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Form POS EX New Mountain Finance

August 20, 2018 10:23 AM EDT

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 20, 2018

Securities Act File No. 333-218040


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



Form N-2
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ý
Pre-Effective Amendment No. o
Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 ý



New Mountain Finance Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor
New York, NY 10019
(212) 720-0300
(Address and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)

Robert A. Hamwee
Chief Executive Officer
New Mountain Finance Corporation
787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor
New York, NY 10019
(Name and address of agent for service)



COPIES TO:

Steven B. Boehm, Esq.
Vlad M. Bulkin, Esq.
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP
700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20001
Tel: (202) 383-0100
Fax: (202) 637-3593



Approximate date of proposed public offering:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

          If any securities being registered on this form will be offered on a delayed or continuous basis in reliance on Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered in connection with a dividend reinvestment plan, check the following box.    ý

   



EXPLANATORY NOTE

          This Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-218040) of New Mountain Finance Corporation (the "Registration Statement") is being filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), solely for the purpose of filing exhibits to the Registration Statement. Accordingly, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 consists only of a facing page, this explanatory note and Part C of the Registration Statement, which sets forth the exhibits to the Registration Statement. This Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 does not modify any other part of the Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The contents of the Registration Statement are hereby incorporated by reference.



PART C
Other Information

Item 25.    Financial Statements And Exhibits

(1)     Financial Statements

          The following financial statements of New Mountain Finance Corporation ("NMFC", the "Registrant", "we", "us" and "our") are included in Part C of this Registration Statement.


INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  PAGE

INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED JUNE 30, 2018

   

New Mountain Finance Corporation

   

Consolidated Statements of Assets and Liabilities as of June 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017 (unaudited)

  F-2

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months and six months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) and June 30, 2017 (unaudited)

  F-3

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the six months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) and June 30, 2017 (unaudited)

  F-4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2018 (unaudited) and June 30, 2017 (unaudited)

  F-5

Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of June 30, 2018 (unaudited)

  F-6

Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of December 31, 2017

  F-18

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements of New Mountain Finance Corporation

  F-28

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  F-72

(2)     Exhibits

(a)(1)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of New Mountain Finance Corporation(2)

(a)(2)

 

Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office of New Mountain Finance Corporation(3)

(b)

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of New Mountain Finance Corporation(2)

(d)(1)

 

Form of Stock Certificate of New Mountain Finance Corporation(1)

(d)(2)

 

Form of Indenture(6)

(d)(3)

 

Indenture by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, dated June 3, 2014(9)

(d)(4)

 

Form of Global Note 5.00% Convertible Note Due 2019 (included as part of Exhibit (d)(3))(9)

(d)(5)

 

Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1(23)

(d)(6)

 

Indenture by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Issuer, and U.S. Bank National Bank Association, as Trustee, dated August 20, 2018

(d)(7)

 

First Supplemental Indenture, dated August 20, 2018, relating to the 5.75% Convertible Notes Due 2023, by and between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee

(d)(8)

 

Form of Global Note 5.75% Convertible Note Due 2023 (included as part of Exhibit (d)(7)

(e)

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan(2)

C-1


(f)(1)   Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of October 24, 2017, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as the collateral manager, New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., as the borrower and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, lender and custodian(20)

(f)(2)

 

First Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of March 30, 2018, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as the collateral manager, New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., as the borrower, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the administrative agent, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the collateral custodian.(24)

(f)(3)

 

Form of Variable Funding Note of New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., as the Borrower(1)

(f)(4)

 

Form of Amended and Restated Account Control Agreement, among New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as the Administrative Agent, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Securities Intermediary(1)

(f)(5)

 

Form of Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement, by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent, dated June 4, 2014(10)

(f)(6)

 

Form of Guarantee and Security Agreement dated June 4, 2014, among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Administrative Agent(10)

(f)(7)

 

Amendment No. 1, dated December 29, 2014, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2014, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent(11)

(f)(8)

 

Amendment No. 2, dated June 26, 2015, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2014, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent(13)

(f)(9)

 

Amendment No. 3, dated February 27, 2018, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2014, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent(22)

(f)(10)

 

Amendment No. 4, dated July 5, 2018, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2014, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent(26)

(f)(11)

 

Commitment Increase Agreement, dated March 23, 2016, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2014, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent(14)

(f)(12)

 

Commitment Increase Agreement, dated May 4, 2016, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2014, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent(15)

(f)(13)

 

Commitment Increase Agreement, dated January 25, 2018, to the Senior Secured Revolving Credit Agreement dated June 4, 2014, by and among New Mountain Finance Corporation, as Borrower, and Goldman Bank USA, as Administrative Agent and Syndication Agent(22)

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(f)(14)   Form of Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement relating to 5.313% Notes due 2021, dated September 30, 2016, by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation and the purchasers party thereto(16)

(f)(15)

 

Form of Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement relating to 4.760% Notes due 2022, dated June 30, 2017, by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation and the purchasers party thereto(19)

(f)(16)

 

Form of Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement relating to 4.870% Notes due 2023, dated January 30, 2018, by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation and the purchasers party thereto(21)

(f)(17)

 

Form of Amended and Restated Note Purchase Agreement relating to 5.36% Notes due 2023, dated July 5, 2018, by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation and the purchasers party thereto(26)

(g)

 

Investment Advisory and Management Agreement by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation and New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, LLC(8)

(h)(1)

 

Form of Underwriting Agreement(5)

(h)(2)

 

Underwriting Agreement, dated August 15, 2018, between the Registrant and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative of the several underwriters

(j)(1)

 

Form of Safekeeping Agreement among New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC as the Administrative Agent and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Safekeeping Agent(1)

(j)(2)

 

Custody Agreement by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association(7)

(k)(1)

 

Second Amended and Restated Administration Agreement(12)

(k)(2)

 

Form of Trademark License Agreement(1)

(k)(3)

 

Amendment No. 1 to Trademark License Agreement(4)

(k)(5)

 

Form of Indemnification Agreement by and between New Mountain Finance Corporation and each director(1)

(k)(6)

 

Limited Liability Company Agreement of NMFC Senior Loan Program II LLC, dated March 9, 2016(15)

(k)(7)

 

Limited Liability Company Agreement for Senior Loan Program III LLC, dated April 25, 2018(25)

(l)(1)

 

Opinion and Consent of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP(18)

(l)(2)

 

Opinion and Consent of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP

(n)(1)

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP(27)

(n)(2)

 

Report of Deloitte & Touche LLP(23)

(n)(3)

 

Awareness Letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP(27)

(n)(4)

 

Consent of Deloitte and Touche LLP

(n)(5)

 

Awareness Letter of Deloitte & Touche LLP

(r)

 

Code of Ethics(1)

C-3


99.1   Form of Prospectus Supplement for Common Stock Offerings(18)

99.2

 

Form of Prospectus Supplement for Preferred Stock Offerings(18)

99.3

 

Form of Prospectus Supplement for Rights Offerings(18)

99.4

 

Form of Prospectus Supplement for Warrants Offerings(18)

99.5

 

Form of Prospectus Supplement Retail Notes Offerings(18)

99.6

 

Form of Prospectus Supplement for Institutional Notes Offerings(18)

99.7

 

Form of Prospectus Supplement for Convertible Notes Offerings(18)

(1)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 (File Nos. 333-168280 and 333-172503) filed on May 9, 2011.

(2)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on August 11, 2011.

(3)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation and New Mountain Finance AIV Holdings Corporation report on Form 8-K filed on August 25, 2011.

(4)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 14, 2011.

(5)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 (File Nos. 333-180689 and 333-180690) filed on July 10, 2012.

(6)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 (File Nos. 333-189706 and 333-189707) filed on November 20, 2013.

(7)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 (File Nos. 333-189706 and 333-189707) filed on April 11, 2014.

(8)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2014.

(9)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2014.

(10)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on June 10, 2014.

(11)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on January 5, 2015.

(12)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on May 5, 2015.

(13)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2015.

(14)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on March 29, 2016.

(15)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on May 4, 2016.

(16)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on October 3, 2016.

(17)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-218040) filed on May 16, 2017.

(18)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 (File No. 333-218040) filed on June 22, 2017.

(19)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on July 3, 2017.

(20)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2017.

(21)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2018.

(22)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's annual report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2018.

C-4


(23)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 (File No. 333-218040) filed on March 28, 2018.

(24)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on April 5, 2018.

(25)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on May 7, 2018.

(26)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's report on Form 8-K filed on July 11, 2018.

(27)
Previously filed in connection with New Mountain Finance Corporation's registration statement on Form N-2 Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 (File No. 222-218040) filed on July 12, 2018.

Item 26.    Marketing Arrangements

          The information contained under the heading "Plan of Distribution" in this Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 27.    Other Expenses Of Issuance And Distribution

SEC registration fee

  $ 57,950 *

FINRA filing fee

  $ 75,500 **

New York Stock Exchange listing fee

  $ 130,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

  $ 250,000  

Legal fees and expenses

  $ 400,000  

Printing and engraving

  $ 250,000  

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

  $ 5,000  

Total

  $ 1,168,450  

Note: All listed amounts, except the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee, are estimates.

*
This amount has been offset against filing fees associated with unsold securities registered under a previous registration statement.

**
$18,819.47 of this amount has been offset against filing fees associated with unsold securities registered under a previous registration statement.

Item 28.    Persons Controlled By Or Under Common Control

          The following list sets forth each of our subsidiaries, the state under whose laws the subsidiary is organized and the voting securities owned by us, directly or indirectly, in such subsidiary:

New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

NMF Ancora Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

NMF QID NGL Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

NMF YP Holdings, Inc. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

New Mountain Finance Servicing, L.L.C. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

New Mountain Finance SBIC G.P., L.L.C. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

New Mountain Finance SBIC, L.P. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

New Mountain Finance SBIC II G.P., L.L.C. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

New Mountain Finance SBIC II, L.P. (Delaware)

    100.0 %

          Each of our subsidiaries is consolidated for financial reporting purposes.

          In addition, we may be deemed to control certain portfolio companies. See "Portfolio Companies" in the prospectus.

C-5


Item 29.    Number Of Holders Of Securities

          The following table sets forth the number of record holders of our common stock as of July 10, 2018.

Title of Class

    Number of
Record Holders
 

Common stock, $0.01 par value

    16  

Item 30.    Indemnification

          Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify its officers and directors and specific other persons to the extent and under the circumstances set forth therein.

          Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law allows a Delaware corporation to eliminate the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liabilities arising (a) from any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (b) from acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (c) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or (d) from any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

          Subject to the 1940 Act or any valid rule, regulation or order of the SEC thereunder, NMFC's amended and restated bylaws provide that it will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of NMFC, or is or was serving at the request of NMFC as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in accordance with provisions corresponding to Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. The 1940 Act provides that a company may not indemnify any director or officer against liability to it or its security holders to which he or she might otherwise be subject by reason of his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his or her office unless a determination is made by final decision of a court, by vote of a majority of a quorum of directors who are disinterested, non-party directors or by independent legal counsel that the liability for which indemnification is sought did not arise out of the foregoing conduct. In addition, NMFC's amended and restated bylaws provide that the indemnification described therein is not exclusive and shall not exclude any other rights to which the person seeking to be indemnified may be entitled under statute, any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors who are not interested persons, or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and to his or her action in another capacity while holding such office.

          The above discussion of Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and NMFC's amended and restated bylaws is not intended to be exhaustive and is respectively qualified in its entirety by such statute and NMFC's amended and restated bylaws.

          Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person

C-6


in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is again public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

          The Registrant has obtained primary and excess insurance policies insuring our directors and officers against some liabilities they may incur in their capacity as directors and officers. Under such policies, the insurer, on the Registrant's behalf, may also pay amounts for which the Registrant has granted indemnification to the directors or officers.

          The Investment Management Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of its duties and obligations, New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C., or the Investment Adviser, and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members (or their owners) and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from NMFC for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of the Investment Adviser's services under the Investment Management Agreement or otherwise as investment adviser of NMFC.

          The Administration Agreement provides that, absent willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of their respective duties or by reason of the reckless disregard of their respective duties and obligations, New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C. and its officers, managers, agents, employees, controlling persons, members and any other person or entity affiliated with it are entitled to indemnification from the Registrant for any damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and amounts reasonably paid in settlement) arising from the rendering of services under the Administration Agreement or otherwise as administrator for the Registrant.

Item 31.    Business And Other Connections Of Investment Adviser

          A description of any other business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature in which the Investment Adviser, and each director or executive officer of the Investment Adviser, is or has been during the past two fiscal years, engaged in for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee, is set forth in Part A of this Registration Statement in the sections entitled "Management — Biographical Information — Directors", "Portfolio Management — Investment Personnel", "Management — Biographical Information — Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors" and "Investment Management Agreement". Additional information regarding the Investment Adviser and its officers and directors is set forth in its Form ADV, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC File No. 801-71948), and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 32.    Location Of Accounts And Records

          All accounts, books and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules thereunder are maintained at the offices of:

    (1)
    the Registrant, New Mountain Finance Corporation, 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, New York 10019;

    (2)
    the Transfer Agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11219;

    (3)
    the Safekeeping Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, 9062 Old Annapolis Road, Columbia, Maryland 21045;

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    (4)
    the Custodian, U.S. Bank National Association, One Federal Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110;

    (5)
    the Investment Adviser, New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C., 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, New York 10019; and

    (6)
    the Administrator, New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C., 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, New York 10019.

Item 33.    Management Services

          Not Applicable.

Item 34.    Undertakings

    (1)
    Registrant undertakes to suspend the offering of the shares of common stock covered hereby until it amends its prospectus contained herein if (a) subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement, its net asset value per share of common stock declines more than 10.0% from its net asset value per share of common stock as of the effective date of this Registration Statement, or (b) its net asset value per share of common stock increases to an amount greater than its net proceeds as stated in the prospectus contained herein.

    (2)
    Not applicable.

    (3)
    Registrant undertakes in the event that the securities being registered are to be offered to existing stockholders pursuant to warrants or rights, and any securities not taken by shareholders are to be reoffered to the public, to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent underwriting thereof. Registrant further undertakes that if any public offering by the underwriters of the securities being registered is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, the Registrant shall file a post-effective amendment to set forth the terms of such offering.

    (4)
    The Registrant hereby undertakes:

    (a)
    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement:

    (i)
    to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act;

    (ii)
    to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement; and

    (iii)
    to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement.

    (b)
    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of those securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

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      (c)
      To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; and

      (d)
      That, for the purpose of determining liability under the 1933 Act to any purchaser, if the Registrant is subject to Rule 430C: Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 497(b), (c), (d) or (e) under the 1933 Act as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A under the 1933 Act, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness; Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such first use, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such date of first use.

      (e)
      That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the 1933 Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to the purchaser:

      (i)
      any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act;

      (ii)
      the portion of any advertisement pursuant to Rule 482 under the 1933 Act relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

      (iii)
      any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

      (f)
      To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement, and to suspend any offers or sales pursuant the registration statement until such post-effective amendment has been declared effective under the 1933 Act, in the event the shares of the Registrant is trading below its net asset value and either (i) Registrant receives, or has been advised by its independent registered accounting firm that it will receive, an audit report reflecting substantial doubt regarding the Registrant's ability to continue as a going concern or (ii) Registrant has concluded that a material adverse change has occurred in its financial position or results of operations that has caused the financial statements and other disclosures on the basis of which the offering would be made to be materially misleading.

      (g)
      To not seek to sell shares under a prospectus supplement to the registration statement, or a post-effective amendment to the registration statement, of which the prospectus forms a part (the "current registration statement") if the cumulative dilution to the Registrant's net asset value ("NAV") per share arising from offerings

C-9


        from the effective date of the current registration statement through and including any follow-on offering would exceed 15% based on the anticipated pricing of such follow-on offering. This limit would be measured separately for each offering pursuant to the current registration statement by calculating the percentage dilution or accretion to aggregate NAV from that offering and then summing the anticipated percentage dilution from each subsequent offering. If the Registrant files a new post-effective amendment, the threshold would reset.

    (5)
    (a) For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of a registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the form of prospectus filed by the Registrant under Rule 497 (h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of the Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

    (b)
    For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of the securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (6)
    The Registrant undertakes to send by first class mail or other means designed to ensure equally prompt delivery within two business days of receipt of a written or oral request, any Statement of Additional Information.

C-10



SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 to be signed on their behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, in the State of New York, on the 20th day of August, 2018.

    NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/ ROBERT A. HAMWEE

Robert A. Hamwee
Chief Executive Officer

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form N-2 has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant, and in the capacities indicated, on the 20th day of August, 2018.

Signature
 
Title

 

 

 
/s/ ROBERT A. HAMWEE

Robert A. Hamwee
  Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and Director

/s/ SHIRAZ Y. KAJEE

Shiraz Y. Kajee

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) and Treasurer

*

Steven B. Klinsky

 

Chairman of the Board of Directors

*

Adam B. Weinstein

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Director

*

Alfred F. Hurley Jr.

 

Director

*

Rome G. Arnold III

 

Director

*

David Ogens

 

Director

*

Kurt J. Wolfgruber

 

Director

*
Signed by Robert A. Hamwee pursuant to a power of attorney signed by each individual and filed with this Registration Statement on May 16, 2017.

C-11




Exhibit (d)(6)

 

INDENTURE

 

NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

Issuer

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

Trustee

 

Indenture

 

Dated as of August 20, 2018

 

Providing for the Issuance

 

Of

 

Debt Securities

 



 

NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and Indenture, dated as of August 20, 2018

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

 

Indenture Section

§ 310

(a)(1)

 

607

 

(a)(2)

 

607

 

(b)

 

609

§ 312

(c)

 

701

§ 314

(a)

 

704

 

(a)(4)

 

1005

 

(c)(1)

 

102

 

(c)(2)

 

102

 

(e)

 

102

§ 315

(b)

 

601

§ 316

(a) (last sentence)

 

101 (“Outstanding”)

 

(a)(1)(A)

 

502, 512

 

(a)(1)(B)

 

513

 

(b)

 

508

§ 317

(a)(1)

 

503

 

(a)(2)

 

504

§ 318

(a)

 

111

 

(c)

 

111

 

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

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

1

SECTION 101.

 

Definitions

 

1

SECTION 102.

 

Compliance Certificates and Opinions

 

8

SECTION 103.

 

Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

 

8

SECTION 104.

 

Acts of Holders

 

8

SECTION 105.

 

Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company

 

9

SECTION 106.

 

Notice to Holders; Waiver

 

10

SECTION 107.

 

Conflict with TIA

 

10

SECTION 108.

 

Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

 

10

SECTION 109.

 

Successors and Assigns

 

10

SECTION 110.

 

Separability Clause

 

10

SECTION 111.

 

Benefits of Indenture

 

10

SECTION 112.

 

Governing Law

 

11

SECTION 113.

 

Legal Holidays

 

11

SECTION 114.

 

Submission to Jurisdiction

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS

 

11

SECTION 201.

 

Forms of Securities

 

11

SECTION 202.

 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

 

11

SECTION 203.

 

Securities Issuable in Global Form

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES

 

12

SECTION 301.

 

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

 

12

SECTION 302.

 

Denominations

 

15

SECTION 303.

 

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

 

15

SECTION 304.

 

Temporary Securities

 

17

SECTION 305.

 

Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange

 

17

SECTION 306.

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

 

19

SECTION 307.

 

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset

 

19

SECTION 308.

 

Optional Extension of Maturity

 

21

SECTION 309.

 

Persons Deemed Owners

 

22

SECTION 310.

 

Cancellation

 

22

SECTION 311.

 

Computation of Interest

 

22

SECTION 312.

 

Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities

 

22

SECTION 313.

 

Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent

 

25

SECTION 314.

 

CUSIP Numbers

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

25

SECTION 401.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

 

25

SECTION 402.

 

Application of Trust Funds

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES

 

26

SECTION 501.

 

Events of Default

 

26

SECTION 502.

 

Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

 

28

SECTION 503.

 

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

 

28

SECTION 504.

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

 

29

SECTION 505.

 

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

 

30

SECTION 506.

 

Application of Money Collected

 

30

SECTION 507.

 

Limitation on Suits

 

30

SECTION 508.

 

Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest

 

31

SECTION 509.

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

 

31

SECTION 510.

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

 

31

 

i



 

SECTION 511.

