periods) from time to time on demand at the interest rate on the 2047 Notes.  Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

2.                                    METHOD OF PAYMENT.  The Issuer will pay interest on the 2047 Notes to the Persons who are registered Holders of 2047 Notes at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding the Interest Payment Date, even if such 2047 Notes are canceled after such record date and on or before such Interest Payment Date, except as provided in Section 2.12 of the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) with respect to defaulted interest.  Payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders, provided that payment by wire transfer of immediately available funds will be required with respect to principal of and interest and premium, if any, on, all Global Notes and all other 2047 Notes the Holders of which shall have provided wire transfer instructions to the Issuer or the Paying Agent.  Such payment shall be in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

3.                                    PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR.  Initially, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association will act as Paying Agent and Registrar.  The Issuer may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to the Holders.  The Issuer or any of their Subsidiaries may act in any such capacity.

 

4.                                    INDENTURE.  The Issuer issued the 2047 Notes under that certain First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), between the Issuer and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to that certain Base Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017, between the Issuer and the Trustee (the “Base Indenture” and, together with the Supplemental Indenture and any future supplemental indenture entered into thereunder, the “Indenture”).  This 2047 Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as its 4.500% Senior Notes due 2047.  The Issuer shall be entitled to issue Additional 2047 Notes pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Supplemental Indenture.  The 2047 Notes, the 2022 Notes and the 2027 Notes issued under the Indenture (collectively, referred to herein as the “Notes”) are separate series of Notes, but shall be treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture, unless otherwise specified in the Indenture.  The terms of

 


1                                           With respect to the Initial 2047 Notes.

 

A-3-5



 

the 2047 Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).  The 2047 Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of such terms.  To the extent any provision of this 2047 Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

5.                                    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.

 

(a)                               Except as described below under clause 5(b) hereof, the 2047 Notes will not be redeemable at the Issuer’s option before December 15, 2046.

 

(b)                              At any time prior to December 15, 2046, the Issuer may redeem all or a part of the 2047 Notes, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed by first-class mail or electronically to the registered address of each Holder of 2047 Notes or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2047 Notes redeemed plus the Applicable Premium as of the Redemption Date, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, subject to the rights of Holders of 2047 Notes on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(c)                               Any redemption of 2047 Notes or notice of redemption may, at the Issuer’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent.  In addition, if such redemption or notice is subject to satisfaction of one or more conditions precedent, such notice shall state that, in the Issuer’s discretion, the redemption date may be delayed until such time as any or all such conditions shall be satisfied (or waived by the Issuer in its sole discretion), or such redemption may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that any or all such conditions shall not have been satisfied by the redemption date, or by the redemption date so delayed and such redemption provisions may be adjusted to comply with the requirements of any depositary.

 

(d)                              On and after December 15, 2046, the Issuer may redeem the 2047 Notes, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid, or electronically or otherwise in accordance with the procedures of DTC, with a copy to the Trustee, to each Holder of 2047 Notes at the address of such Holder appearing in the security register, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2047 Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date, subject to the right of Holders of 2047 Notes of record on the relevant Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.

 

(e)                               Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be made pursuant to the provisions of Sections 3.01 through 3.06 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

6.                                    MANDATORY REDEMPTION.  The Issuer shall not be required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the 2047 Notes.

 

7.                                    NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.  Subject to Section 3.03 of the Supplemental Indenture, notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail or electronically at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date (except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with Article 8 or Article 11 of the Supplemental Indenture) to each Holder whose 2047 Notes are to be redeemed at its registered address.  2047 Notes in denominations larger than $2,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of

 

A-3-6



 

$1,000, unless all of the Notes held by a Holder are to be redeemed.  On and after the redemption date interest ceases to accrue on 2047 Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

8.                                    OFFERS TO REPURCHASE.  Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, the Issuer shall make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of each Holder’s 2047 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”).  The Change of Control Offer shall be made in accordance with Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture.

 

9.                                    DENOMINATIONS, TRANSFER, EXCHANGE.  The 2047 Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.  The transfer of 2047 Notes may be registered and 2047 Notes may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.  The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Issuer may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture.  The Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any 2047 Note or portion of a 2047 Note selected for redemption, except for the unredeemed portion of any 2047 Note being redeemed in part.  Also, the Issuer need not exchange or register the transfer of any 2047 Notes for a period of 15 days before a selection of 2047 Notes to be redeemed.

 

10.                            PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.  The registered Holder of a 2047 Note may be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

11.                            AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER.  The Indenture or the 2047 Notes may be amended or supplemented as provided in the Indenture.