 

Delay or Omission Not Waiver

 

31

SECTION 512.

 

Control by Holders of Securities

 

31

SECTION 513.

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

 

32

SECTION 514.

 

Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE

 

32

SECTION 601.

 

Notice of Defaults

 

32

SECTION 602.

 

Certain Rights and Duties of Trustee

 

32

SECTION 603.

 

Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

 

34

SECTION 604.

 

May Hold Securities

 

35

SECTION 605.

 

Money Held in Trust

 

35

SECTION 606.

 

Compensation and Reimbursement and Indemnification of Trustee

 

35

SECTION 607.

 

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

 

36

SECTION 608.

 

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

 

36

SECTION 609.

 

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

 

36

SECTION 610.

 

Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

 

37

SECTION 611.

 

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

 

38

SECTION 612.

 

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

39

SECTION 701.

 

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

 

39

SECTION 702.

 

Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

 

40

SECTION 703.

 

Reports by Trustee

 

40

SECTION 704.

 

Reports by Company

 

40

SECTION 705.

 

Calculation of Original Issue Discount

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

 

41

SECTION 801.

 

Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms

 

41

SECTION 802.

 

Successor Person Substituted

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

42

SECTION 901.

 

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

 

42

SECTION 902.

 

Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders

 

42

SECTION 903.

 

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

 

43

SECTION 904.

 

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

 

44

SECTION 905.

 

Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS

 

44

SECTION 1001.

 

Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest

 

44

SECTION 1002.

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

 

44

SECTION 1003.

 

Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

 

45

SECTION 1004.

 

Additional Amounts

 

45

SECTION 1005.

 

Statement as to Compliance

 

46

SECTION 1006.

 

Waiver of Certain Covenants

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

46

SECTION 1101.

 

Applicability of Article

 

46

SECTION 1102.

 

Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

 

47

SECTION 1103.

 

Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed

 

47

SECTION 1104.

 

Notice of Redemption

 

47

SECTION 1105.

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

 

48

SECTION 1106.

 

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

 

48

SECTION 1107.

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

 

48

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS

 

49

SECTION 1201.

 

Applicability of Article

 

49

 

ii



 

SECTION 1202.

 

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

 

49

SECTION 1203.

 

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

 

49

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

50

SECTION 1301.

 

Applicability of Article

 

50

SECTION 1302.

 

Repayment of Securities

 

50

SECTION 1303.

 

Exercise of Option

 

50

SECTION 1304.

 

When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable

 

50

SECTION 1305.

 

Securities Repaid in Part

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

51

SECTION 1401.

 

Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

51

SECTION 1402.

 

Defeasance and Discharge

 

51

SECTION 1403.

 

Covenant Defeasance

 

51

SECTION 1404.

 

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

 

52

SECTION 1405.

 

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

 

53

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

54

SECTION 1501.

 

Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called

 

54

SECTION 1502.

 

Call, Notice and Place of Meetings

 

54

SECTION 1503.

 

Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

 

54

SECTION 1504.

 

Quorum; Action

 

54

SECTION 1505.

 

Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

 

55

SECTION 1506.

 

Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

 

56

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE SIXTEEN SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

56

SECTION 1601.

 

Agreement to Subordinate

 

56

SECTION 1602.

 

Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Subordinated Securities

 

56

SECTION 1603.

 

No Payment on Subordinated Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness

 

57

SECTION 1604.

 

Payments on Subordinated Securities Permitted

 

57

SECTION 1605.

 

Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination

 

58

SECTION 1606.

 

Notices to Trustee

 

58

SECTION 1607.

 

Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness

 

58

SECTION 1608.

 

Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness

 

58

SECTION 1609.

 

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

 

59

 

iii



 

INDENTURE, dated as of August 20, 2018, between NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal office at 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, New York 10019, and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), having its office at One Federal Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company deems it necessary to issue from time to time for its lawful purposes debt securities (hereinafter called the “Securities”) evidencing its secured or unsecured indebtedness, which may or may not be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (as defined herein) (including the Company), and has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Securities, to be issued in one or more series, unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such times and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

 

This Indenture (as defined herein) is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

 

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:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities, or of a series thereof, as follows:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

SECTION 101.                                   Definitions.

 

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

 

(1)                                 the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular and, pursuant to Section 301, any such item may, with respect to any particular series of Securities, be amended or modified or specified as being inapplicable;

 

(2)                                 all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein), either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper”, as used in Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission (as defined herein) adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(3)                                 all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America; and

 

(4)                                 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.

 

Certain terms, used in other Articles herein, are defined in those Articles.

 

Act”, when used with respect to any Holder of a Security, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts that are required by a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and that are owing to such Holders.

 

1



 

Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct 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” means any authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 612 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, the executive committee or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.

 

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or particular location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

 

Company” means 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 Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President of the Company, and by the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Conversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(d).

 

Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (i) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country which issued such currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community, (ii) the Euro within the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union or (iii) any currency unit (or composite currency) other than the Euro for the purposes for which it was established.

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof for purposes of Section 1002 only is located at 111 Fillmore Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, Attention: New Mountain Finance Corporation, and for all other purposes is located at 1 Federal Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: New Mountain Finance Corporation, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

2



 

Corporation” includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.

 

Currency” means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units issued by the government of one or more countries or by any reorganized confederation or association of such governments.

 

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

 

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

Depository” means the clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as the Depository for global Securities.  DTC shall be the initial Depository, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depository” shall mean or include such successor.

 

Dollar” or “ $” means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

Euro” means the euro or other equivalent unit in such official coin or currency of the European Union.

 

Election Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(h).

 

Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

Exchange Rate Agent”, with respect to Securities of or within any series, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, a bank that is a member of the New York Clearing House Association, designated pursuant to Section 301 or Section 313.

 

Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation and (ii) the Dollar or Foreign Currency amounts of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any (on an aggregate basis and on the basis of a Security having the lowest denomination principal amount determined in accordance with Section 302 in the relevant Currency), payable with respect to a Security of any series on the basis of such Market Exchange Rate or the applicable bid quotation signed by the Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the Company.

 

Foreign Currency” means any Currency, including, without limitation, the Euro issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

 

Government Obligations” means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the government that issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable, 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 of America or such government that issued the Foreign Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a 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 Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

Holder” means the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

Indenture” means 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,

 

3



 

and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; providedhowever, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which 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 the or those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms that 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 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.

 

Indexed Security” means a Security as to which all or certain interest payments and/or the principal amount payable at Maturity are determined by reference to prices, changes in prices, or differences between prices, of securities, Currencies, intangibles, goods, articles or commodities or by such other objective price, economic or other measures as are specified in or pursuant to Section 301 hereof.

 

Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, includes such Additional Amounts.

 

Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

 

Market Exchange Rate” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, (i) for any conversion involving a currency unit on the one hand and Dollars or any Foreign Currency on the other, the exchange rate between the relevant currency unit and Dollars or such Foreign Currency calculated by the method specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of the relevant series, (ii) for any conversion of Dollars into any Foreign Currency, the noon buying rate for such Foreign Currency for cable transfers quoted in New York City as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and (iii) for any conversion of one Foreign Currency into Dollars or another Foreign Currency, the spot rate at noon local time in the relevant market at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Dollars or Foreign Currency into which conversion is being made could be purchased with the Foreign Currency from which conversion is being made from major banks located in either New York City, London or any other principal market for Dollars or such purchased Foreign Currency, in each case determined by the Exchange Rate Agent. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, in the event of the unavailability of any of the exchange rates provided for in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), the Exchange Rate Agent shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in New York City, London or other principal market for such currency or currency unit in question, or such other quotations as the Exchange Rate Agent shall deem appropriate. Unless otherwise specified by the Exchange Rate Agent, if there is more than one market for dealing in any currency or currency unit by reason of foreign exchange regulations or otherwise, the market to be used in respect of such currency or currency unit shall be that upon which a nonresident issuer of securities designated in such currency or currency unit would purchase such currency or currency unit in order to make payments in respect of such securities as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent, in its sole discretion.

 

Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment, notice of exchange or conversion or otherwise.

 

Notice of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 501.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President of the Company, and by the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

4



 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company or who may be an employee of or other counsel for the Company and who shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

 

Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities or any series of Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities or all Securities of such series, as the case may be, theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(i)                                     Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(ii)                                  Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder 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, provided that, if such Securities 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;

 

(iii)                               Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 1402 and 1403, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article Fourteen;

 

(iv)                              Securities that have been changed into any other securities of the Company or any other Person in accordance with this Indenture if the terms of such Securities provide for convertibility or exchangeability pursuant to Section 301; and

 

(v)                                 Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 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 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;

 

providedhowever, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders for quorum purposes, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, (ii) the principal amount of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the Dollar equivalent, determined as of the date such Security is originally issued by the Company as set forth in an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security, the Dollar equivalent as of such date of original issuance of the amount determined as provided in clause (i) above or (iii) below, respectively) of such Security, (iii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities 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 making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or upon any such determination as to the presence of a quorum, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

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Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

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

 

Place of Payment”, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, means the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities are payable as specified and as contemplated by Sections 301 and 1002.

 

Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Registered Security” means any Security that is registered in the Security Register.

 

Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Registered Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 301, whether or not a Business Day.

 

Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, means the date fixed for such repayment by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, means the price at which it is to be repaid by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

Security” or “Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and, more particularly, means any Security or Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; providedhowever, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities” with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

 

Senior Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (a) indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, that has been designated by the Company as “Senior Indebtedness” for purposes of this Indenture by a Company Order delivered to the Trustee, (b) Senior Securities, and (c) renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any such indebtedness.

 

Senior Security” or “Senior Securities” means any Security or Securities designated pursuant to Section 301 as a Senior Security.

 

Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

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Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 308.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on (a) indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, which in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness ranks junior in right of payment to the Company’s Senior Indebtedness, equally and pari passu in right of payment with all other Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) Subordinated Securities, and (c) renewals, extensions, modifications and refinancings of any such Subordinated Indebtedness.

 

Subordinated Security” or “Subordinated Securities” means any Security or Securities designated pursuant to Section 301 as a Subordinated Security.

 

Subsidiary” means (1) any corporation a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company, (2) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has a majority ownership interest, or (3) a partnership in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the time, a general partner and in which such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has a majority ownership interest. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock having voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 905.

 

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

 

United States” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

 

United States person” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable Treasury regulations), any estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, or any trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, to the extent provided in the Treasury regulations, certain trusts in existence on August 20, 1996, and treated as United States persons prior to such date that elect to continue to be treated as United States persons, will also be United States persons.

 

Valuation Date” has the meaning specified in Section 312(c).

 

Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.

 

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SECTION 102.                                   Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ 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, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 1005) shall include:

 

(1)                                 a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(2)                                 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;

 

(3)                                 a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such individual to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant has been complied with; and

 

(4)                                 a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

SECTION 103.                                   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

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 as 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.

 

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

 

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 104.                                   Acts of Holders.

 

(a)                                 Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article Fifteen, or a combination of such instruments and

 

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any such record.  Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

 

(b)                                 The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing or the authority of the Person executing the same may also be proved in any other reasonable manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c)                                  The ownership of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(d)                                 If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.

 

(e)                                  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

SECTION 105.                                   Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(1)                                 the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished, filed or mailed, first-class postage prepaid in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: New Mountain Finance Corporation (Karen R. Beard), or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Company by the Trustee (provided that any communication sent to the Trustee hereunder must be in the form of a document signed by hand or with a digital signature using DocuSign or Adobe Sign, or electronic copy thereof), or

 

(2)                                 the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, to the attention of its Secretary or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

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SECTION 106.                                   Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Registered Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities 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 of Registered Securities. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.

 

If by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification to Holders of Registered Securities as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

 

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 upon such waiver.

 

SECTION 107.                                   Conflict with TIA.

 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the TIA that is required under the TIA to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the provision of the TIA shall control.  If any provision of this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA that may be so modified or excluded, the provision of the TIA shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified or only to the extent not so excluded, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 108.                                   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

SECTION 109.                                   Successors and Assigns.

 

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

SECTION 110.                                   Separability Clause.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security 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 111.                                   Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 112.                                   Governing Law.

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

 

SECTION 113.                                   Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, 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 the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 114.                                   Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

The Company hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York state or federal court sitting in The City of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Indenture and the Securities of any series, and the Company hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state or federal court. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

SECURITIES FORMS

 

SECTION 201.                                   Forms of Securities.

 

The Registered Securities of each series, the temporary global Securities of each series, if any, and the permanent global Securities of each series, if any, shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution in accordance with Section 301, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, 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 any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.

 

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

SECTION 202.                                   Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

 

 

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

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SECTION 203.                                   Securities Issuable in Global Form.

 

If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (8) of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Security Registrar in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or 304. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement, delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

 

The provisions of the last sentence of Section 303 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee or the Security Registrar the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 303.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 309 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security, the Holder of such permanent global Security.

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

THE SECURITIES

 

SECTION 301.                                   Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

 

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The Securities may be issued in one or more series as Registered Securities and shall be designated as Senior Securities or Subordinated Securities.  Senior Securities are unsubordinated, shall rank equally and pari passu with all of the Company’s other Senior Indebtedness and senior to all of the Company’s Subordinated Indebtedness.  Subordinated Securities shall rank junior to the Company’s Senior Indebtedness and equally and pari passu with all of the Company’s other Subordinated Indebtedness.  There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (1), (2) and (15) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series when issued from time to time):

 

(1)                                 the title of the Securities of the series including CUSIP numbers (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from all other series of Securities);

 

(2)                                 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 registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 906, 1107 or 1305, and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3)                                 the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or extended, on which the principal of the Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

(4)                                 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, 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 such interest will be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date shall be determined, the basis upon which such interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

 

(5)                                 the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, any Registered Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served;

 

(6)                                 the period or periods within which, or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which, the Currency or Currencies in which, and other 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 the option;

 

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

 

(8)                                 if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Registered Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(9)                                 if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;

 

(10)                          if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, upon redemption of the Securities of the series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity, upon surrender for repayment at the option of the Holder, or which the Trustee shall be entitled to claim pursuant to Section 504 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;

 

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(11)                          if other than Dollars, the Currency or Currencies in which payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series shall be made or in which the Securities of the series shall be denominated and the particular provisions applicable thereto in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;

 

(12)                          whether the amount of payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(13)                          whether the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in one or more Currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which (including the Election Date), and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the Currency or Currencies in which such Securities are to be paid, in each case in accordance with, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Section 312;

 

(14)                          provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;

 

(15)                          any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to any of the provisions of Section 1006) of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

 

(16)                          whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series in certificated form and of like tenor of any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in Section 305, and the circumstances under which and the place or places where such exchanges may be made and if Securities of the series are to be issuable as a global Security, the identity of the depository for such series;

 

(17)                          the date as of which any temporary global Security representing Outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

 

(18)                          the Person to whom any interest on any Registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid; and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a permanent global Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 307;

 

(19)                          the applicability, if any, of Sections 1402 and/or 1403 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article Fourteen;

 

(20)                          if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

 

(21)                          whether, under what circumstances and the Currency in which, the Company will pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 1004 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);

 

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(22)                          the designation of the initial Exchange Rate Agent, if any;

 

(23)                          if the Securities of the series are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

 

(24)                          if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;

 

(25)                          if the Securities of the series are to be secured, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so secured;

 

(26)                          the appointment of any calculation agent, foreign currency exchange agent or other additional agents;

 

(27)                          if the Securities of the series are to be listed on a securities exchange, the name of such exchange may be indicated; and

 

(28)                          any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture or the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above (subject to Section 303) and set forth in the Officers’ Certificate referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

 

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, a copy of an appropriate record of such action(s) shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 302.                                   Denominations.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 301. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Registered Securities of such series, other than Registered Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination) shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

SECTION 303.                                   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Operating Officer, its Chief Financial Officer or any of its Vice Presidents and attested by its Secretary or any of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

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 and an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel in accordance with Section 102 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such

 

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Securities.  If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series, such as interest rate, maturity date, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon,

 

(i)                                     an Opinion of Counsel stating,

 

(a)                                 that the form or forms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

(b)                                 that the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(c)                                  that such Securities, when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights, to general equitable principles and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Securities; and

 

(ii)                                  an Officers’ Certificate stating, to the best of the knowledge of the signers of such certificate, that no Event of Default with respect to any of the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of this Section 303, if all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order, Opinion of Counsel or Officers’ Certificate otherwise required pursuant to the preceding paragraph at the time of issuance of each Security of such series, but such order, opinion and certificates, with appropriate modifications to cover such future issuances, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.

 

If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, obligations or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, the Trustee will not be required to authenticate Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency if the Trustee reasonably believes that it would be unable to perform its duties with respect to such Securities.

 

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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 the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee or an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized signatory, 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 310 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 304.                                   Temporary Securities.

 

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 produced, in any authorized denomination, 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. In the case of Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be in global form.

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged as provided in or pursuant to a Board Resolution), if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that 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 the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that 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 and like tenor of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations. 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.

 

SECTION 305.                                   Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such office or in any such office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes referred to collectively as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Registered Securities and of transfers of Registered Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, is hereby initially appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Registered Securities and transfers of Registered Securities on such Security Register as herein provided, and for facilitating exchanges of temporary global Securities for permanent global Securities or definitive Securities, or both, or of permanent global Securities for definitive Securities, or both, as herein provided. In the event that the Trustee shall cease to be Security Registrar, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times.  In acting hereunder and in connection with the Securities, the Security Registrar shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

 

At the option of the Holder, Registered Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Registered Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination or denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the Registered Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Registered Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Registered Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any permanent global Security shall be exchangeable only as provided in this paragraph. If any beneficial owner of an interest in a permanent global Security is entitled to exchange such interest for Securities of such series and of like tenor and

 

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principal amount of another authorized form and denomination, as specified as contemplated by Section 301 and provided that any applicable notice provided in the permanent global Security shall have been given, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interest may be so exchanged, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such beneficial owner’s interest in such permanent global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such permanent global Security shall be surrendered by the depository specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 or such other depository as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, or to the Security Registrar, to be exchanged, in whole or from time to time in part, for definitive Securities of the same series without charge and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for each portion of such permanent global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such permanent global Security to be exchanged; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date if the Security for which exchange is requested may be among those selected for redemption. If a Registered Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a permanent global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest or interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such permanent global Security is payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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 upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

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

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906, 1107 or 1305 not involving any transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security if such Security may be among those selected for redemption during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before selection of the Securities to be redeemed under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Registered Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed or (iii) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security that has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a global Security, a member of, or a participant in, DTC or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than DTC) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities.  All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a global Security).  The rights of beneficial owners in any global Security shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC.  The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

 

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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 (including any transfers between or among DTC participants, members or beneficial owners in any global 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.  Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by DTC.

 

SECTION 306.                                   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall, subject to the following paragraph, execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, 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 such Security.

 

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

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security 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.

 

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 307.                                   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset.

 

(a)                                 Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, interest, if any, on any Registered 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 that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 1002; provided, however, that each installment of interest, if any, on any Registered Security may at the Company’s option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 309, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) transfer to an account maintained by the payee located in the United States.

 

Except as otherwise specified with respect to a series of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, any interest on any Registered Security of any series 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

 

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the registered Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)                                 The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Registered Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, 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 Registered Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 calendar days after such notice is received by the Trustee), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) 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 on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted 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 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The 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 mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder of Registered Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 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 the Registered Securities of such series (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 (2).

 

(2)                                 The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Registered Securities of any series 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.

 

(b)                                 The provisions of this Section 307(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an “Optional Reset Date”). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 35 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the “Reset Notice”) indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity of such Security (each such period a “Subsequent Interest Period”), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 calendar days prior to the Optional Reset Date (or if 20 calendar days does not fall on a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish a higher interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable) for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if

 

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applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, will bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier providing for a higher interest rate, if applicable).

 

The Holder of any such Security will have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 calendar days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 308.                                   Optional Extension of Maturity.

 

The provisions of this Section 308 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 301). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an “Extension Period”) up to but not beyond the date (the “Final Maturity”) set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 45 but not more than 60 calendar days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the “Original Stated Maturity”). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, to the Holder of such Security not later than 35 calendar days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the “Extension Notice”), prepared by the Company, indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), if any, applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustee’s transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security will have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 calendar days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security (or if 20 calendar days does not fall on a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day), the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such higher interest rate, if applicable) for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 106, notice of such higher interest rate (or spread, spread multiplier or other formula to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended will bear such higher interest rate.

 

If the Company extends the Stated Maturity of any Security, the Holder will have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Stated Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article Thirteen for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustee revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.

 

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SECTION 309.                                   Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global temporary or permanent Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depository, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such depository and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depository (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.

 

SECTION 310.                                   Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures, unless by a Company Order the Company directs the Trustee to deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company or to return them to the Company.

 

SECTION 311.                                   Computation of Interest.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to Securities of any series, interest, if any, on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 312.                                   Currency and Manner of Payments in Respect of Securities.

 

(a)                                 Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, with respect to Registered Securities of any series not permitting the election provided for in paragraph (b) below or the Holders of which have not made the election provided for in paragraph (b) below, payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on any Registered Security of such series will be made in the Currency in which such Registered Security is payable. The provisions of this Section 312 may be modified or superseded with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301.

 

(b)                                 It may be provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to Registered Securities of any series that Holders shall have the option, subject to paragraphs (d) and (e) below, to receive payments of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, on such Registered Securities in any of the Currencies which may be designated for such election by delivering to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities a written election with signature

 

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guarantees and in the applicable form established pursuant to Section 301, not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the applicable payment date. If a Holder so elects to receive such payments in any such Currency, such election will remain in effect for such Holder or any transferee of such Holder until changed by such Holder or such transferee by written notice to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities (but any such change must be made not later than the close of business on the Election Date immediately preceding the next payment date to be effective for the payment to be made on such payment date and no such change of election may be made with respect to payments to be made on any Registered Security of such series with respect to which an Event of Default has occurred or with respect to which the Company has deposited funds pursuant to Article Four or Fourteen or with respect to which a notice of redemption has been given by the Company or a notice of option to elect repayment has been sent by such Holder or such transferee). Any Holder of any such Registered Security who shall not have delivered any such election to the Trustee of such series of Registered Securities not later than the close of business on the applicable Election Date will be paid the amount due on the applicable payment date in the relevant Currency as provided in Section 312(a). The Trustee for each such series of Registered Securities shall notify the Exchange Rate Agent as soon as practicable after the Election Date of the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities for which Holders have made such written election.

 

(c)                                  Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301, then, not later than the fourth Business Day after the Election Date for each payment date for Registered Securities of any series, the Exchange Rate Agent will deliver to the Company a written notice specifying the Currency in which Registered Securities of such series are payable, the respective aggregate amounts of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Registered Securities to be paid on such payment date, specifying the amounts in such Currency so payable in respect of the Registered Securities as to which the Holders of Registered Securities denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above.  Unless the Trustee is acting as the Exchange Rate Agent, the Trustee shall have no obligation to complete the actual exchange of distribution amounts from one Currency to another Currency.  If the election referred to in paragraph (b) above has been provided for pursuant to Section 301 and if at least one Holder has made such election, then, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, on the second Business Day preceding such payment date the Company will deliver to the Trustee for such series of Registered Securities an Exchange Rate Officer’s Certificate in respect of the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies payments to be made on such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar or Foreign Currency or Currencies amount receivable by Holders of Registered Securities who have elected payment in a Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above shall be determined by the Company on the basis of the applicable Market Exchange Rate in effect on the second Business Day (the “Valuation Date”) immediately preceding each payment date, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

(d)                                 If a Conversion Event occurs with respect to a Foreign Currency in which any of the Securities are denominated or payable other than pursuant to an election provided for pursuant to paragraph (b) above, then with respect to each date for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the applicable Securities denominated or payable in such Foreign Currency occurring after the last date on which such Foreign Currency was used (the “Conversion Date”), the Dollar shall be the currency of payment for use on each such payment date. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, the Dollar amount to be paid by the Company to the Trustee of each such series of Securities and by such Trustee or any Paying Agent to the Holders of such Securities with respect to such payment date shall be, in the case of a Foreign Currency other than a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency or, in the case of a currency unit, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, in each case as determined by the Exchange Rate Agent in the manner provided in paragraph (f) or (g) below.

 

(e)                                  Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if the Holder of a Registered Security denominated in any Currency shall have elected to be paid in another Currency as provided in paragraph (b) above, and a Conversion Event occurs with respect to such elected Currency, such Holder shall receive payment in the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election; and if a Conversion Event occurs with respect to the Currency in which payment would have been made in the absence of such election, such Holder shall receive payment in Dollars as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section 312.

 

(f)                                   The “Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and shall be obtained for each subsequent payment date by converting the specified Foreign Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate on the Conversion Date.

 

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(g)                                  The “Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit” shall be determined by the Exchange Rate Agent and subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) below shall be the sum of each amount obtained by converting the Specified Amount of each Component Currency into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate for such Component Currency on the Valuation Date with respect to each payment.

 

(h)                                 For purposes of this Section 312, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

A “Component Currency” shall mean any currency which, on the Conversion Date, was a component currency of the relevant currency unit.

 

A “Specified Amount” of a Component Currency shall mean the number of units of such Component Currency or fractions thereof which were represented in the relevant currency unit on the Conversion Date. If after the Conversion Date the official unit of any Component Currency is altered by way of combination or subdivision, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be divided or multiplied in the same proportion. If after the Conversion Date two or more Component Currencies are consolidated into a single currency, the respective Specified Amounts of such Component Currencies shall be replaced by an amount in such single currency equal to the sum of the respective Specified Amounts of such consolidated Component Currencies expressed in such single currency, and such amount shall thereafter be a Specified Amount and such single currency shall thereafter be a Component Currency. If after the Conversion Date any Component Currency shall be divided into two or more currencies, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall be replaced by amounts of such two or more currencies, having an aggregate Dollar Equivalent value at the Market Exchange Rate on the date of such replacement equal to the Dollar Equivalent of the Specified Amount of such former Component Currency at the Market Exchange Rate immediately before such division, and such amounts shall thereafter be Specified Amounts and such currencies shall thereafter be Component Currencies. If, after the Conversion Date of the relevant currency unit, a Conversion Event (other than any event referred to above in this definition of “Specified Amount”) occurs with respect to any Component Currency of such currency unit and is continuing on the applicable Valuation Date, the Specified Amount of such Component Currency shall, for purposes of calculating the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, be converted into Dollars at the Market Exchange Rate in effect on the Conversion Date of such Component Currency.

 

An “Election Date” shall mean the Regular Record Date for the applicable series of Registered Securities or at least 16 days prior to Maturity, as the case may be, or such other prior date for any series of Registered Securities as specified pursuant to clause 13 of Section 301 by which the written election referred to in Section 312(b) may be made.

 

All decisions and determinations of the Exchange Rate Agent regarding the Dollar Equivalent of the Foreign Currency, the Dollar Equivalent of the Currency Unit, the Market Exchange Rate and changes in the Specified Amounts as specified above shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities and all Holders of such Securities denominated or payable in the relevant Currency. The Exchange Rate Agent shall promptly give written notice to the Company and the Trustee for the appropriate series of Securities of any such decision or determination.

 

In the event that the Company determines in good faith that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to a Foreign Currency, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof and of the applicable Conversion Date to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date. In the event the Company so determines that a Conversion Event has occurred with respect to any other currency unit in which Securities are denominated or payable, the Company will immediately give written notice thereof to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent (and such Trustee will promptly thereafter give notice in the manner provided in Section 106 to the affected Holders) specifying the Conversion Date and the Specified Amount of each Component Currency on the Conversion Date. In the event the Company determines in good faith that any subsequent change in any Component Currency as set forth in the definition of Specified Amount above has occurred, the Company will similarly give written notice to the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities and to the Exchange Rate Agent.

 

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The Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities shall be fully justified and protected in relying and acting upon information received by it from the Company and the Exchange Rate Agent and shall not otherwise have any duty or obligation to determine the accuracy or validity of such information independent of the Company or the Exchange Rate Agent.

 

SECTION 313.                                   Appointment and Resignation of Successor Exchange Rate Agent.

 

(a)                                 Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a Foreign Currency or (ii) may be payable in a Foreign Currency, or so long as it is required under any other provision of this Indenture, then the Company will engage and maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent. The Company will cause the Exchange Rate Agent to make the necessary foreign exchange determinations at the time and in the manner specified pursuant to Section 301 for the purpose of determining the applicable rate of exchange and, if applicable, for the purpose of converting the issued Foreign Currency into the applicable payment Currency for the payment of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, pursuant to Section 312.

 

(b)                                 No resignation of the Exchange Rate Agent and no appointment of a successor Exchange Rate Agent pursuant to this Section shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Exchange Rate Agent as evidenced by a written instrument delivered to the Company and the Trustee of the appropriate series of Securities accepting such appointment executed by the successor Exchange Rate Agent.

 

(c)                                  If the Exchange Rate Agent shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Exchange Rate Agent for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Exchange Rate Agent or Exchange Rate Agents with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Exchange Rate Agent may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, at any time there shall only be one Exchange Rate Agent with respect to the Securities of any particular series that are originally issued by the Company on the same date and that are initially denominated and/or payable in the same Currency).

 

SECTION 314.                                   CUSIP Numbers.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall indicate the respective “CUSIP” numbers of the Securities 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 Securities or as contained in any notice of 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 shall advise the Trustee as promptly as practicable in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

SECTION 401.                                   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

Except as set forth below, this Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto, any surviving rights of tender for repayment at the option of the Holders and any right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1004), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when

 

(1)                                 either

 

(A)                               all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as

 

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provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)                               all Securities of such series

 

(i)                                     have become due and payable, or

 

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

 

(iii)                               if redeemable at the option of the Company, 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,

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, solely for the benefit of the Holders, an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2)                                 the Company has irrevocably paid or caused to be irrevocably paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 612 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive any termination of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 402.                                   Application of Trust Funds.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company 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, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  In acting under this Indenture and in connection with the Securities, the Paying Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

REMEDIES

 

SECTION 501.                                   Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to any particular series of Securities, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether or not it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or

 

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is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture or a Board Resolution establishing such series of Securities or is in the form of Security for such series:

 

(1)                                 default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(2)                                 default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity; or

 

(3)                                 default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Security of that series, and continuance of such default for a period of 2 Business Days; or

 

(4)                                 default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Security of that series (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

(5)                                 the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(A)                               commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law,

 

(B)                               consents to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief against it,

 

(C)                               consents to the entry of a decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding,

 

(D)                               consents to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(E)                                makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or takes any corporate action in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(6)                                 a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(A)                               is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding, or

 

(B)                               adjudges the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approves as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, or

 

(C)                               appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(D)                               orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company,

 

and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(7)                                 if, pursuant to Sections 18(a)(1)(c)(ii) and 61 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, on the last business day of each of twenty-four consecutive calendar months Securities of that series shall have an asset coverage (as such term is used in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of less than 100 per centum, giving effect to any exemptive relief granted to the Company by the Commission;

 

(8)                                 any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.

 

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The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law. The term “Custodian” means any custodian, receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

SECTION 502.                                   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may (and the Trustee shall at the request of such Holders) declare the principal (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or specified portion thereof shall become immediately due and payable.

 

Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the requisite amount of Holders (as determined pursuant to this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application unless prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions from the requisite amount of Holders (as determined pursuant to this Indenture) in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1)                                 the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)):

 

(A)                               all overdue installments of interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities of that series,

 

(B)                               the principal of (and premium, if any, on) all Outstanding Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities,

 

(C)                               to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and

 

(D)                               all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

 

(2)                                 all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the nonpayment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

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

 

SECTION 503.                                   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(1)                                 default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of any series when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

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(2)                                 default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of any series at its Maturity,

 

then the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, with interest upon any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest, if any, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, 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, the Paying Agent, and the Security Registrar and their respective agents and counsel.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon Securities of such series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities of such series, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 504.                                   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of any overdue principal, premium or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(i)                                     to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal as may be provided for in the terms thereof) (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents, and take such other actions, including serving on a committee of creditors, 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 of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(ii)                                  to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities of such series 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 and any predecessor Trustee, their agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee under Section 606.

 

Subject to Article Eight and Section 902 and unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301, nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a Security in any such proceeding.

 

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SECTION 505.                                   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

The Trustee shall be entitled to participate, in its capacity as Trustee, on behalf of (and at the request of) the Holders, as a member of any official committee of creditors in the matters it deems advisable.

 

SECTION 506.                                   Application of Money Collected.

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 606 and any other agent hereunder;

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, giving effect to Article XVI, if applicable, but otherwise ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and

 

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

SECTION 507.                                   Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

(1)                                 such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;

 

(2)                                 the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(3)                                 such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity, security, or both, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(4)                                 the Trustee for 60 calendar days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and/or security has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(5)                                 no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

 

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SECTION 508.                                   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holders on the Repayment Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 509.                                   Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this 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 the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, 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 had been instituted.

 

SECTION 510.                                   Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities 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 511.                                   Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security 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 of Securities, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 512.                                   Control by Holders of Securities.

 

Subject to Section 602, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

 

(1)                                 such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

 

(2)                                 the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction

 

(3)                                 the Trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting, and

 

(4)                                 prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee may demand security and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it in accordance with Section 602.

 

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SECTION 513.                                   Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to Securities of such series and its consequences, except a default

 

(1)                                 in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or

 

(2)                                 in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

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 this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 514.                                   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

SECTION 601.                                   Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default hereunder known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of the Securities of such series; and provided further that in the case of any Default or breach of the character specified in Section 501 (4) with respect to the Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.

 

SECTION 602.                                   Certain Rights and Duties of Trustee.

 

(1)                                 Prior to the time when the occurrence of an Event of Default becomes known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to a series of Securities that may have occurred:

 

(a)                                 the duties and obligations of the Trustee hereunder and with respect to the Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, including without limitation Section 107 of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, including without limitation Section 107 of this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(b)                                 in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts stated herein).

 

(2)                                 If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(3)                                 The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

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

 

(5)                                 Any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution.

 

(6)                                 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 (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may require and, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon a Board Resolution, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers’ Certificate.

 

(7)                                 The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.

 

(8)                                 The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.

 

(9)                                 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, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times during normal business hours to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney.

 

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

 

(11)                          The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default 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 the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

 

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(12)                          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 to each agent, custodian and other Person retained to act hereunder.

 

(13)                          The permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties and the Trustee shall not be answerable for other than its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct with respect to such permissive rights.

 

(14)                          The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to such Securities.

 

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

 

(16)                          The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

 

(17)                          Anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind (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.

 

(18)                          The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action.

 

Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct of, or affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee shall be subject to the relevant provisions of this Section 602 and the TIA.

 

The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds, give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder, or otherwise 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.

 

The parties hereto acknowledge that in order to help the United States government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, pursuant to Federal regulations that became effective on October 1, 2003 (Section 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act) all financial institutions are required to obtain, verify, record and update information that identifies each person establishing a relationship or opening an account.  The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide to the Trustee such information as it may request, from time to time, in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, including but not limited to the name, address, tax identification number and other information that will allow it to identify the individual or entity who is establishing the relationship or opening the account and may also ask for formation documents such as articles of incorporation or other identifying documents to be provided.

 

SECTION 603.                                   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this

 

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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. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 604.                                   May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to TIA Sections 310(b) and 311, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Authenticating Agent or such other agent.

 

SECTION 605.                                   Money Held in Trust.

 

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 with the Company.

 

SECTION 606.                                   Compensation and Reimbursement and Indemnification of Trustee.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1)                                 To pay to the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as has been agreed upon from time to time in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust).

 

(2)                                 Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents, counsel, accountants and experts), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.

 

(3)                                 To indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on its own part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder (whether asserted by any Holder, the Company or otherwise). The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any third-party claim for which it may seek indemnity of which it has received written notice. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder unless, and solely to the extent that, such failure materially prejudices the Company’s defense of such claim. The Company shall defend the claim, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense; provided that if the defendants in any such claim include both the Company and the Trustee and the Trustee shall have concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the Company, or the Trustee has concluded that there may be any other actual or potential conflicting interests between the Company and the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the right to select separate counsel and the Company shall be required to pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel. Any settlement which affects the Trustee may not be entered into without the written consent of the Trustee, unless the Trustee is given a full and unconditional release from liability with respect to the claims covered thereby and such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Trustee. Any settlement by the Trustee which affects the Company may not be entered into without the written consent of the Company, unless such settlement does not include a statement or admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of the Company.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities.

 

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When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 501 occurs, the expenses and compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar Federal, State or analogous foreign law for the relief of debtors.

 

The provisions of this Section 606 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction, termination or discharge of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 607.                                   Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of Federal, State, Territorial or the District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, 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 the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

SECTION 608.                                   Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning 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.

 

SECTION 609.                                   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(a)                                 No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 610.  All outstanding fees, expenses and indemnities of the Trustee shall be satisfied by the Company upon resignation or removal.

 

(b)                                 The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company.

 

(c)                                  The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by (i) the Company, by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee, provided that contemporaneously therewith (x) the Company immediately appoints a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series meeting the requirements of Section 607 hereof and (y) the terms of Section 610 hereof are complied with in respect of such appointment (the Trustee being removed hereby agreeing to execute the instrument contemplated by Section 610(b) hereof, if applicable, under such circumstances) and provided further that no Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and then be continuing at such time, or (ii) Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

(d)                                 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 of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2)                                 the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, 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 or pursuant to a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide

 

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Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, 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.

 

(e)                                  If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of a notice of resignation or the delivery of an Act of removal, the Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(f)                                   If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to Securities of such series.

 

(g)                                  The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series in the manner provided for notices to the Holders of Securities in Section 106. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 610.                                   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

(a)                                 In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606.

 

(b)                                 In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and that (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any

 

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further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Whenever there is a successor Trustee with respect to one or more (but less than all) series of securities issued pursuant to this Indenture, the terms “Indenture” and “Securities” shall have the meanings specified in the provisos to the respective definition of those terms in Section 101 which contemplate such situation.

 

(c)                                  Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

 

(d)                                 No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

SECTION 611.                                   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities, in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

SECTION 612.                                   Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may be an Affiliate or Affiliates of the Company) with respect to one or more series of Securities that shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue or upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof, and 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. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, a copy of which instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and, except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Section 301, shall at all times be a bank or trust company or corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, eligible to serve as trustee hereunder pursuant to Section 607. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. In case at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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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 Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent for any series of Securities may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee for such series and to the Company. The Trustee for any series of Securities may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee for such series may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall promptly give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve in the manner set forth in Section 106. 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 herein. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation including reimbursement of its reasonable expenses for its services under this Section.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:

 

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

 

 

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

as Authenticating Agent

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

If all of the Securities of a series may not be originally issued at one time, and the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by the Company in writing (which writing need not comply with Section 102 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent (which, if so requested by the Company, shall be an Affiliate of the Company) having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities, provided that the terms and conditions of such appointment are acceptable to the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

SECTION 701.                                   Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)                                 Semi-annually, not later than March 15 and September 15 in each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of the preceding March 1 or September 1, as the case may be; and

 

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

 

Excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 702.                                   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

 

(a)                                 The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)                                 The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and duties of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(c)                                  Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar nor any agent of any of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).

 

SECTION 703.                                   Reports by Trustee.

 

Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail (at the expense of the Company) to all Holders of Securities in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c) a brief report dated as of such May 15 which meets the requirements of TIA Section 313(a).

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to such Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of the listing of the Securities on any stock exchange.  In the event that, on any such reporting date, no events have occurred under the applicable sections of the TIA within the 12 months preceding such reporting date, the Trustee shall be under no duty or obligation to provide such reports.

 

SECTION 704.                                   Reports by Company.

 

The Company will:

 

(1)                                 file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations; and

 

(2)                                 file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations.

 

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Delivery of such reports, information, and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, for the purposes of this Section, any information, documents or reports filed electronically with the Commission and made publicly available shall be deemed filed with and delivered to the Trustee at the same time as filed with the Commission.

 

The Trustee shall transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities (at the expense of the Company), within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.  In no event shall the Trustee be obligated to determine whether or not any report, information or document shall have been filed with the Commission.

 

SECTION 705.                                   Calculation of Original Issue Discount.

 

The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods), if any, accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

 

SECTION 801.                                   Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other entity or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

 

(1)                                 either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the entity (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2)                                 immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(3)                                 the Company and the successor Person have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 802.                                   Successor Person Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the successor Person to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as the Company herein; and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may be dissolved and liquidated.