 

12.                            DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES.  The Events of Default relating to the 2047 Notes are defined in Section 6.01 of the Supplemental Indenture.  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding 2047 Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, all outstanding 2047 Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice.  Holders may not enforce the Indenture, the 2047 Notes except as provided in the Indenture.  Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power.  The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the 2047 Notes notice of any continuing Default (except a Default relating to the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in their interest.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 2047 Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all of the 2047 Notes waive any existing Default or and its consequences under the Indenture except a continuing Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any of the 2047 Notes held by a non-consenting Holder.  The Issuer is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement regarding compliance with the Indenture, and the Issuer is required within ten (10) Business Days after becoming aware of any Default, to deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default and what action the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

13.                            AUTHENTICATION.  This 2047 Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee.

 

A-3-7



 

14.                            GOVERNING LAW.  THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THE INDENTURE AND THE 2047 NOTES.

 

15.                            CUSIP NUMBERS.  Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Issuer has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the 2047 Notes and the Trustee may use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders.  No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the 2047 Notes or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.

 

The Issuer will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture.  Requests may be made to the Issuer at the following address:

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90405
Fax No.:  (310) 255-2152
Attention:  Chief Legal Officer

 

A-3-8



 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

To assign this 2047 Note, fill in the form below:

 

(I) or (we) assign and transfer this 2047 Note to:

 

                                                                                                        (Insert assignee’s legal name)

 

(Insert assignee’s soc. sec. or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint

 

to transfer this 2047 Note on the books of the Issuer.  The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

Date:                            

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this 2047 Note)

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                               

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-3-9



 

OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE

 

If you want to elect to have this 2047 Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section  4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture, check the box below:

 

[   ] Section 4.10

 

If you want to elect to have only part of this 2047 Note purchased by the Issuer pursuant to Section 4.10 of the Supplemental Indenture, state the amount you elect to have purchased:

 

$                           

 

Date:                            

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

 

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the face of this 2047 Note)

 

 

 

 

Tax Identification No.:

 

 

Signature Guarantee*:                                                                               

 

* Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other
signature guarantor acceptable to the Trustee).

 

A-3-10



 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE*

 

The initial outstanding principal amount of this Global Note is $                      .  The following exchanges of a part of this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of a part of another Global or Definitive Note for an interest in this Global Note, have been made:

 

Date of
Exchange

 

Amount of
decrease
in Principal
Amount

 

Amount of increase
in Principal
Amount of this
Global Note

 

Principal Amount
of
this Global Note
following such
decrease or
increase

 

Signature of
authorized
signatory
of Trustee or
Note Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


*This schedule should be included only if the 2047 Note is issued in global form

 

A-3-11


Exhibit 5.1

 

 

[LETTERHEAD OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP]

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 26, 2017

 

 

 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

Santa Monica, CA 90405

 

 

Re:                          Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Activision Blizzard, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the public offering of (a) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.600% Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”), (b) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 3.400% Notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) and (c) $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 4.500% Notes due 2047 (collectively with the 2022 Notes and the 2027 Notes, the “Notes”) to be issued under the Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Base Indenture”), and as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 26, 2017 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the Indenture”), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

 

In rendering the opinions stated herein, we have examined and relied upon the following:

 

(a)                               the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-213520) of the Company relating to debt securities and other securities of the Company filed on September 7, 2016 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the “Rules and Regulations”), including the information deemed to be a

 



 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

May 26, 2017

Page 2

 

 

part of the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations (such registration statement being hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”);

 

(b)                              the prospectus, dated September 7, 2016 (the “Base Prospectus”), which forms a part of and is included in the Registration Statement;

 

(c)                               the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated May 23, 2017 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Notes, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(d)                             the prospectus supplement, dated May 23, 2017 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”), relating to the offering of the Notes, in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations;

 

(e)                               an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated May 23, 2017 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the Company and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several Underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Notes;

 

(f)                                an executed copy of the Base Indenture;

 

(g)                              an executed copy of the Supplemental Indenture;

 

(h)                              the global certificates evidencing the Notes registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the “Note Certificates”) in the forms delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication and delivery;

 

(i)                                  an executed copy of a certificate of Jeffrey A. Brown, Corporate Secretary of the Company, dated the date hereof (the “Secretary’s Certificate”);

 

(j)                                  a copy of the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as of May 26, 2017, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

 

(k)                              a copy of the Company’s Third Amended and Restated By-laws, as amended and in effect as of the date hereof, and certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate;

 

(l)                                  copies of certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, adopted on May 20, 2017, and certain resolutions of the Audit Committee thereof, adopted on May 23, 2017, each certified pursuant to the Secretary’s Certificate; and

 

(m)                          an executed copy of a pricing certificate of Dennis Durkin, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated May 23, 2017.