 

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ARTICLE NINE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

SECTION 901.                                   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1)                                 to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or

 

(2)                                 to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3)                                 to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

 

(4)                                 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 Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or

 

(5)                                 to secure the Securities; or

 

(6)                                 to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company); or

 

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

 

(8)                                 to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(9)                                 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 pursuant to Sections 401, 1402 and 1403; 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.

 

SECTION 902.                                   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating

 

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any of the provisions of this Indenture that affects such series of Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of such series of Securities under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

 

(1)                                 change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, subject to the provisions of Section 308; or the terms of any sinking fund with respect to any Security; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (or change the manner of calculating the rate of interest, thereon, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the portion of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or upon the redemption thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 301 herein, or modify the subordination provisions set forth in Article Sixteen in a manner that is adverse to the Holder of any Outstanding Security, or

 

(2)                                 reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such series (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, or

 

(3)                                 modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1006, 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 of a Security with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 610(b) and 901(8).

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that 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.

 

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date that is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

 

SECTION 903.                                   Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modification thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 102 of this Indenture, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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SECTION 904.                                   Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

SECTION 905.                                   Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall, if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

COVENANTS

 

SECTION 1001.                            Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest.

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of Securities and this Indenture.  Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, at the option of the Company, all payments of principal may be paid by check to the registered Holder of the Registered Security or other person entitled thereto against surrender of such Security.

 

SECTION 1002.                            Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of each such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency in respect of any series of Securities 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 at its Corporate Trust Office as its agent to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all of such purposes, and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby designates as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee at its corporate trust office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 301, if and so long as the Securities of any series (i) are denominated in a currency other than Dollars or (ii) may be payable in a currency other than Dollars, or so long as it is required under any other provision of the Indenture, then the Company will maintain with respect to each such series of Securities, or as so required, at least one Exchange Rate Agent.

 

SECTION 1003.                            Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of any Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)), sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency or Currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum of money to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums of money held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, 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; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Securities of any series, 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 (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Request, 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 thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such money held in trust, and all liability of 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 an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money 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 1004.                            Additional Amounts.

 

If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of such series such Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, premium or interest if

 

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there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers’ Certificate, the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company’s principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series who are not United States persons without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of that series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers’ Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series and the Company will pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above-mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers’ Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company’s not furnishing such an Officers’ Certificate.

 

SECTION 1005.                            Statement as to Compliance.

 

(1)                                 The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year ending after the date hereof (which fiscal year ends on December 31), so long as any Security is Outstanding hereunder, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial 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. For purposes of this Section 1005, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.

 

(2)                                 The Company will, so long as any series of Securities are Outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, within 5 Business Days of any officer listed in (1) above becoming aware of any Default, Event of Default or default in the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Indenture, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default, Event of Default, default or event of default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto and the status thereof.

 

SECTION 1006.                            Waiver of Certain Covenants.

 

As specified pursuant to Section 301(15), for Securities of any series, the Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in any covenants of the Company added to Article Ten pursuant to Section 301(14) or Section 301(15) in connection with the Securities of a series, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive 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, and, until such waiver shall 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.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1101.                            Applicability of Article.

 

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

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SECTION 1102.                            Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate notifying the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed, and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed, and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 1103. In the case of any redemption of Securities of any series prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

SECTION 1103.                            Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all the Securities of any series issued on the same day with the same terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of DTC, from the Outstanding Securities of such series issued on such date with the same terms not previously called for redemption, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed (if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange), or if the Securities are not held through DTC or listed on any national securities exchange, or DTC prescribed no method of selection, on a pro rata basis, or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and subject to and otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the applicable Depository; provided that such method complies with the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Securities are listed, and may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

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 which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 1104.                            Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, but failure to give such notice in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other such Security or portion thereof.

 

Any notice that is mailed to the Holders of Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)                                 the Redemption Date,

 

(2)                                 the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106,

 

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(3)                                 if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed,

 

(4)                                 in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder will receive, without a charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

 

(5)                                 that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 1106 will become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(6)                                 the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,

 

(7)                                 that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and

 

(8)                                 the CUSIP number of such Security, if any.

 

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed. Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

SECTION 1105.                            Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or prior to 10:00 am, New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, which it may not do in the case of a sinking fund payment under Article Twelve, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price of, and (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date; provided, however, that to the extent any such funds are received by the Trustee or a Paying Agent from the Company after 10:00 am, New York City time, on the due date, such funds will be deemed deposited within one Business Day of receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 1106.                            Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall if the same were interest-bearing 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, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.  If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the Redemption Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.

 

SECTION 1107.                            Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Registered Security that is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article Twelve) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,

 

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due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security at the expense of the Company and without service charge a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, 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. If a temporary global Security or permanent global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary global Security or permanent global Security, respectively. However, if less than all the Securities of any series with differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

SECTION 1201.                            Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for Securities of such series.

 

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 such Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of any Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 1202.                            Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

 

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of a series, (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, as provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that such Securities so delivered or applied as a credit have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the applicable 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.

 

SECTION 1203.                            Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

 

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for Securities of any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered and credited. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

 

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ARTICLE THIRTEEN

 

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

SECTION 1301.                            Applicability of Article.

 

Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 301) in accordance with this Article.

 

SECTION 1302.                            Repayment of Securities.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at the Repayment Price thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before 10:00 am, New York City time, on the Repayment Date it will 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 1003) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 for the Securities of such series and except, if applicable, as provided in Sections 312(b), 312(d) and 312(e)) sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of, and (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301) accrued interest on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date; provided, however, that to the extent any such funds are received by the Trustee or a Paying Agent from the Company after 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the due date, such funds will be distributed to the Holders within one Business Day of receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 1303.                            Exercise of Option.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire Repayment Price of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. Any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

 

SECTION 1304.                            When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.

 

If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions, the Repayment Price of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; providedhowever, that installments of interest on Registered Securities, whose Stated Maturity is prior to (or, if specified pursuant to Section 301, on) the Repayment Date shall be payable (but without interest thereon, unless the Company shall default in the payment thereof) to the Holders of such Securities, or one or

 

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more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, the Repayment Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest set forth in such Security or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, at the Yield to Maturity of such Security.

 

SECTION 1305.                            Securities Repaid in Part.

 

Upon surrender of any Registered Security that is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered that is not to be repaid. If a temporary global Security or permanent global Security is so surrendered, such new Security so issued shall be a new temporary global Security or a new permanent global Security, respectively.

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

SECTION 1401.                            Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

If pursuant to Section 301 provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1402 or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 1403, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, together with the other provisions of this Article (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities, elect to have either Section 1402 (if applicable) or Section 1403 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

 

SECTION 1402.                            Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 1405 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1404 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002 and 1003 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1403 with respect to such Securities. Following a defeasance, payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

 

SECTION 1403.                            Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, if specified pursuant to Section 301, the Company shall be released from its obligations under any

 

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covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1404 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be 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 covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or such other covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other 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 501(4) or 501(8) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. Following a covenant defeasance, payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default solely by reference to such Sections specified above in this Section 1403.

 

SECTION 1404.                            Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1402 or Section 1403 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

 

(a)                                 The Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for the benefit of, and dedicated solely to, the Holders of such Securities, (1) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof in an amount, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.

 

(b)                                 Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(c)                                  No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 501(5) and 501(6) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(d)                                 In the case of an election under Section 1402, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

(e)                                  In the case of an election under Section 1403, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income

 

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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.

 

(f)                                   The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to either the defeasance under Section 1402 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1403 (as the case may be) have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that as a result of a deposit pursuant to subsection (a) above and the related exercise of the Company’s option under Section 1402 or Section 1403 (as the case may be), registration is not required under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by the Company, with respect to the trust funds representing such deposit or by the trustee for such trust funds.

 

(g)                                  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

 

SECTION 1405.                            Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 1405, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1404 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Security pursuant to Section 301, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 1404(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 312(b) or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs as contemplated in Section 312(d) or 312(e) or by the terms of any Security in respect of which the deposit pursuant to Section 1404(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, except, with respect to a Conversion Event, such conversion shall be based on the applicable Market Exchange Rate for such Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1404 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 such Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 1404 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article.

 

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ARTICLE FIFTEEN

 

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1501.                            Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

A meeting of Holders of any series of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 1502.                            Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

(a)                                 The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any 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 given, in the manner provided in Section 106.

 

(b)                                 In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication or mailing of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section.

 

SECTION 1503.                            Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

SECTION 1504.                            Quorum; Action.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; providedhowever, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

54



 

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; providedhowever, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1504, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities affected thereby, or of the Holders of such series and one or more additional series:

 

(i)                                     there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

 

(ii)                                  (ii)                                  the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series that vote in favor of such consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1505.                            Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment 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 Holders of Securities of a series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series 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 appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

 

(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 Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1502(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

(c)                                  At any meeting of Holders, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by such Holder; 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. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

(d)                                 Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

55



 

SECTION 1506.                            Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any 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 and serial numbers of the Outstanding 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, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any Series 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 fact, setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

ARTICLE SIXTEEN

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

SECTION 1601.                            Agreement to Subordinate.

 

The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Subordinated Securities by his 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 Subordinated Securities 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.

 

SECTION 1602.                            Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Subordinated Securities.

 

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 (including post-petition interest) before the Holders of the Subordinated Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated 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 Sixteen shall be paid by the liquidating 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 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

 

56


 

(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, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Subordinated Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to the Trustee, to the holder of such Senior Indebtedness or their 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, 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.

 

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Subordinated Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders 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, on) and interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Subordinated 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 Subordinated Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Subordinated Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article Sixteen are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Subordinated Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article Sixteen or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Subordinated 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 Subordinated Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Subordinated Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Subordinated 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 Subordinated Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Subordinated Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Subordinated Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article Sixteen 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 Sixteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be entitled to 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 thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Sixteen.

 

If the Trustee or any Holder of Subordinated Securities does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to above prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim in such proceeding, then the holder of any Senior Indebtedness is hereby authorized, and has the right, to file an appropriate claim or claims for or on behalf of such Holder of Subordinated Securities.

 

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee does not owe any fiduciary duties to the holders of Senior Indebtedness other than Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1603.                            No Payment on Subordinated Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness.

 

No payment by the Company on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities shall be made unless 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.

 

SECTION 1604.                            Payments on Subordinated Securities Permitted.

 

Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Subordinated 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 1602 and 1603, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities, (b) without

 

57



 

limiting clause (c) of this sentence, prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys 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 Subordinated Securities, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any event prohibiting the making of such payment more than three Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment or (c) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys or the proceeds of Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to Section 1404(a) to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Securities if all the conditions specified in Section 1404 to the application of Section 1402 or Section 1403, as applicable, have been satisfied prior to the date the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any event prohibiting the making of such payment.

 

SECTION 1605.                            Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination.

 

Each Holder of Subordinated Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article Sixteen and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

SECTION 1606.                            Notices to Trustee.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 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 event that would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office) 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; provided, however, that if at least three Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys 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 Subordinated Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys the notice provided for in this Section 1606, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys 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 three 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 Sixteen, 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 Sixteen 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 1607.                            Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.

 

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Sixteen 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 Sixteen shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 606.

 

SECTION 1608.                            Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness.

 

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 Subordinated Securities or the Trustee.

 

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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 any of the foregoing are in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article Sixteen or of the Subordinated Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

 

SECTION 1609.                            Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article Sixteen, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to 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 Subordinated 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 Sixteen.

 

*   *   *   *   *

 

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.  The exchange of copies of this Indenture and delivery of signature pages by facsimile, .pdf transmission, e-mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, DocuSign or Adobe Sign) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture for all purposes.  Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, .pdf transmission, e-mail or other electronic means (including, without limitation, DocuSign or Adobe Sign) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

*   *   *   *   *

 

59



 

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

 

 

NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Shiraz Y. Kajee

 

 

Name: Shiraz Y. Kajee

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Karen R. Beard

 

 

Name: Karen R. Beard

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 




Exhibit (d)(7)

 

NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

as Issuer

 

U.S. Bank National Association

 

as Trustee

 

First Supplemental Indenture

 

Dated as of August 20, 2018

 

to the Indenture

 

Dated as of August 20, 2018

 

5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023

 



 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

 

 

Section 1.01

Scope of Supplemental Indenture

1

Section 1.02

Definitions

2

Section 1.03

References to Interest

12

 

 

 

ARTICLE 2

THE NOTES

 

 

 

Section 2.01

Establishment; Designation

13

Section 2.02

Form of Notes

13

Section 2.03

Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest

13

Section 2.04

Security Registrar, Conversion Agent and Paying Agent

14

Section 2.05

Conversion Agent and Paying Agent to Hold Money and Property in Trust

15

Section 2.06

Holder Lists

15

Section 2.07

Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary

15

Section 2.08

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes

16

Section 2.09

Cancellation

16

Section 2.10

Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest

17

Section 2.11

Additional Notes

18

Section 2.12

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

18

Section 2.13

No Sinking Fund

19

Section 2.14

Ranking

19

Section 2.15

CUSIP Numbers

19

 

 

 

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

 

 

 

Section 3.01

[Reserved]

19

Section 3.02

[Reserved]

19

Section 3.03

Redemption

19

Section 3.04

Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes

20

Section 3.05

Payment of Notes Called for Redemption

21

Section 3.06

Restrictions on Redemption

21

 

 

 

ARTICLE 4

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

 

 

Section 4.01

Payment of Notes

22

Section 4.02

Maintenance of Office or Agency

22

Section 4.03

Compliance Certificate, Notice of Default

22

Section 4.04

Reservation of Common Stock

23

Section 4.05

Issuance of Shares

23

Section 4.06

Transfer Taxes

23

Section 4.07

Reports by Company

23

Section 4.08

Investment Company Act

23

 

i



 

Section 4.09

Debt to Equity Ratio

24

Section 4.10

Maximum Secured Debt

24

 

 

 

ARTICLE 5

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

 

 

Section 5.01

Events of Default

24

Section 5.02

Acceleration

26

Section 5.03

Other Remedies

26

Section 5.04

[Reserved]

26

Section 5.05

Waiver of Past Defaults

27

Section 5.06

Control by Majority

27

Section 5.07

Limitation on Suits

27

Section 5.08

Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment or Effect Conversion

28

Section 5.09

Collection Suit by Trustee

28

Section 5.10

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

28

Section 5.11

Priorities

28

Section 5.12

Undertaking for Costs

29

Section 5.13

[Reserved]

29

Section 5.14

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE 6

[RESERVED]

 

 

 

ARTICLE 7

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

 

 

 

Section 7.01

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

29

Section 7.02

Application of Funds or Securities Deposited for Payment of Notes

30

Section 7.03

Repayment by Trustee, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent

30

 

 

 

ARTICLE 8

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

 

 

Section 8.01

Without Consent of Noteholders

31

Section 8.02

Modification and Amendment with Consent of Holders

31

Section 8.03

Execution of Supplemental Indentures, Agreements and Waivers

32

Section 8.04

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

33

Section 8.05

Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

33

Section 8.06

Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures

33

Section 8.07

Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers

33

Section 8.08

Notation on or Exchange of Notes

34

 

 

 

ARTICLE 9

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE 10

CONVERSION OF NOTES

 

 

 

Section 10.01

Conversion Privilege

34

Section 10.02

Conversion Procedures

35

 

ii



 

Section 10.03

Payments Upon Conversion

36

Section 10.04

Adjustment of Conversion Rate

37

Section 10.05

Shares to be Fully Paid

44

Section 10.06

Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale

45

Section 10.07

Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions

45

Section 10.08

Shareholder Rights Plans

46

 

 

 

ARTICLE 11

REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS

 

 

 

Section 11.01

Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change

46

Section 11.02

No Payment Following Acceleration of the Notes

49

Section 11.03

Compliance with Tender Offer Rules

50

 

 

 

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

Section 12.01

Trust Indenture Act Controls

50

Section 12.02

Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

50

Section 12.03

Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

50

Section 12.04

Successors

50

Section 12.05

Official Acts by Successor Corporation

51

Section 12.06

Addresses for Notices, Etc.

51

Section 12.07

Governing Law

51

Section 12.08

Benefits of Indenture

51

Section 12.09

Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.

51

Section 12.10

Counterparts

52

Section 12.11

Trustee

52

Section 12.12

Further Instruments and Acts

52

Section 12.13

Waiver of Jury Trial

52

Section 12.14

Force Majeure

52

Section 12.15

Calculations

52

Section 12.16

Ratification of Base Indenture

53

 

iii



 

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of August 20, 2018, between New Mountain Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and U.S.  Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), as trustee under the Indenture dated as of August 20, 2018, between the Company and the Trustee (as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “Base Indenture”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

WHEREAS, the Company has executed and delivered the Base Indenture to the Trustee to provide, among other things, for the issuance, from time to time, of the Company’s unsecured debt securities, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, in one or more series to be established by the Company under, and authenticated and delivered as provided in, the Base Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, Section 201 of the Base Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into supplemental indentures to the Base Indenture to establish the form and terms of securities of any series as contemplated by Article Two of the Base Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has duly adopted resolutions authorizing the Company to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture, the Company has authorized the creation and issuance under this Supplemental Indenture of its 5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”), the form and substance of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture, and that all requirements necessary to make (i) this Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms, and (ii) the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company have been performed, and the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized in all respects.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders (as defined herein) thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the benefit of the Company and the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.01          Scope of Supplemental Indenture.  This Supplemental Indenture amends and supplements the provisions of the Base Indenture, to which provisions reference is hereby made. The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall only govern the terms of, the Notes which may be issued from time to time in accordance herewith, and shall not apply to any other securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements. For all purposes under the Base Indenture, the Notes shall constitute a single series of securities, and with regard to any matter requiring the consent under the Base Indenture of Holders of multiple series of securities voting together as a single class, the consent of Holders of the Notes voting as a separate class shall also be required and the same threshold shall apply. The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall supersede, with respect to the Notes, any conflicting or inconsistent provisions in the Base Indenture. In the case of any conflict

 



 

between the Indenture and a Note, the provisions of the Indenture shall control and govern to the extent of such conflict. Subject to the preceding sentence, and except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes and govern the rights of the Holders of the Notes and the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect thereto.

 

Section 1.02          Definitions.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein take the meanings given to such terms in the Base Indenture. Otherwise, for all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided for or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(1)           the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular and, pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture, any such item may, with respect to any particular series of Notes, be amended or modified or specified as being inapplicable;

 

(2)           all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein), either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms “cash transaction” and “self-liquidating paper”, as used in Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission (as defined herein) adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(3)           all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America; and

 

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

 

Certain terms, used in other Articles herein, are defined in those Articles.

 

Additional Notes” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.11.

 

Additional Shares” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.01(b)(1).

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any conversion, repurchase, transfer or exchange of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Note, the rules and procedures of the Depositary, to the extent applicable to such conversion, transfer or exchange.

 

Authenticating Agent” means any agent appointed by the Trustee reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes.

 

Averaging Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.04(e).

 

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 specified in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture, as such instrument may be supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental thereto, including this Supplemental Indenture, entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Base Indenture, including, for all purposes of the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and any such other supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA (as defined herein) that are deemed to be a part of and govern the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and any other such supplemental indenture, respectively.

 

2



 

Business Day”, means any day, other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the Trustee is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or be closed..

 

“Capital Leases” means, at any time, a lease with respect to which the lessee is required concurrently to recognize the acquisition of an asset and the incurrence of a liability in accordance with GAAP.

 

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock (including preferred stock), shares, interest, participations or other ownership interests (however designated) of such Person and any rights (other than debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for corporate stock), warrants or options to purchase any of the foregoing.

 

Close of Business” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act (as defined herein), or, if at any time after execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

 

Common Equity” of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that is generally entitled (a) to vote in the election of directors of such Person or (b) if such Person is not a corporation, to vote or otherwise participate in the selection of the governing body, partners, managers or others that will control the management or policies of such Person.

 

Common Stock” means, subject to Section 10.06, shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, at the date of this Supplemental Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and that have no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and that are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

 

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

 

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President of the Company, or by the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

Conversion Agent” means the Trustee or any successor office or agency where the Notes may be surrendered for conversion.

 

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.02(b).

 

Conversion Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.02(b)(1).

 

3



 

Conversion Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.01(a).

 

Conversion Price” means, as of any date, $1,000 divided by the Conversion Rate as of such date.

 

Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.01(a).

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof for purposes of Section 1002 only is located at 111 Fillmore Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55107, Attention: New Mountain Finance Corporation, and for all other purposes is located at 1 Federal Street, 10th Floor, Boston, MA 02110, Attention: New Mountain Finance Corporation, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

 

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

 

“Debt to Equity Ratio” means the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of senior securities representing indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including under the Notes), in each case as determined pursuant to the Investment Company Act, and any orders of the Commission issued to or with respect to Company thereunder, including any exemptive relief granted by the Commission with respect to the indebtedness of any SBIC Subsidiary to (b) Shareholders’ Equity at the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter of the Company.

 

Distributed Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.04(c)(i).

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

 

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

 

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 2.10.

 

Depository” means the clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as the Depository for global Securities. DTC shall be the initial Depository, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, and thereafter, “Depository” shall mean or include such successor..

 

Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.01(b)(2).

 

Event of Default” means, with respect to the Notes, any event specified in Section 5.01, after such event has continued the period of time, if any, and after the giving of notice, if any, therein designated.

 

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

 

Filing Additional Interest” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

 

“Filing Failure” shall have the meaning specified in Section 5.01.

 

4



 

Fundamental Change” shall be deemed to have occurred at the time after the Notes are originally issued if any of the following occurs:

 

(a)           a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, its Subsidiaries and the employee benefit plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s Common Equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s Common Equity and files a Schedule 13D or Schedule TO or any other schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing such beneficial ownership;

 

(b)           the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination or a change solely in par value) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Company’s Subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (A) or (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (b);

 

(c)           the stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

 

(d)           the Common Stock (or other common stock underlying the Notes) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) for a period of 20 consecutive Trading Days.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any transaction or event described in clause (b) above will not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least 90% of the consideration paid for Common Stock (excluding cash payments for fractional shares, cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights and cash dividends) consists of shares of common stock (or depositary receipts in respect thereof) traded on any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors) (or will be so traded or quoted immediately following the completion of the merger or consolidation or such other transaction) and, as a result of such transaction, the Notes become convertible into the Reference Property.

 

Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(b).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a)(i).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a).

 

5



 

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as used in the United States of America applied on a consistent basis as in effect from time to time.

 

Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b).

 

“Governmental Authority” means

 

(a)           the government of

 

(i)            the United States of America or any state or other political subdivision thereof, or

 

(ii)           any other jurisdiction in which the Company or any Subsidiary conducts all or any part of its business, or which asserts jurisdiction over any properties of the Company or any Subsidiary, or

 

(b)           any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of, or pertaining to, any such government.

 

“Guaranty” means, with respect to any Person, any obligation (except the endorsement in the ordinary course of business of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection) of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any indebtedness, dividend or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including (without limitation) obligations incurred through an agreement, contingent or otherwise, by such Person:

 

(a)           to purchase such indebtedness or obligation or any property constituting security therefor;

 

(b)           to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation, or (ii) to maintain any working capital or other balance sheet condition or any income statement condition of any other Person or otherwise to advance or make available funds for the purchase or payment of such indebtedness or obligation;

 

(c)           to lease properties or to purchase properties or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of such indebtedness or obligation of the ability of any other Person to make payment of the indebtedness or obligation; or

 

(d)           otherwise to assure the owner of such indebtedness or obligation against loss in respect thereof.

 

In any computation of the indebtedness or other liabilities of the obligor under any Guaranty, the indebtedness or other obligations that are the subject of such Guaranty shall be assumed to be direct obligations of such obligor.

 

Holder” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Securities Register.

 

“Indebtedness” with respect to any Person means, at any time, without duplication,

 

(a)           its liabilities for borrowed money and its redemption obligations in respect of mandatorily redeemable Preferred Stock;

 

6


 

(b)           its liabilities for the deferred purchase price of property acquired by such Person (excluding accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business but including all liabilities created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to any such property);

 

(c)           (i) all liabilities appearing on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP in respect of Capital Leases and (ii) all liabilities which would appear on its balance sheet in accordance with GAAP in respect of Synthetic Leases assuming such Synthetic Leases were accounted for as Capital Leases;

 

(d)           all liabilities for borrowed money secured by any Lien with respect to any property owned by such Person (whether or not it has assumed or otherwise become liable for such liabilities);

 

(e)           all its liabilities in respect of letters of credit or instruments serving a similar function issued or accepted for its account by banks and other financial institutions (whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money);

 

(f)            the aggregate Swap Termination Value of all Swap Contracts of such Person; and

 

(g)           any Guaranty of such Person with respect to liabilities of a type described in any of clauses (a) through (f) hereof.

 

Indebtedness of any Person shall include all obligations of such Person of the character described in clauses (a) through (g) to the extent such Person remains legally liable in respect thereof notwithstanding that any such obligation is deemed to be extinguished under GAAP.

 

Indenture” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, the Base Indenture, as originally executed and as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, each as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

 

“Initial Notes” means the Notes issued on the date of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

“interest” means, when used with reference to the Notes, any interest payable under the terms of the Notes.

 

Interest Payment Date” means, with respect to the payment of interest on the Notes and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2019.

 

Investment Company Act” mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or any successor provisions thereto.

 

Last Reported Sale Price” means, with respect to Common Stock or any other security for which a Last Reported Sale Price must be determined, on any date, the closing sale price per share of Common Stock or unit of such other security (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the last bid and last ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average last bid and the average last ask prices) on such date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S.  securities exchange on which Common Stock or such other security is traded.  If the Common Stock or such other security are not listed for trading on a United States national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the Last Reported Sale Price shall be the last quoted bid price per share of Common Stock or such other security in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date, as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc.  or a similar organization.  If the Common Stock or such other security are not so quoted, the Last Reported Sale Price shall be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices

 

7



 

for the Common Stock or such other security on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Company for that purpose.  The Last Reported Sale Price shall be determined without reference to extended or after hours trading.

 

“Lien” means, with respect to any Person, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or Capital Lease, upon or with respect to any property or asset of such Person (including in the case of stock, stockholder agreements, voting trust agreements and all similar arrangements).

 

Limitation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.03(d).

 

Make-Whole Fundamental Change” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.01(b)(1).

 

Make-Whole Premium” means, with respect to a Redemption of any Notes on a Redemption Date, an amount equal to the present value of the interest that would accrue on such Notes from, and including, such Redemption Date until the Maturity Date, with such present value computed using a discount rate equal to the sum of (i) the yield to maturity of United States Treasury securities with three months of remaining maturity (as determined in a commercially reasonable manner by the Company prior to the Company providing the applicable Redemption Notice) and (ii) 50 basis points.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to calculate or verify the calculation of the Make-Whole Premium.

 

Maturity Date” means August 15, 2023.

 

“Merger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.06(a).

 

Non-Stock Change of Control” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.01(b)(1).

 

Note” or “Notes” has the meaning specified in the fourth paragraph of the Recitals of this Supplemental Indenture, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture.

 

“Note Register” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04.

 

“Noteholder” or “Holder” or “holder,” as applied to any Note, or other similar terms (but excluding the term “beneficial holder”), means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Register.

 

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President and by the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.  Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 12.03, if and to the extent required by the provisions of Section 12.02.

 

Open of Business” means 9:00 a.m.  New York City time.

 

Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee from legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company; provided, however, that counsel that is an employee of, or counsel to, the Company shall be acceptable to the Trustee.  Each such opinion shall

 

8



 

include the statements provided for in Section 12.03, if and to the extent required by the provisions of Section 12.02.

 

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

 

(a)         Notes theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (including Notes converted and cancelled pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture);

 

(b)         Notes for whose payment 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 Notes; and

 

(c)          Notes which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.08 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, other than any such Notes in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Notes are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Notes are valid obligations of the Company;

 

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Notes have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder, Notes owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes 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 request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Notes which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means the office or agency designated by the Company where Notes may be presented for payment, initially the Trustee.

 

“Permitted SBIC Guaranty” means a guarantee by the Company of Indebtedness of an SBIC Subsidiary on the SBA’s then applicable form, provided that the recourse to the Company thereunder is expressly limited only to periods after the occurrence of an event or condition that is an impermissible change in the control of such SBIC Subsidiary.

 

“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, business entity or Governmental Authority.

 

Physical Securities” means any non-Global Security issued that is in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition,

 

9



 

any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.08 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note.

 

“Preferred Stock” means any class of capital stock of a Person that is preferred over any other class of capital stock (or similar equity interests) of such Person as to the payment of dividends or the payment of any amount upon liquidation or dissolution of such Person.

 

Record Date,” with respect to the payment of interest on any Interest Payment Date, shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.03.

 

Redemption” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.03(a).

 

Redemption Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.04(a).

 

Redemption Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.04(a).

 

Redemption Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.03(a).

 

Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.06(a).

 

Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

SBA” means the United States Small Business Administration.

 

SBIC Equity Commitment” means a commitment by the Company to make one or more capital contributions to an SBIC Subsidiary.

 

SBIC Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect Subsidiary (including such Subsidiary’s general partner or managing entity to the extent that the only material asset of such general partner or managing entity is its equity interest in the SBIC Subsidiary) of the Company licensed as a small business investment company under the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended, (or that has applied for such a license and is actively pursuing the granting thereof by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted) and which is designated by the Company (as provided below) as an SBIC Subsidiary, so long as (a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Subsidiary: (i) is guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary (other than a Permitted SBIC Guaranty), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Company or any Subsidiary in any way (other than in respect of any SBIC Equity Commitment or Permitted SBIC Guaranty), or (iii) subjects any property of the Company or any Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than Equity Interests in any SBIC Subsidiary pledged to secure such Indebtedness, and (b) none of the Company or any Subsidiary has any obligation to maintain or preserve such Subsidiary’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results. Any such designation by the Company shall be effected pursuant to a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer delivered to the Trustee, which certificate shall include a statement to the effect that, to the best of such officer’s knowledge, such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

 

Secured Debt” means Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company for purposes of GAAP (excluding any Indebtedness of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries which are SBIC Subsidiaries) outstanding at any time that is secured in any manner by any Lien on assets of the Company or any such Subsidiaries.

 

10



 

Secured Debt Ratio” means the ratio of (a) Secured Debt to (b) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are consolidated with the Company for purposes of GAAP (including Indebtedness under the Notes and excluding any Indebtedness of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries which are SBIC Subsidiaries).

 

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

 

“Security Registrar” means the office or agency maintained by the Company where Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange, initially the Trustee.

 

Senior Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or comptroller of the Company.

 

Shareholders Equity” means at any date, the amount determined on a consolidated basis, without duplication, in accordance with GAAP, of shareholders’ equity or net assets, as applicable, for the Company and its Subsidiaries at such date.

 

Significant Subsidiary means any Subsidiary which is a “significant subsidiary” (within the meaning specified in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X, promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Company, excluding any Subsidiary of the Company which is (a) a non-recourse or limited recourse subsidiary, (b) a bankruptcy remote special purpose vehicle, or (c) that is not consolidated with the Company for purposes of GAAP.

 

Special Record Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.10(1).

 

Spin-Off” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.04(c)(ii).

 

Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to the Notes, means August 15, 2023.

 

“Stock Price” means the price paid per share of Common Stock in connection with a Fundamental Change pursuant to which Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 10.01(b) hereof.  If holders of Common Stock receive only cash in such Fundamental Change transaction, then the Stock Price shall be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the Stock Price shall be equal to the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 5 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Fundamental Change.

 

Subsidiary” means, as to any Person, any other Person in which such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries owns sufficient equity or voting interests to enable it or them (as a group) ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, to elect a majority of the directors (or Persons performing similar functions) of such second Person, and any partnership or joint venture if more than a 50% interest in the profits or capital thereof is owned by such first Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries or such first Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries (unless such partnership or joint venture can and does ordinarily take major business actions without the prior approval of such Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries). Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.

 

Supplemental Indenture” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph hereof, as such instrument may be supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental hereto, entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture,

 

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including, for all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture and any such other supplemental indenture, the provisions of the TIA that are deemed to be a part of and govern the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and any other such supplemental indenture, respectively.

 

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all interest rate swap transactions, basis swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, currency options, spot contracts or any other similar transactions or any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, any options to enter into any of the foregoing), and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. or any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement.

 

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amounts(s) determined as the mark-to-market values(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts.

 

Synthetic Lease” means, at any time, any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (a) that is accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP and (b) in respect of which the lessee retains or obtains ownership of the property so leased for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than any such lease under which such Person is the lessor.

 

Trading Day” means a day during which (i) trading in Common Stock generally occurs and (ii) a Last Reported Sale Price for Common Stock (other than a Last Reported Sale Price referred to in the next to last sentence of such definition) is available for such day; provided that if shares of Common Stock are not admitted for trading or quotation on or by any exchange, bureau or other organization referred to in the definition of Last Reported Sale Price (excluding the next to last sentence of that definition), Trading Day shall mean any Business Day.

 

Trigger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.04(c)(ii).

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the U.S. Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in effect from time to time.

 

Valuation Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 10.04(c)(ii).

 

Section 1.03          References to Interest.  Any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note in this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed to include Filing Additional Interest if, in such context, Filing Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to Section 5.01.  Any express mention of the payment of Filing Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Filing Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

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ARTICLE 2
THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01          Establishment; Designation.

 

Pursuant to Section 201 of the Base Indenture, there is hereby established and authorized as a single series of Securities under the Base Indenture.  The Notes shall be designated as the “5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023.”  The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Supplemental Indenture is initially limited to $115,000,000, subject to Section 2.11, and except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes pursuant to Section 2.07, Section 10.02, Section 11.01 and Section 2.08 hereof. For purposes of Section 301 of the Base Indenture, the Notes are designated as Senior Securities.

 

Section 2.02          Form of Notes.  The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto. The terms and provisions contained in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto are incorporated herein and shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Indenture and to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of the Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

Any Global Note may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture as may be required by the Custodian or the Depositary, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or any regulation thereunder or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Notes may be listed or traded or designated for issuance or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

Any of the Notes may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such notations, legends or endorsements as the officers executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture, or as may be required by the Depositary, as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, or to conform to usage or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Notes are subject.

 

A Global Note shall represent such principal amount of the Outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect redemptions, repurchases, cancellations, conversions, transfers or exchanges permitted hereby.  Any endorsement of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of Outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in such manner and upon instructions given by the Holder of such Notes in accordance with the Indenture.  Payment of principal and accrued and unpaid interest on a Global Note shall be made to the Holder of such Note on the date of payment, unless a Record Date or other means of determining Holders eligible to receive payment is provided for herein.

 

Section 2.03          Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest.  The Notes shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples thereof.  Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication and shall bear interest from the date specified on the face of the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto.  Interest on the Notes shall be

 

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computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.  The initial interest payment on the Notes on the February 15, 2019 Interest Payment Date shall be equal to $28.1111 per $1,000 principal amount of Notes.  If an Interest Payment Date, a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or Maturity Date is not a Business Day, payment will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue thereon as a result thereof.

 

The Person in whose name any Note (or its Predecessor Security) is registered on the Note Register at the Close of Business on any Record Date with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive the accrued and unpaid interest payable on such Interest Payment Date, subject to Section 4.01(b) hereof.  Interest shall be payable at the office of the Company maintained by the Company for such purposes, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office.  The Company shall, at its option, pay interest (i) on any Notes in certificated form by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the Note Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account of the Person entitled thereto located in the United States; provided, however, that with respect to any Person entitled to interest on an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,000,000, upon written application by such Person to the Security Registrar not later than the relevant Record Date, interest on such Person's Notes shall be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds to such Person's account within the United States. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of interest in respect of Notes held in global form shall be made in accordance with procedures required by the Depositary.  The term “Record Date” with respect to any Interest Payment Date shall mean the February 1 or August 1 preceding the applicable February 15 or August 15 Interest Payment Date, respectively.

 

Section 2.04          Security Registrar, Conversion Agent and Paying Agent.  The Trustee shall initially serve as the Security Registrar, Conversion Agent and Paying Agent for the Notes.  The Security Registrar, the Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent shall each maintain an office or agency in Boston, Massachusetts.  The Security Registrar shall keep a register of the Notes and of their transfer and exchange (the “Note Register”).  The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional conversion agents and paying agents.  The term Paying Agent includes any additional paying agents, the term Conversion Agent includes any additional conversion agents and the term Security Registrar includes any co-registrar.  The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Security Registrar without prior notice to any Holder.

 

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Security Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent that is not a party to the Indenture.  The agreement shall implement the provisions of the Indenture that relate to such agent.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of each such agent.  If the Company fails to maintain a Security Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 606 of the Base Indenture.  The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Conversion Agent or Security Registrar.

 

The Company may remove any Security Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent upon written notice to such Security Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent and to the Trustee; provided, however, that no such removal shall become effective until (i) acceptance of any appointment by a successor as evidenced by an appropriate agreement entered into by the Company and such successor Security Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and such agreement is delivered to the Trustee or (ii) notification to the Trustee that the Trustee shall serve as Security Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent until the appointment of a successor in accordance with clause (i) above.  The Security Registrar, Conversion Agent or Paying Agent may resign at any time upon written notice to the Company and the Trustee.

 

In acting hereunder and in connection with the Notes, the Security Registrar, Conversion Agent and Paying Agent shall each act solely as an agent of the Company, and will not thereby assume any obligations towards or relationship of agency or trust for or with any Holder.

 

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Section 2.05          Conversion Agent and Paying Agent to Hold Money and Property in Trust.  Except as otherwise provided herein, on or prior to 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on each due date of payment or settlement date of conversion in respect of any Note, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, a sum of money (in immediately available funds) and any property due upon conversion sufficient to make such payments or conversion when due; provided, however, that to the extent any such money and property are received by the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent from the Company after 1:00 p.m. (New York City time), on such due date, such funds will be deemed deposited within one Business Day of receipt thereof.  The Company shall require each Paying Agent or Conversion Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that such Paying Agent or Conversion Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all money or property held by such Paying Agent or Conversion Agent for the payment of principal of, interest on, and other payments and conversion in respect of the Notes, and shall notify the Trustee in writing of any Default by the Company in making any such payment or conversion.  If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, it shall segregate the money or property held by it as Paying Agent or Conversion Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes.  The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent or Conversion Agent (other than the Trustee) to pay all money or property held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by such Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.  Upon complying with this Section 2.05, the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money or property delivered to the Trustee.  Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent and Conversion Agent for the Notes.

 

Section 2.06          Holder Lists.  The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Holders.  If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company, on its own behalf, shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing, at least seven Business Days before each Interest Payment Date and at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing upon at least 15 calendar days’ prior written request, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Holders.

 

Section 2.07          Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary.

 

(a)           The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Note (as such term is defined below), a member of, or a participant in, DTC or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of DTC or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Notes or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than DTC) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Notes (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Notes.  All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders in respect of the Notes shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be DTC or its nominee in the case of a Global Note).  The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Note shall be exercised only through DTC subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC.  The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by DTC with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners. 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 DTC participants, members of beneficial owners in any Global Note) 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

 

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the express requirements hereof.  Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by DTC.

 

(b)           So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary, unless otherwise required by law, all Notes shall be represented by one or more Notes in global form (each, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary.  The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note, which does not involve the issuance of a definitive Note, shall be effected through the Depositary (but not the Trustee or the Custodian) in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor.

 

Section 2.08          Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes.  If any mutilated Note is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Note of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Note, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of actual notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Note has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of the same series and principal amount, containing identical terms and provisions and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Note, pay the amount due and payable with respect to such Note.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Note 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 relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee and its agents) connected therewith.

 

Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of the Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder.

 

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 Notes.

 

Section 2.09          Cancellation.  To the extent permitted by law, the Company may from time to time repurchase any Notes in the open market or by tender offer at any price or by private agreement without giving prior notice to Holders.  The Company may, at its option, surrender any Notes repurchased by it to the Trustee for cancellation, but may not reissue or resell such Notes.

 

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The Company at any time may deliver Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Security Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Notes surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or conversion.  The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and dispose of them in accordance with its customary procedures and upon written request of the Company shall return to the Company all Notes surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, purchase, conversion or cancellation.  All Notes so delivered to the Trustee may not be reissued or resold and shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee and no longer outstanding under this Supplemental Indenture.  The Company may not issue new Notes to replace Notes it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Note have either been exchanged for definitive Notes, transferred, paid, repurchased, redeemed, converted or canceled, such Global Note shall be returned by the Depositary or the Custodian to the Trustee for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for definitive Notes, transferred in exchange for an interest in another Global Note, paid, repurchased, redeemed, converted or canceled, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the Global Note and on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Custodian for such Global Note) with respect to such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

 

Section 2.10          Payment of Interest; Defaulted Interest.  Subject to Section 4.01, interest on any Note 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 that Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the Close of Business on the Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 2.04.