 



 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

May 26, 2017

Page 3

 

 

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions stated below.

 

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies.  As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials, including those in the Secretary’s Certificate and the factual representations and warranties contained in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

We do not express any opinion with respect to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) the laws, of the State of New York and (ii) the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Opined on Law”).

 

As used herein, “Transaction Agreements” means the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Note Certificates.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the qualifications and assumptions stated herein, we are of the opinion that the Note Certificates have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company and duly executed by the Company under the DGCL, and when duly authenticated by the Trustee and issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, the Note Certificates will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York.

 

The opinions stated herein are subject to the following qualifications:

 

(a)                               the opinions stated herein are limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, preference and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law);

 

(b)                              we do not express any opinion with respect to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to any party to any of the Transaction Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any such party or any of its affiliates as a result of the specific assets or business operations of such party or such affiliates;

 



 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

May 26, 2017

Page 4

 

 

(c)                               except to the extent expressly stated in the opinions contained herein, we have assumed that each of the Transaction Agreements constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each party to such Transaction Agreement, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms;

 

(d)                             we do not express any opinion with respect to the enforceability of any provision contained in any Transaction Agreement relating to any indemnification, contribution, exculpation, release or waiver that may be contrary to public policy or violative of federal or state securities laws, rules or regulations;

 

(f)                                in rendering the opinion set forth above, we have assumed that the Trustee’s certificates of authentication of the Note Certificates will have been manually signed by one of the Trustee’s authorized officers;

 

(g)                              we have assumed that the choice of New York law to govern the Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture thereto is a valid and legal provision; and

 

(h)                              to the extent that any opinion relates to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions contained in any Transaction Agreement, the opinions stated herein are subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be subject to, in each case, (i) the exceptions and limitations in New York General Obligations Law sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 and (ii) principles of comity or constitutionality.

 

In addition, in rendering the foregoing opinions we have assumed that, at all applicable times:

 

(a)                               neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Agreements nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, including the issuance and sale of the Notes: (i) constituted or will constitute a violation of, or a default under, any lease, indenture, instrument or other agreement to which the Company or its property is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (i) with respect to those agreements or instruments which are listed in Part II of the Registration Statement or the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K), (ii) contravened or will contravene any order or decree of any governmental authority to which the Company or its property is subject, or (iii) violated or will violate any law, rule or regulation to which the Company or its property is subject (except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (iii) with respect to the Opined-on Law); and

 

(b)                              neither the execution and delivery by the Company of the Transaction Agreements nor the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder, including the issuance and sale of the Notes, required or will require the consent, approval, licensing or authorization of, or any filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority under any law, rule or regulation of any jurisdiction.

 



 

Activision Blizzard, Inc.

May 26, 2017

Page 5

 

 

We hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. We also hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K being filed on the date hereof and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.  This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable laws.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP   

 

MJZ

 


Exhibit 12.1

 

ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

(in millions, except ratios)

 

 

 

For the Year Ended December 31,

 

For the
Three
Months
ended
March
31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2013

 

2014

 

2015

 

2016

 

2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before taxes

 

$

1,458

 

$

1,319

 

$

 981

 

$

1,121

 

$

1,106

 

$

453

 

Add: Fixed charges

 

13

 

69

 

221

 

217

 

248

 

48

 

Total Earnings(1)

 

$

1,471

 

$

1,388

 

$

 1,202

 

$

1,338

 

$

1,354(2)

 

$

501

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

$

1

 

$

56

 

$

 201

 

$

197

 

$

206

 

$

36

 

Discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness

 

 

1

 

7

 

7

 

20

 

7

 

Interest component of rental expense

 

12

 

12

 

13

 

13

 

22

 

5

 

Total Fixed Charges

 

$

13

 

$

69

 

$

 221

 

$

217

 

$

248

 

$

48

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

113.2

 

20.1

 

5.4

 

6.2

 

5.5

 

10.4

 

 

(1) For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent income (loss) before income taxes and fixed charges less interest capitalized. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness, interest capitalized and a reasonable approximation of the interest component of operating lease expense.

 

(2) Total Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes a $92 million loss on extinguishment of debt recognized during 2016 as a result of the extinguishment of certain term loan and senior note facilities through the Company’s refinancing activities, comprised of a premium payment of $63 million and write-off of unamortized discount and financing costs of $29 million. The loss on extinguishment of debt was not included in the Fixed Charges.