 

Subject to Section 4.01, any interest on any Note that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder thereof on the relevant Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest on such defaulted interest (to the extent lawful) at the rate or formula specified in the Notes of such series (such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest thereon herein collectively called “Defaulted Interest”) may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

 

(1)           The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the Close of Business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, 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 Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall not be less than 20 calendar days after such notice is received by the Trustee), 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 on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a record date (the “Special Record Date”) for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than 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 (which notice shall be prepared by the Company) of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Notes at his address as it appears in the Note

 

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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 the Notes (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 (2).

 

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

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.10, each Note delivered under this Supplemental 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.

 

Section 2.11          Additional Notes.

 

The Company may, without the consent of the Noteholders and notwithstanding Section 2.01, increase the principal amount of the Notes by issuing additional Notes (“Additional Notes”) of the same series as the Initial Notes in the future in an unlimited aggregate principal amount on the same terms and conditions, except for any differences in the issue price and interest accrued prior to the issue date of the Additional Notes and, at the option of the Company, the first payment of interest following the issue date of such Additional Notes; provided that if any Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes those Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number.  The Notes and any Additional Notes shall rank equally and ratably and shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Supplemental Indenture including, without limitation, for purposes of any waivers, supplements or amendments to the Indenture requiring the approval of Holders of the Notes and any offers to purchase the Notes. All provisions of the Indenture shall be construed and interpreted to permit the issuance of such Additional Notes and to allow such Additional Notes to become fungible and interchangeable with the Initial Notes issued under the Indenture.  No Additional Notes may be issued if an Event of Default has occurred with respect to the Notes and is continuing.

 

Section 2.12          Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.  The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President or a Vice President and attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on the Notes may be manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Notes. Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Notes or did not hold such offices at the date of such Notes.

 

A Note shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee manually authenticates the Note.  The signature of the Trustee on a Note shall be conclusive evidence that such Note has been duly and validly authenticated and issued under this Supplemental Indenture.

 

The Trustee will, upon receipt of a Company Order, authenticate Notes, including any Additional Notes, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, subject to the provisions of the Indenture.  Each Company Order will specify the amount of Notes to be authenticated, the date on which the Notes are to be authenticated and, in the case of Additional Notes, the issue price of such Notes.

 

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The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Notes.  Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Notes whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Supplemental Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such Authenticating Agent.

 

In case the Company pursuant to Article 11 shall be consolidated or merged with or into any other Person or shall convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the successor Person resulting from such consolidation, or surviving such merger, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or the Person that shall have received a conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition as aforesaid, shall have executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article 8, any of the Notes authenticated or delivered prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition may, from time to time, at the request of the successor Person, be exchanged for other Notes executed in the name of the successor Person with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise in substance of like tenor as the Notes surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Company Order of the successor Person, shall authenticate and deliver Notes as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange.  If Notes shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a successor Person pursuant to this Section 2.12 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Notes, such successor Person, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Notes at the time Outstanding for Notes authenticated and delivered in such new name.

 

Section 2.13          No Sinking Fund.  No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.

 

Section 2.14          Ranking.  The Notes constitute general unsecured obligations of the Company, ranking equally in right of payment with all of the existing and future unsecured indebtedness of the Company and ranking senior in right of payment to any existing and future indebtedness of the Company that is expressly made subordinate to the Notes by the terms of such indebtedness.

 

Section 2.15          CUSIP Numbers.  The Company in issuing the Notes and Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes may use CUSIP numbers (if then generally in use).  The Trustee shall not be responsible for the use of CUSIP numbers, and the Trustee makes no representation as to their correctness as printed on any Note, certificate of Common Stock or notice to Holders and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes.  The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

ARTICLE 3
REDEMPTION

 

Article Eleven of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.  Instead, the provisions of this Article 3 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Article Eleven of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 3.01          [Reserved]

 

Section 3.02          [Reserved]

 

Section 3.03          Redemption.

 

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(a)           The Notes shall not be redeemed by the Company prior to May 15, 2023.  On or after May 15, 2023, the Company may redeem the Notes (a “Redemption”) for cash, in whole or from time to time in part, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the Redemption Date and (iii) the Make-Whole Premium; provided, however, that if the Redemption Date falls after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date to which such Regular Record Date relates, the Company will pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to the Holder of record on such Regular Record Date and the Redemption Price will instead be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed.

 

Section 3.04          Notice of Redemption; Selection of Notes.

 

(a)           If the Company wishes to exercise its right to redeem all or, as the case may be, any part of the Notes pursuant to Section 3.03, it shall fix a date for Redemption (each, a “Redemption Date”), and it or, at its written request received by the Trustee at least five Business Days prior to the date such notice is to be sent to Holders (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), the Trustee, in the name of and at the expense of the Company, shall provide notice of such Redemption (a “Redemption Notice”) not less than 15 nor more than 30 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at its last address as the same appears on the Note Register.  The Redemption Date must be a Business Day.

 

(b)           The Redemption Notice, if mailed in the manner herein provided, shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to give such Redemption Notice by mail to the Holder of any Note designated for Redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the Redemption Notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.

 

(c)           Each Redemption Notice shall specify:

 

(i)            the Redemption Date;

 

(ii)           the Redemption Price;

 

(iii)          that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each Note to be redeemed, and that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, interest thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date;

 

(iv)          the place or places where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

 

(v)           that Holders may surrender their Notes for conversion at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date;

 

(vi)          the procedures a converting Holder must follow to convert its Notes;

 

(vii)         the then-current Conversion Rate;

 

(viii)        the CUSIP and ISIN or other similar numbers, if any, assigned to such Notes; and

 

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(ix)          in case any Note is redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued.

 

(d)           A Redemption Notice shall be irrevocable.

 

(e)           If fewer than all of the outstanding Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes shall be selected for Redemption (in principal amounts of $1,000 or multiples thereof) in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC, in the case of Global Notes, and by lot, in the case of Physical Securities.

 

(f)            If a Holder converts a Note a portion of which has been selected for Redemption, the converted portion will be deemed to be from the portion selected for Redemption.

 

(g)           In the event of any Redemption in part, the Company shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for Redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

 

Section 3.05          Payment of Notes Called for Redemption.

 

(a)           If any Redemption Notice has been given in respect of the Notes in accordance with Section 9.04, the Notes shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date at the place or places stated in the Redemption Notice and at the applicable Redemption Price.  On presentation and surrender of the Notes at the place or places stated in the Redemption Notice, the Notes shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price.

 

(b)           Prior to the Open of Business on the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent or, if the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company is acting as the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 605 of the Base Indenture an amount of cash (in immediately available funds if deposited on the Redemption Date), sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all of the Notes to be redeemed on such Redemption Date.  Subject to receipt of funds by the Paying Agent, payment for the Notes to be redeemed shall be made on the Redemption Date for such Notes.  The Paying Agent shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Redemption Price.

 

Section 3.06          Restrictions on Redemption.

 

The Company may not redeem any Notes on any date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the Redemption Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Redemption Price with respect to such Notes).

 

ARTICLE 4
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Article Ten of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.  Instead, the provisions of this Article 4 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Article Ten of the Base Indenture.

 

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Section 4.01          Payment of Notes.

 

(a)           The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of such Notes and this Supplemental Indenture.  Interest on any Note that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid pursuant to Section 2.03.

 

(b)           Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.01, a Holder of any Notes at the Close of Business on a Record Date shall be entitled to receive interest on such Notes on the corresponding Interest Payment Date.  A Holder of any Notes as of a Record Date that are converted after Close of Business on such Record Date and prior to the Open of Business on the corresponding Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of such Notes, notwithstanding the conversion of such Notes prior to such Interest Payment Date.

 

(c)           On the Maturity Date, the Company will pay accrued and unpaid interest to the Person to whom the Company pays the principal amount of the Notes.

 

Section 4.02          Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

The Company will maintain an office or agency where Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture may be served.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency.  If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails 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.

 

The Company 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, however, that no such designation or rescission will in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency as set forth above for the Notes, for such purposes.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.  Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Notes, the Company hereby designates the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

Section 4.03          Compliance Certificate, Notice of Default.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 calendar days after the end of each fiscal year (which fiscal year ends December 31 and beginning with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018) of the Company an Officers’ Certificate, one of the signatories of which shall be the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company, stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an officer of the Company, he or she would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not such signer knows of any Default that occurred during such period.  If such signer does have knowledge of a Default, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, promptly and in any event within five calendar days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default and the action that the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 4.04          Reservation of Common Stock.

 

The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock or shares held in treasury by the Company, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of Notes, the full number of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon the conversion of all Outstanding Notes.

 

Section 4.05          Issuance of Shares.

 

All shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion of the Notes shall be newly issued shares or shares held in treasury by the Company, shall have been duly authorized and validly issued and shall be fully paid and nonassessable, and shall be free from preemptive rights and free of any Lien or adverse claim.

 

Section 4.06          Transfer Taxes.

 

If a Holder converts Notes into shares of Common Stock, the Company will pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue of shares of Common Stock upon the conversion.  The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Note or Notes to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the Person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax, or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax has been paid.

 

Section 4.07          Reports by Company.

 

(a)           The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 15 calendar days after filing with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may by rules and regulations prescribe) that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (giving effect in each case to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 or any successor rule under the Exchange Act).  All required reports, information and documents referred to in this Section 4.07(a) shall be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee at the time such reports, information and documents are publicly filed with the Commission via the Commission’s EDGAR and/or IDEA filing system (or any successor system).

 

(b)           Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 4.07, the Company, to the extent permitted under the Trust Indenture Act, shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee or the Holders any material for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the Commission.

 

Section 4.08          Investment Company Act.

 

The Company covenants that for the period of time during which Notes are outstanding, the Company shall not violate, whether or not the Company is subject to, Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by

 

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Section 61(a) of the Investment Company Act, as such obligation may be amended or superseded but giving effect to any exemptive relief that may be granted to the Company by the Commission.

 

Section 4.09          Debt to Equity Ratio.

 

Immediately after the issuance of any senior security representing indebtedness (as determined pursuant to the Investment Company Act), and after giving pro forma effect thereto and the application of the proceeds thereof, the Company shall not permit the Debt to Equity Ratio to be greater than 1.65 to 1.00.

 

Section 4.10          Maximum Secured Debt.

 

The Company shall not permit the Secured Debt Ratio at any time to exceed 0.70 to 1.00.

 

ARTICLE 5
EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

Article Five of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.  Instead, the provisions of this Article 5 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Article Five of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 5.01          Events of Default.  Each of the following shall be Events of Default with respect to the Notes:

 

(a)           failure by the Company to pay any interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) on the Notes when due and such failure continues for a period of 30 calendar days;

 

(b)           failure by the Company to pay principal of the Notes when due at the Maturity Date, or failure by the Company to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price or Redemption Price payable, in respect of any Notes when due;

 

(c)           failure by the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of any Notes and such failure continues for five calendar days following the scheduled settlement date for such conversion;

 

(d)           failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice on a timely basis in accordance with Section 11.01 when due;

 

(e)           a failure to pay principal when due (whether at Stated Maturity or otherwise) or an uncured Default that results in the acceleration of maturity, of any indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $30,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent), unless such indebtedness is discharged, or such acceleration is rescinded, stayed or annulled, within a period of 30 calendar days after written notice of such failure or uncured Default is given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding;

 

(f)            a final judgment for the payment of $50,000,000 or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) rendered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company, other than Subsidiaries that are non-recourse or limited recourse Subsidiaries, bankruptcy remote special purpose vehicles and any Subsidiaries that are not consolidated with the Company for GAAP purposes,

 

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which judgment is not discharged or stayed within 60 calendar days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished;

 

(g)           Default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in the Indenture with respect to any Note (other than a covenant or warranty a Default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such Default or breach for a period of 60 calendar days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes a written notice specifying such Default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;

 

(h)           the Company or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

(i)            commences a voluntary case,

 

(ii)           consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

 

(iii)          consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

(iv)          makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

 

(i)            a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:

 

(i)            is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case,

 

(ii)           appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or for all or substantially all of either of its property, or

 

(iii)          orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 calendar days.

 

The Company shall be required to notify the Trustee promptly (but in no event later than 30 Business Days) upon becoming aware of the occurrence of any Default under this Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Notes.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Supplemental Indenture, the sole remedy for the failure by the Company to comply with Section 4.07, and for any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable (each, a “Filing Failure”), will, at the Company’s option, for the 90 calendar days after the occurrence an Event of Default relating to such Filing Failure consist of the right to receive additional interest on the Notes (“Filing Additional Interest”) at an annual rate equal to 0.25% of the principal amount of the Notes and for the 90 calendar days beginning on, and including, the 91st day after the occurrence of an Event of Default consist of the right to receive Filing Additional Interest on the Notes at an annual rate equal to 0.50% of the principal amount of the Notes.  In the event the Company does not elect to pay the Filing Additional Interest upon the occurrence of an Event of Default relating to a Filing Failure or such Filing Failure continues for more than 181 calendar days after the occurrence of the Event of Default related thereto, the Notes will be subject to acceleration in accordance with Section 5.02.  The Filing Additional Interest will be in addition to, and will be payable in the same manner as, any interest that may accrue on

 

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the Notes, and will accrue on all Outstanding Notes from and including the date on which the Event of Default relating to Filing Failure first occurs to but not including the 181st day thereafter (or such earlier date on which the Filing Failure shall have been cured or waived).  On such 181st day (or such earlier date on which the Filing Failure shall have been cured or waived), the Filing Additional Interest shall cease to accrue.

 

Section 5.02          Acceleration.

 

(a)           In the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (h) or (i) of Section 5.01 hereof with respect to the Company, all Outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice by the Trustee or any Holder.  Subject to Section 5.01, if any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.  Upon any such declaration, the Notes shall become due and payable immediately.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default specified in clause (e) of Section 5.01 occurs resulting in a declaration of acceleration of the Notes, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if such Event of Default triggering such declaration of acceleration pursuant to clause (e) of Section 5.01 shall have been remedied or cured by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or waived by the holders of the relevant indebtedness within 60 calendar days of the declaration of acceleration with respect thereto and if (i) the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) all existing Events of Default, except nonpayment of principal or interest on the Notes that became due and payable solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

 

(c)           At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes as described in this Section 5.02, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes may rescind and cancel such declaration and its consequences:  (i) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration; (iii) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid; and (iv) if the Company has paid (or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay) the Trustee and its agents their reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee and its agents for their expenses, disbursements and advances (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses).  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

 

Section 5.03          Other Remedies.  If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal and interest on the Notes or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Notes or this Supplemental 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 5.04          [Reserved]

 

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Section 5.05          Waiver of Past Defaults.  The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Notes Outstanding may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, consent to the waiver of any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences, except:

 

(1)           failure by the Company to pay principal of or interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) on the Notes when due;

 

(2)           failure by the Company to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of any Notes;

 

(3)           failure by the Company to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date in connection with a Holder of Notes exercising its repurchase rights in accordance with the Indenture; or

 

(4)           failure of the Company to comply with a covenant or provision of this Supplemental Indenture which under Article 8 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected thereby.

 

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 the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 5.06          Control by Majority.  Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it.  However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture that the Trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Notes (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such directions are unduly prejudicial to the other Holders of Notes) or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.  Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee may demand security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it in accordance with Section 602 of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 5.07          Limitation on Suits.  A Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes only if:

 

(a)           such Holder gives to the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(b)           Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy as Trustee;

 

(c)           such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security and/or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;

 

(d)           the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 calendar days after receipt of the request and the offer of security and/or indemnity; and

 

(e)           during such 60-day period, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request.

 

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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.

 

Section 5.08          Rights of Holders of Notes to Receive Payment or Effect Conversion.  Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Note to receive payment of principal and interest on the Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Note (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or the right to convert Notes in accordance with Article 10 of this Supplemental Indenture, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 5.09          Collection Suit by Trustee.  If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(a) or (b) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company, and to enforce such judgment and collect the monies adjudicated or decreed to be payable, for the whole amount of principal of and interest remaining unpaid on the Notes, 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 5.10          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 Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered 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 606 of the Base Indenture.  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 606 of the Base Indenture 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 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 5.11          Priorities.  If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 5, it shall pay out the money in the following order:

 

First: to the Trustee (or any predecessor Trustee), its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 606 of the Base Indenture, including payment of all reasonable compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

Second: to Holders of Notes for amounts due and unpaid on the Notes for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Notes for principal and interest, respectively; and

 

Third: to the Company or such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

 

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The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Notes pursuant to this Section 5.11.  If a record date is fixed, the Trustee shall send, by first class mail, electronically or by any other means approved by the Trustee to the Holders of the Notes of record a notice at least 30 calendar days but not more than 60 calendar days before the payment date.  Such notice shall state: (1) that a payment is being made pursuant to this Section 5.11, (2) the relevant Default and the circumstances giving rise to the collection of money pursuant to this Section 5.11, (3) the payment date and (4) the amount of such payment per $1,000 of Notes.

 

Section 5.12          Undertaking for Costs.  All parties to the Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, 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 5.12 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Note pursuant to Section 5.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Notes.

 

Section 5.13          [Reserved]

 

Section 5.14          Restoration of Rights and Remedies.  If the Trustee or any Holder of a Note 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 the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Notes shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, 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 had been instituted.

 

ARTICLE 6
[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE 7
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

 

Article Four of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.  Instead, the provisions of this Article 7 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Article Four of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 7.01          Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

When (a) the Company delivers to the Trustee all Outstanding Notes (other than Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.08) for cancellation or (b) all Outstanding Notes have become due and payable and the Company deposits with the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Conversion Agent, as applicable, whether at the Stated Maturity, any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or any Redemption Date, upon conversion or otherwise, cash or shares of Common Stock (or Reference Property) and cash, as applicable under the Indenture, sufficient to pay all amounts due and owing on all Outstanding Notes (other than Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.08); and if, in any such case, the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating

 

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to the satisfaction and discharge contemplated by this provision have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction and discharging the Indenture.  The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred, and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably and properly rendered, by the Trustee in connection with the Indenture or the Notes.

 

Section 7.02          Application of Funds or Securities Deposited for Payment of Notes.

 

All moneys or securities deposited with the Trustee, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent (other than the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, as applicable), to the Holders of the Notes for the payment of which such moneys or securities have been deposited, of all sums due and to become due thereon, but such money need not be segregated from other funds or securities except to the extent required by law.

 

Section 7.03          Repayment by Trustee, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent.

 

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Notes, all moneys or securities then held by any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent under the provisions of the Indenture with respect to the Notes shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it and thereupon such Paying Agent or Conversion Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or securities.

 

Any moneys or securities deposited with or paid to the Trustee, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, for the payment of any amount on the Notes and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such amount shall have become due and payable, shall, upon the written request of the Company and unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, as applicable, and the Holder of the Notes shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property laws, thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent with respect to such moneys or securities shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, before being required to make any such repayment with respect to moneys or securities deposited with it for any payment in respect of the Notes, shall, at the expense of the Company, mail by first-class mail to Holders of the Notes at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register notice that such moneys or securities remain and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 calendar days from the date of such mailing or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money or securities then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

ARTICLE 8
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Article Nine of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.  Instead, the provisions of this Article 8 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Article Nine of the Base Indenture.

 

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Section 8.01          Without Consent of Noteholders.

 

Without the consent of any Holders of the Notes, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may amend, waive, modify or supplement the Indenture or the Notes for any of the following purposes:

 

(a)           to comply with Section 801 of the Base Indenture or Sections 10.06 and 11.01 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(b)           to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

 

(c)           to secure the Notes;

 

(d)           to provide for the addition or modification of any of the provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable to provide for or facilitate the guarantee of the Notes by one or more guarantors;

 

(e)           to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes and to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;

 

(f)            to qualify, or maintain qualification of, the Indenture under the TIA;

 

(g)           to cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any inconsistent or otherwise defective provision contained in the Indenture;

 

(h)           to make any provision with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture that the Company may deem necessary or desirable and that shall not be inconsistent with provisions of the Indenture provided that such change or modification does not, in the good faith opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Notes in any material respect;

 

(i)            to provide for conversion rights of Holders of Notes and the Company’s repurchase obligations in connection with a Fundamental Change in the event of any reclassification of the Common Stock, merger or consolidation, or sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of the Company’s property and assets substantially as an entirety;

 

(j)            to conform the provisions of the Indenture to the “Description of the Notes” section contained in the Company’s prospectus supplement related to the Notes dated August 15, 2018;

 

(k)           to increase the Conversion Rate; provided that the increase will not adversely affect the interest of the Holders of the Notes; and

 

(l)            to make such changes as may be necessary or desirable to allow the Company to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.11; provided that any such change will not materially adversely affect the interests of Holders of the Notes.

 

Section 8.02          Modification and Amendment with Consent of Holders.

 

With the written consent or the affirmative vote of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes (including, without limitation, Additional Notes, if any) delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company when authorized by a Board Resolution,

 

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together with the Trustee, may amend, waive, modify or supplement any other provision of the Indenture or the Notes; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver, modification or supplement may, without the written consent or the affirmative vote of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected thereby:

 

(a)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of or any installment of principal of or interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) on, any Note; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate or amount of interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) thereon, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Note, or change the currency in which the principal of any Note or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as the case may be);

 

(b)           reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, waiver, modification or supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such Notes pursuant to Section 5.05 of this Supplemental Indenture;

 

(c)           make any change that affects the right of any Holder to convert Notes into shares of the Common Stock or reduce the number of shares of Common Stock or any other property receivable upon conversion pursuant to the terms of the Indenture;

 

(d)           relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City; and

 

(e)           change the Company’s obligation to repurchase any Notes upon a Fundamental Change in a manner adverse to the Holders after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change.

 

Upon the written request of the Company accompanied by a copy of a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture or other agreement, instrument or waiver, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture or other agreement, instrument or waiver.

 

It shall not be necessary for any act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or other agreement, instrument or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 8.03          Execution of Supplemental Indentures, Agreements and Waivers.

 

In executing, any supplemental indenture, agreement, instrument or waiver permitted by this Article 8 or the modifications thereby of this Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee shall, upon request, be provided with, and (subject to Section 602 of the Base Indenture) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate from each obligor under the Notes entering into such supplemental indenture, agreement, instrument or waiver, each stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture, agreement, instrument or waiver (a) is authorized or permitted by this Supplemental Indenture; (b) does not violate the provisions of any agreement or instrument evidencing any other indebtedness of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company; and (c) that all conditions precedent in this Supplemental Indenture relating to such supplemental indenture have been complied with.  The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture, agreement, instrument or waiver which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this

 

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Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or otherwise.  The Company will notify Holders within a reasonable time of any amendment to this Agreement or of any supplemental indenture entered into.  However, any failure by the Company to give such notice to all of the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the modification or amendment.

 

Section 8.04          Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article 8, this Supplemental Indenture, the Notes, if applicable, shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of the Indenture and the Notes, if applicable, as the case may be, for all purposes; and every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 8.05          Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture or amendment to the Indenture or the Notes shall comply with the TIA as then in effect, to the extent the TIA is applicable to the Indenture or any supplemental indenture hereto.

 

Section 8.06          Reference in Notes to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article 8 may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in a form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, upon a Company Order in exchange for Outstanding Notes.

 

Section 8.07          Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers.

 

A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Note shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Note or portion of the Note that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Note, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not made on the Note.  However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder’s Note or portion of the Note if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.  After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder.  An amendment or waiver made pursuant to Section 8.02 shall become effective upon receipt by the Trustee of the requisite number of written consents.

 

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to the Indenture.  If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.  No such consent shall become valid or effective more than 120 calendar days after such record date.

 

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Section 8.08          Notation on or Exchange of Notes.

 

If an amendment changes the terms of a Note, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Note to deliver it to the Trustee.  The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Note regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder.  Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Note shall issue and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall authenticate a new Note that reflects the changed terms.  Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Note shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

 

ARTICLE 9
[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE 10
CONVERSION OF NOTES

 

Section 10.01       Conversion Privilege.

 

(a)           Upon compliance with the provisions of this Article 10, a Holder of Notes shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) of such Note at any time prior to the Close of Business on the scheduled Business Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date at a rate (the “Conversion Rate”) of 65.8762 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment by the Company as provided in Section 10.04) per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares (collectively, the “Conversion Obligation”).

 

(b)           (1)  If and only to the extent a Holder elects to convert Notes prior to the Maturity Date in connection with a transaction described in clause (a), clause (b) or clause (d) of the definition of Fundamental Change and determined after giving effect to any exception to or exclusions from such definition, but without regard to the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof (a “Make-Whole Fundamental Change”) pursuant to which 10% or more of the consideration for the Common Stock (other than cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made in respect of dissenters’ appraisal rights) in such transaction consists of cash or securities (or other property) that are not shares of common stock traded or scheduled to be traded immediately following such transaction on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market (or any of their respective successors), referred to herein as a “Non-Stock Change of Control”, then the Conversion Rate applicable to each $1,000 principal amount of Notes so converted shall be increased by an additional number of shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”) as described in Section 10.01(b)(2) below.  The Company shall notify Holders of the anticipated Effective Date of a Non-Stock Change of Control no later than such time that the Non-Stock Change of Control occurs.

 

Settlement of Notes tendered for conversion to which Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate as provided in this subsection shall be settled pursuant to Section 10.02 below, as applicable.  For purposes of this Section 10.01(b), a conversion of Notes shall be deemed to be “in connection with” a Non-Stock Change of Control to the extent that the related Conversion Notice is received by the Conversion Agent following the Effective Date of the Non-Stock Change of Control but before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.  Such Conversion Notice shall indicate that the Holder of Notes has elected to convert Notes in connection with a Non-Stock Change of Control; provided, however, that the failure to so indicate shall not in any way affect the Conversion Obligation or the right of such Holder to receive Additional Shares in connection with such conversion.

 

(2)           The number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate will be increased shall be determined by reference to the table attached as Schedule A hereto, based on the date on which the

 

34



 

Non-Stock Change of Control occurs or becomes effective (the “Effective Date”), and the Stock Price; provided, that if the Stock Price is between two Stock Price amounts in the table attached as Schedule A hereto or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table attached as Schedule A hereto, the number of Additional Shares shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Price amounts and the two Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 360-day year; provided further that if (x) the Stock Price is in excess of $21.00 per share of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in the same manner as set forth in Section 10.04), no Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate, and (y) the Stock Price is less than $13.80 per share of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in the same manner as set forth in Section 10.04), no Additional Shares will be added to the Conversion Rate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion, as adjusted pursuant to this Section 10.01(b)(2), exceed 18.00  per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, subject to the same adjustments as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.04.

 

The number of Additional Shares within the table in Schedule A hereto shall be adjusted in the same manner as and as of any date on which the Conversion Rate is adjusted as set forth in Section 10.04 (other than by operation of an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.01(b)).  The Stock Prices set forth in the first row of the table attached as Schedule A hereto (i.e., the column headers) shall be simultaneously adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate is adjusted (other than by operation of an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.01(b)).  The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted.

 

Section 10.02       Conversion Procedures.

 

(a)           Each Note shall be convertible at the office of the Conversion Agent and, if applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

 

(b)           In order to exercise the conversion privilege with respect to any interest in a Global Note, the Holder must complete the appropriate instruction form for conversion pursuant to the Depositary’s book-entry conversion program, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if required by the Company or the Conversion Agent, pay all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax, if any, for which the Holder is responsible pursuant to Section 10.06, and the Conversion Agent must be informed of the conversion in accordance with the customary practice of the Depositary.  In order to exercise the conversion privilege with respect to any certificated Notes, the Holder of any such Notes to be converted, in whole or in part, shall:

 

(1)           complete and manually sign the Conversion Notice provided on the back of the Note and attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Conversion Notice”) or a facsimile of the Conversion Notice;

 

(2)           deliver the completed Conversion Notice (which is irrevocable), which is irrevocable, and the Note to the Conversion Agent;

 

(3)           if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents; and

 

(4)           if required, pay all documentary, stamp or issue or transfer tax pursuant to Section 4.06.

 

The date on which the Holder satisfies all of the applicable requirements set forth in this Section 10.02(b) is the “Conversion Date.”  The Conversion Agent will provide the Company with

 

35



 

notice of any conversion by a Holder of the Notes on the Conversion Date (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall be the next Business Day if the applicable requirements are satisfied after the Close of Business on a Business Day and prior to the Open of Business on the next Business Day).

 

(c)           Each Conversion Notice shall state the name or names (with address or addresses) in which any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable upon such conversion shall be issued.  All such Notes surrendered for conversion shall, unless the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion are to be issued in the same name as the registration of such Notes, be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company duly executed by, the Holder or his duly authorized attorney.

 

(d)           In case any certificated Notes of a denomination greater than $1,000 shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of the Notes so surrendered, without charge, new Notes in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Notes.

 

Each conversion shall be deemed to have been effected as to any such Notes (or portion thereof) surrendered for conversion immediately prior to the Close of Business on the relevant Conversion Date.  The person in whose name the certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock that shall be issuable upon such conversion shall become the holder of record of such shares of Common Stock as of the Close of Business on such Conversion Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything contained in the Indenture to the contrary, in no event shall a Holder be entitled to the benefit of a Conversion Rate adjustment pursuant to the provisions of Article 10 hereof in respect of Notes surrendered for conversion if, by virtue of being deemed the record holder of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion pursuant to the foregoing sentence, such Holder participates, as a result of being such holder of record, in the transaction or event that would otherwise give rise to such Conversion Rate adjustment to the same extent and in the same manner as holders of shares of Common Stock generally.

 

(e)           Upon the conversion of an interest in Global Notes, the Trustee (or other Conversion Agent appointed by the Company) shall make a notation on such Global Notes as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversions of Notes effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Note in respect of which a Holder has delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice exercising such Holder’s option to require the Company to purchase such Note may be converted only if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with Section 11.01(c) hereof.

 

Section 10.03       Payments Upon Conversion.

 

(a)           Upon any conversion of any Notes, on the third Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date, the Company shall deliver to the converting Holder a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the aggregate principal amount of such Notes to be converted divided by $1,000, multiplied by (ii) the Conversion Rate in effect as of such Conversion Date, together with any cash payment for any fractional share of Common Stock as described in Section 10.03(c).

 

(b)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, upon the conversion of any Notes, unless the Holder converts after a Record Date for an interest payment but prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Holder will also receive a separate cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) to, but not including, the

 

36



 

Conversion Date.  Any such payment will be made on the settlement date applicable to the relevant conversion of the Notes.  If the Holder converts after a Record Date for an interest payment but prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Holder will receive on the corresponding Interest Payment Date the interest accrued and unpaid on the Notes for the entire interest period, notwithstanding the Holder’s conversion of the Notes prior to the Interest Payment Date, assuming the Holder was the holder of record on the corresponding Record Date.

 

(c)           The Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes.  If multiple Notes shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered.  If any fractional share of Common Stock would be issuable upon the conversion of any Notes, the Company shall make payment therefor in cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock based on the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the relevant Conversion Date.

 

(d)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, no Holder of Notes will be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock upon conversion to the extent (but only to the extent) that such receipt would cause such converting Holder to become, directly or indirectly, a “beneficial owner” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of more than 5.0% of the Common Stock outstanding at such time (the “Limitation”).  Any purported delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes shall be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in the converting Holder becoming the beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time.  If any delivery of shares of Common Stock owed to a Holder upon conversion of Notes is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of the Limitation, the Company’s obligation to make such delivery shall not be extinguished and the Company shall deliver such shares as promptly as practicable after any such converting Holder gives notice to the Company that such delivery would not result in it being the beneficial owner of more than 5.0% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding at such time.  The Limitation shall no longer apply following the Effective Date of any Fundamental Change.

 

Section 10.04       Adjustment of Conversion Rate.  The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company as follows:

 

(a)           If the Company issues shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on shares of Common Stock, or effects a share split or share combination, then the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

 

  CR1 = CR0 X OS1

 

 

OS0

 

 

where

 

CR1   =                   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such share split or combination, as the case may be;

 

CR0  =                    the Conversion Rate in effect at Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such share split or combination, as the case may be;

 

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OS0  =                     the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such share split or combination; and

 

OS1  =                     the number of shares of Common Stock that would be outstanding immediately after, and solely as a result of, such dividend, distribution, share split or combination, as the case may be.

 

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such share split or combination, as the case may be.  If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 10.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, or the outstanding shares of Common Stock are not subdivided or combined, as the case may be, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, or subdivide or combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, as the case may be, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend, distribution, subdivision or combination had not been declared.

 

(b)           In case the Company shall issue to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock any rights or warrants (other than rights issued pursuant to a shareholders’ rights plan) entitling them for a period of not more than 60 calendar days from the issuance date for such distribution to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, at a price per share less than the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the declaration date of such distribution, then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

CR1 = CR0 ×   

OS0 + X

 

 

 

OS0 + Y

 

 

where

 

CR1   =                   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for such distribution;

 

CR0  =                    the Conversion Rate in effect at the Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such distribution;

 

OS0  =                    the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such distribution;

 

X     =                      the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights or warrants; and

 

Y     =                      the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights or warrants, divided by the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such distribution.

 

Such adjustment shall be successively made whenever any such rights or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for such distribution.  If such rights or warrants are not issued or to the extent they are not so exercised prior to their expiration, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such record date for such distribution had not been fixed.

 

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In determining whether any rights or warrants entitle the holder thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share less than the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the declaration date of such distribution, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, where the value of such consideration, if other than cash, shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)           (i)  In case the Company shall distribute shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or other assets or property to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock (excluding dividends and distributions covered by Section 10.04(a), Section 10.04(b), Section 10.04(d), and distributions described below in Section 10.04(c)(ii) with respect to Spin-Offs (as defined below)) (any of such shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or other asset or property hereinafter in this Section 10.04(c) called the “Distributed Property”), then, in each such case the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

CR1 = CR0 ×  

SP0

 

 

 

SP0 - FMV

 

 

where

 

CR1   =                   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for such distribution;

 

CR0  =                    the Conversion Rate in effect at the Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such distribution;

 

SP0  =                     the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such distribution; and

 

FMV  =                  the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof) of the Distributed Property distributed with respect to each outstanding share of Common Stock as of the Open of Business on the record date for such distribution.

 

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for shareholders entitled to receive such distribution; provided that (1) if the then fair market value (as so determined) of the portion of the Distributed Property so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than SP0 as set forth above or (2) if SP0 exceeds the fair market value of the Distributed Property by less than $0.01, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that each Holder shall have the right to receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes upon conversion, the amount of Distributed Property such Holder would have received had such Holder converted such Notes immediately prior to the record date for determining the shareholders of the Company entitled to receive the Distributed Property.  If such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.  If such dividend or distribution consists of rights or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to the extent that such rights or warrants are not exercised prior to their expiration.  If the Board of Directors determines the fair market value of any distribution for purposes of this Section 10.04(c)(i) by reference to the actual or when issued

 

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trading market for any securities, it must in doing so consider the prices in such market over the same period used in determining SP0 above.

 

(ii)           With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 10.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock in shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company that are listed on a national or regional securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

CR1   =    CR0  × 

FMV + MP0

 

 

 

MP0

 

 

where

 

CR1   =                   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for the Spin-Off;

 

CR0  =                    the Conversion Rate in effect at the Close of Business, on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for the Spin-Off;

 

FMV =                   the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or other similar equity interest distributed to holders of Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock over the first 10 consecutive Trading Day period immediately following, and including, the third Trading Day after the record date for such Spin-Off (such period, the “Valuation Period”); and

 

MP0   =                   the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock over the Valuation Period.

 

Such adjustment shall occur immediately after the Open of Business on the day after the last day of the Valuation Period but will be given effect as of the Open of Business on the record date for the Spin-Off; provided that in respect of any conversion within the ten Trading Days following any Spin-Off, references within this Section 10.04(c)(ii) to ten Trading Days shall be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between such Spin-Off and the Conversion Date in determining the applicable Conversion Rate.  Because the Company will make the adjustment to the Conversion Rate at the end of the Valuation Period with retroactive effect, the Company will delay the settlement of any Notes where the Conversion Date occurs during the Valuation Period.  In such event, the Company will deliver shares of Common Stock and any cash in lieu thereof (based on the adjusted Conversion Rate) on the third Business Day following the last day of the Valuation Period.

 

Rights or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of Common Stock, entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase Capital Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”):  (i) are deemed to be transferred with such Common Stock; (ii) are not exercisable; and (iii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 10.04(c) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 10.04(c) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights and warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under this Section 10.04(c).  If any such right or warrant, including any such existing rights or warrants distributed prior to the date of this Supplemental Indenture, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities,

 

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evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and record date with respect to new rights or warrants with such rights (and a termination or expiration of the existing rights or warrants without exercise by any of the holders thereof).  In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 10.04 was made, (1) in the case of any such rights or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or repurchased without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted upon such final redemption or repurchase to give effect to such distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or repurchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or repurchase, and (2) in the case of such rights or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights and warrants had not been issued.

 

For purposes of this Section 10.04(c) and Section 10.04(a) and Section 10.04(b), any dividend or distribution to which this Section 10.04(c) is applicable that also includes a dividend or distribution of Common Stock to which Section 10.04(a) applies or a dividend or distribution of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock to which Section 10.04(a) or Section 10.04(b) applies (or both), shall be deemed instead to be (1) a dividend or distribution of the evidences of indebtedness, assets or shares of Capital Stock other than such Common Stock or rights or warrants to which this Section 10.04(c) applies, and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by this Section 10.04(c) with respect to such dividend or distribution shall then be made, immediately followed by (2) a dividend or distribution of such Common Stock or such rights or warrants (and any further Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 10.04(a) and Section 10.04(b) with respect to such dividend or distribution shall then be made), except (A) the record date of such dividend or distribution shall be substituted as “the record date” and “the date fixed for such determination” within the meaning of Section 10.04(a) and Section 10.04(b) and (B) any Common Stock included in such dividend or distribution shall not be deemed outstanding “at Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such share split or combination” within the meaning of Section 10.04(a) or “at Close of Business on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record for such distribution” within the meaning of Section 10.04(b).

 

(d)           In case the Company shall pay any cash dividends or make distributions paid exclusively in cash to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock (other than dividends or distributions made in connection with the dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company or distributions to which Section 10.06 applies), then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend that does not exceed “T” (as defined below)):

 

 

CR1 = CR0 ×

SP0 – T

 

 

 

SP0  – C

 

 

where

 

CR1 =                     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the record date for such dividend or distribution;

 

CR0 =                     the Conversion Rate in effect at the Close of Business, on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such distribution;

 

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SP0  =                     the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately preceding the record date for such distribution;

 

T  =                         the dividend threshold amount, which will initially be equal to $0.34 per share in any quarterly period, provided that if the dividend or distribution is not a regular quarterly cash dividend, the initial dividend threshold will be deemed to be zero; and

 

C  =                         the amount in cash per share that the Company distributes to holders of Common Stock in any dividend.

 

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately after the Open of Business on the ex-dividend date for such dividend or distribution.

 

The initial dividend threshold is subject to adjustment in a manner inversely proportional to adjustments to the Conversion Rate; provided that no adjustment shall be made to the initial dividend threshold for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 10.04(d).

 

If “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), or if the difference between “SP0” and “C” is less than $0.01, in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received as if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate on the record date for such cash dividend or distribution.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 10.04(d), in the event of any reclassification of the Common Stock, as a result of which the Notes become convertible into more than one class of Common Stock, if an adjustment to the Conversion Rate is required pursuant to this Section 10.04(d), references in this Section 10.04(d) to one share of Common Stock or Last Reported Sale Price of one share of Common Stock shall be deemed to refer to a unit or to the price of a unit consisting of the number of shares of each class of Common Stock into which the Notes are then convertible equal to the number of shares of such class issued in respect of one share of Common Stock in such reclassification.  The above provisions of this paragraph shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications.

 

(e)           In case the Company or any of its Subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Stock, to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of Common Stock exceeds the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

 CR1 = CR0  ×

AC + (SP1 × OS1)

 

 

 

OS0 × SP1

 

 

where

 

CR1    =                  the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Open of Business on the Trading Day immediately following the day such tender offer or exchange offer expires;

 

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CR0   =                   the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Open of Business on the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender offer or exchange offer expires;

 

AC  =                      the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof) paid or payable for shares purchased in such tender or exchange offer;

 

SP1  =                     the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the day such tender or exchange offer expires (the “Averaging Period”);

 

OS1  =                     the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the date such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to such tender offer or exchange offer); and

 

OS0  =                     the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the date such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to such tender offer or exchange offer).

 

Such adjustment shall become effective immediately prior to the Open of Business on the day following the last day of the Averaging Period, but will be given effect as of the Open of Business on the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender offer or exchange offer expires.  Because the Company will make the adjustment to the Conversion Rate at the end of the Averaging Period with retroactive effect, the Company will delay the settlement of any Notes where the Conversion Date occurs during the Averaging Period.  In such event, the Company will deliver shares of Common Stock and any cash in lieu thereof (based on the adjusted Conversion Rate) on the third Business Day immediately following the last day of the Averaging Period.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 10.04, no adjustments to the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 10.04 will be made:

 

(i)            upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan or similar arrangement providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any such plan or arrangement;

 

(ii)           upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase such shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program or similar arrangement of, or assumed by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(iii)          upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in clause (ii) of this Section 10.04(f) and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued;

 

(iv)          for a change in the par value of the Common Stock; or

 

(v)           for accrued and unpaid interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any).

 

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(g)           To the extent a transaction qualifies under two or more of Section 10.04(a), Section 10.04(b), Section 10.04(c), Section 10.04(d) and Section 10.04(e), the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted pursuant to Section 10.04(c)(i).

 

(h)           For purposes of this Section 10.04 the term “record date” shall mean, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of shares of Common Stock have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the shares of Common Stock (or other applicable security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of shareholders of the Company entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors or by statute, contract or otherwise).

 

(i)            All calculations and other determinations under this Article 10 shall be made by the Company in accordance with Section 12.15 hereof and shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000) of a share, as the case may be.  No adjustment shall be made for the Company’s issuance of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the right to purchase Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities, other than as provided in this Section 10.04.  No adjustment shall be made to the Conversion Rate unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 1.0% in the Conversion Rate then in effect at such time.  The Company shall carry forward any adjustments that are less than 1.0% of the Conversion Rate, take such carried-forward adjustments into account in any subsequent adjustment, and make such carried forward adjustments, regardless of whether the aggregate adjustment is less than 1.0%, (i) annually on the anniversary of the first date of issue of the Notes and otherwise, (ii) upon any conversion of the Notes, and (iii) (1) 10 Business Days prior to the Maturity Date of the Notes (whether at Stated Maturity or otherwise) or (2) 10 Business Days prior to any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or Redemption Date, unless such adjustment has already been made.

 

(j)            Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly file with the Trustee and any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.  The Trustee and Conversion Agent may conclusively rely on the accuracy of the Conversion Rate adjustment provided by the Company.  Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officers’ Certificate, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect.  Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and provide notice to Holders of such adjustment.

 

(k)           For purposes of this Section 10.04, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock.

 

(l)            The Company will not take any action that would result in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.04 without complying with Section 312 of the New York Stock Exchange’s Listed Company Manual, if applicable.

 

Section 10.05       Shares to be Fully Paid.  Subject to Section 10.03(c), the Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, sufficient Common Stock to provide for conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion.

 

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Section 10.06       Effect of Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale.

 

(a)           If the Company:

 

(i)            reclassifies or changes its Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination); or

 

(ii)           consolidates or merges with or into any Person or sells, leases, transfers, conveys or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets and those of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person; and in either case holders of Common Stock receive stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) with respect to or in exchange for their Common Stock (any such event, a “Merger Event”), then from and after the effective date of such Merger Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture (which shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture if such supplemental indenture is then required to so comply) providing that at and after the effective time of such Merger Event, each Outstanding Note will, without the consent of Holders of the Notes, become convertible in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture into the consideration the holders of Common Stock received in such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (such consideration, the “Reference Property”).  If the transaction causes the Common Stock to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of shareholder election), the Reference Property into which the Notes will become convertible will be deemed to be the kind and amount of consideration elected to be received by a majority of shares of Common Stock which voted for such an election (if electing between two types of consideration) or a plurality of shares of Common Stock which voted for such an election (if electing between more than two types of consideration), as the case may be.  The Company shall not become a party to any such Merger Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 10.06 in all material respects.

 

(b)           The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each Holder, at the address of such Holder as it appears on the Note Register, within 20 calendar days after execution thereof.  Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.  The above provisions of this Section 10.06 shall similarly apply to successive reclassifications, changes, consolidations, mergers, combinations, sales and conveyances.  If this Section 10.06 applies to any Merger Event, Section 10.04 shall not apply.

 

Section 10.07       Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions.

 

In case:

 

(a)           the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 10.04; or

 

(b)           the Company shall authorize the granting to all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any share of any class or any other rights or warrants;

 

(c)           of any reclassification of Common Stock (other than a subdivision or combination of the outstanding Common Stock, or a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value), or of any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party and for which

 

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approval of any shareholders of the Company is required, or of the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

 

(d)           of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company, the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee and to be mailed to each Holder at his address appearing on the Note Register at least 10 calendar days before the applicable date specified in clause (x) or (y) below, as the case may be, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution or rights or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution or rights are to be determined, or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to convert their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.  Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such dividend, distribution, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

 

Section 10.08       Shareholder Rights Plans.  To the extent that any future shareholders’ rights plan adopted by the Company is in effect upon conversion of the Notes into Common Stock, Holders shall receive, in addition to any Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, the rights under the applicable rights agreement unless the rights have separated from the Common Stock at the time of conversion of the Notes, in which case, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted as if the Company distributed to all holders of its Common Stock shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets as described in Section 10.04(c)(i), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.  If, and only if, the Holders receive rights under such shareholders’ rights plan as described in the preceding sentence upon conversion of their Notes, then no other adjustment pursuant to this Article 10 shall be made in connection with such shareholders’ rights plan.

 

ARTICLE 11
REPURCHASE OF NOTES AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDERS

 

Article Thirteen of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.  Instead, the provisions of this Article 11 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Article Thirteen of the Base Indenture.

 

Section 11.01       Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change.

 

(a)           If a Fundamental Change occurs at any time prior to the Maturity Date, then each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof that is a multiple of $1,000 principal amount, for cash on or after the Close of Business on the date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) specified by the Company that is not less than twenty (20) calendar days and not more than thirty-five (35) calendar days after the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice (as defined below) at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (collectively, the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date is after a Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the accrued and unpaid interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) will be paid on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date to the Holder of record on the Record Date.

 

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Repurchases of Notes under this Section 11.01 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

 

(i)            delivery to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by a Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and

 

(ii)           delivery or book-entry transfer of the Notes to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) at any time after delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (together with all necessary endorsements) at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor; provided that such Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 11.01 only if the Note so delivered to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) shall conform in all respects to the description thereof in the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.

 

The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall state:

 

(A)          if certificated, the certificate numbers of Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

 

(B)          the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof;

 

(C)          that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(D)          if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is delivered prior to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change pursuant to a definitive agreement giving rise to a Fundamental Change, that the Holder acknowledges that the Company’s offer is conditioned on the occurrence of such Fundamental Change. provided, however, that if the Notes are not in certificated form, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with Applicable Procedures.

 

Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.01 shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to be received by the Holder promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the time of the book-entry transfer or delivery of the Note.

 

The Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.01(c).

 

Any Note that is to be repurchased only in part shall be surrendered to the Trustee (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the Holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or Notes, containing identical terms and conditions, each in an authorized denomination in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepurchased portion of the principal of the Note so surrendered.

 

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(b)           On or before the fifth (5th) calendar day after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall provide to all Holders of record of the Notes as of the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice at their addresses shown in the Note Register (and to beneficial owners to the extent required by applicable law) and the Trustee and Paying Agent a written notice (the “Fundamental Change Company Notice”) of the occurrence of such Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof.  Such mailing shall be by first class mail.  Simultaneously with providing such Fundamental Change Company Notice, the Company shall publish a notice containing the information included therein once in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish such information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at such time.

 

Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:

 

(i)            the events causing the Fundamental Change;

 

(ii)           the date of the Fundamental Change;

 

(iii)          that the Holder must exercise the repurchase right prior to the Close of Business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

 

(iv)          the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

 

(v)           the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

 

(vi)          the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

 

(vii)         the applicable Conversion Rate and any adjustments to the applicable Conversion Rate;

 

(viii)        that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(ix)          the procedures that Holders must follow to require the Company to repurchase their Notes.

 

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 11.01.

 

(c)           A Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with the Fundamental Change Company Notice at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, specifying:

 

(i)            the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted;

 

(ii)           the principal amount, if any, of such Notes that remains subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which portion must be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000; and

 

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(iii)          if certificated Notes have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn Notes; provided, however, that if the Notes are not in certificated form, the notice must comply with Applicable Procedures.  The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any certificated Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been withdrawn in compliance with the provisions of this Section 11.01(c).  If the Notes are not in certificated form, such return must comply with the appropriate procedures of the Depositary.  If a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice is given and then subsequently withdrawn in accordance with this Section 11.01(c), then the Company shall not be obligated to repurchase any Notes listed in such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.

 

(d)           On or prior to 1:00 p.m.  (local time in The City of New York) on the Business Day following the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust in accordance with this Supplemental Indenture an amount of money or securities sufficient to repurchase as of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date all of the Notes to be repurchased as of such date at the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price; provided, however, to the extent any such funds are received by the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent after 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on such date, such funds will be deemed deposited within one (1) Business Date of receipt thereof.  Subject to receipt of funds and/or Notes by the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company and subject to extension if necessary to comply with the provisions of the Investment Company Act), payment for Notes surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) prior to the Close of Business on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date will be made promptly after the later of (x) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date with respect to such Note (provided the Holder has satisfied the conditions to the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price in this Section 11.01), and (y) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by the Holder thereof in the manner required by this Section 11.01 by mailing checks for the amount payable to the Holders of such Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear in the Note Register (in the case of certificated Notes) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee (if the Notes are not in certificated form).  The Trustee shall, promptly after such payment return to the Company any funds in excess of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

 

(e)           If the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) holds money or securities sufficient to repurchase as of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be purchased as of the Business Day following the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, then on and after the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (i) such Notes will cease to be Outstanding, (ii) interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) will cease to accrue on such Notes, whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes has been made or the Notes have been delivered to the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be, and (iii) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes will terminate other than the right to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price upon delivery or transfer of such Notes.

 

Section 11.02       No Payment Following Acceleration of the Notes.  There shall be no purchase of any Notes pursuant to this Article 11 if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded on or prior to the Fundamental Change Purchase Date.  The Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any certificated Notes held by it following acceleration of the Notes and shall deem canceled any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the procedures of the Depositary, in which case, upon such return and cancellation, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

 

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Section 11.03       Compliance with Tender Offer Rules.  In connection with any offer to purchase Notes under Section 11.01 hereof, the Company shall, in each case if required, (a) comply with Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable, (b) file a Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange Act and (c) otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws so as to permit the rights and obligations under Section 11.01 to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in Section 11.01.

 

ARTICLE 12
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01       Trust Indenture Act Controls.  This Supplemental Indenture is hereby made subject to, and shall be governed by, the provisions of the TIA required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the TIA upon such qualification regardless of whether this Supplemental Indenture shall ever be so qualified; provided that this Section 12.01 shall not constitute any admission or acknowledgment by any party hereto that any such qualification is required prior to the time such qualification is in fact required under the terms of the TIA.  If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof that is required to be included in an indenture qualified under the TIA, such required provision shall control.

 

Section 12.02       Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.  Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under the Indenture, the Company shall, upon request, deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, provided for in the Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and, upon request, an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, have been complied with.

 

Section 12.03       Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.  Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Supplemental Indenture (other than Officers’ Certificates provided for in Section 4.03) shall include:

 

(a)           a statement that the individual 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 individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(d)           a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

 

In giving an Opinion of Counsel, counsel may rely as to factual matters on an Officers’ Certificate or such other certificates of officer(s) of the Company as it may deem appropriate and on certificates of public officials.

 

Section 12.04       Successors.  All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall bind its successors and assigns

 

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whether so expressed or not.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 12.05       Official Acts by Successor Corporation.  Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Supplemental Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation or entity that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.

 

Section 12.06       Addresses for Notices, Etc.  Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any notice or demand which by any provision of this Supplemental Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Noteholders on the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee) to the Company, 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Robert Hamwee.  Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to U.S.  Bank National Association, 1 Federal Street, 10th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, Attention: New Mountain Finance Corporation.

 

The Trustee, by notice to the Company, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication mailed to a Holder shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at the address as it appears on the Note Register and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

 

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Noteholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Noteholders.  If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

Section 12.07       Governing Law.  THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES OF SUCH STATE OTHER THAN NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW SECTION 5-1401.  THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE TIA THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE A PART OF THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND SHALL, TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE, BE GOVERNED BY SUCH PROVISIONS.

 

Section 12.08       Benefits of Indenture.  Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any authenticating agent, any Security Registrar and their successors hereunder, the Noteholders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 12.09       Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.  The table of contents and the titles 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 hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

51



 

Section 12.10       Counterparts.  This Supplemental Indenture may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

Section 12.11       Trustee.  The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture.  The statements and recitals herein are deemed to be those of the Company and not of the Trustee.

 

Section 12.12       Further Instruments and Acts.  Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 12.13       Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH OF THE COMPANY 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 TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 12.14       Force Majeure.  In no event shall the Trustee, the Paying Agent or Conversion Agent 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 other acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunction of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee, the Paying Agent, and the Conversion Agent shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 12.15       Calculations.

 

(a)           Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, the Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes.  These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price of Common Stock, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the Conversion Rate and Conversion Price.  The Company or its agents shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, such calculations will be final and binding on Holders of the Notes.  The Company shall provide a schedule of these calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and Conversion Agent is entitled to rely upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification.  The Trustee will forward these calculations to any Holder of the Note upon the request of that Holder.

 

(b)           The Trustee and any Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Notes to determine or calculate the Conversion Rate, to determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or to confirm the accuracy of any such adjustment when made or the appropriateness of the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same.  The Trustee and the Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any securities or property that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Notes; and the Trustee and the Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto.  Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Notes for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in Article 10.  The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and

 

52



 

benefits given to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, including without limitation its right to be compensated, reimbursed, and indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent in any other capacity either may hold hereunder, including, if either is so appointed by the Company and accepts such appointment.

 

Section 12.16       Ratification of Base Indenture.  The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein provided.  For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Company and each Holder of Notes, by its acceptance of such Notes, acknowledges and agrees that all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits afforded to the Trustee under the Base Indenture, including, without limitations, all rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits afforded to the Trustee under Article Six of the Base Indenture, are deemed to be incorporated herein, and shall be enforceable by the Trustee hereunder, in each of its capacities hereunder as if set forth herein in full.

 

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

 

53



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Shiraz Y. Kajee

 

 

Name: Shiraz Y. Kajee

 

 

Title: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Karen R. Beard

 

 

Name: Karen R. Beard

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 


 

SCHEDULE A

 

The following table sets forth the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased pursuant to Section 10.06 based on the Stock Price and Effective Date set forth below.

 

 

 

Share Price and Additional Shares

 

Date

 

$13.80

 

$14.00

 

$14.50

 

$15.00

 

$15.18

 

$15.50

 

$16.00

 

$16.50

 

$17.00

 

$18.00

 

August 20, 2018

 

6.5875

 

5.7679

 

3.9441

 

2.4467

 

1.9881

 

1.2774

 

0.4513

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2019

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.7848

 

2.3060

 

1.8623

 

1.1935

 

0.4513

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2020

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.7848

 

2.3060

 

1.8623

 

1.1935

 

0.4513

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2021

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.7848

 

2.3060

 

1.8577

 

1.1710

 

0.4288

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2022

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.6628

 

2.0613

 

1.5988

 

0.9303

 

0.2738

 

0.0364

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2023

 

6.5875

 

5.5524

 

3.0893

 

0.7905

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

 

A-1



 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

 

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

 



 

New Mountain Finance Corporation
5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023

 

No.

$

 

 

CUSIP No.  647551 AC4

ISIN No.  US647551AC49

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to [CEDE & CO., or registered assigns (the “Depositary”)](1), the principal sum of [                           ] ($[                  ])[, or such other principal amount as shall be set forth on the Schedule I hereto,](2) on August 15, 2023 , unless earlier converted or repurchased.

 

This Note shall bear interest at the rate of 5.75% per year from August 20, 2018, or from the most recent date to which interest had been paid or provided.  Interest on this Note shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.  Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each February 15 and August 15, commencing February 15, 2019, to Holders of record at the Close of Business on the preceding February 1 and August 1, respectively.  Interest payable on each Interest Payment Date shall equal the amount of interest accrued from, and including the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date (or from and including August 20, 2018, if no interest has been paid hereon) to but excluding such Interest Payment Date.

 

Payment of the principal and interest, on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, or elsewhere as provided in the Indenture, 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; provided, however, that at the option of the Company, payment of interest, may be made by (i) check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Note Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account of the Person entitled thereto located inside the United States; provided further, however, that, with respect to any Holder of Notes with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $2,000,000, at the application of such Holder in writing to the Company, interest on such Holder’s Notes shall be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds to such Holder’s account in the United States supplied by such Holder from time to time to the Trustee and Paying Agent (if different from the Trustee) not later than the applicable Record Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of interest in respect of Notes held in global form shall be made in accordance with procedures required by the Depositary.

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, including, without limitation, provisions giving the Holder of this Note the right to convert this Note into Common Stock on the terms and subject to the limitations referred to on the reverse hereof and as more fully specified in the Indenture.  Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 


(1)  Use bracketed language for a Global Note.

(2)  Use bracketed language for a Global Note.

 



 

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed manually or by facsimile by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent under the Indenture.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed by the undersigned officer.

 

 

NEW MOUNTAIN FINANCE CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 



 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION:

 

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

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

as Trustee

 

 

 

 

BY:

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

 

 


 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation
5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023 (herein called the “Notes”), issued under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of August 20, 2018, as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 20, 2018, (together, the “Indenture”) between the Company and U.S.  Bank National Association (herein called the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes.  Additional Notes may be issued in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

 

In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of and interest on all Notes may be declared, and upon said declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company will make all payments and deliveries in respect of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, the Redemption Price and the principal amount on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the Holder who surrenders a Note to a Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Note.  The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee in certain circumstances, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, and in other circumstances, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding, evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall make any of the changes set forth in Section 8.02 of the Indenture, without the consent of each Holder of an Outstanding Note affected thereby.  It is also provided in the Indenture that, prior to any declaration accelerating the maturity of the Notes, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences except as provided in the Indenture.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and any securities which may be issued in exchange or substitution hereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Note or such other securities.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the lawful money herein prescribed.

 

The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples thereof.  At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without payment of any service charge but with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that

 



 

may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes (except as otherwise provided in the Indenture), Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations.

 

The Notes are not subject to redemption prior to May 15, 2023 and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund. On or after May 15, 2023, the Notes are subject to redemption in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the Indenture.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof) in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes such holder elects to require the Company to repurchase, together with accrued and unpaid interest (including Filing Additional Interest, if any) to but excluding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.  The Company shall mail to all Holders of record of the Notes a notice of the occurrence of a Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right arising as a result thereof at any time following the Company entering into a definitive agreement that, if consummated, would give rise to a Fundamental Change, but in any event not later than the fifth (5th) calendar day after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change.

 

Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder may surrender for conversion all or any portion of this Note that is in an integral multiple of $1,000.  Upon conversion, the Holder shall be entitled to receive the consideration specified in the Indenture.  No fractional share of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of a Note.  Instead, the Company shall pay cash in lieu of such fractional share of Common Stock as provided in the Indenture.  The initial Conversion Rate shall be 65.8762 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.  If a Holder converts all or a part of this Note in connection with the occurrence of certain Fundamental Change transactions, the Conversion Rate shall be increased in the manner and to the extent described in the Indenture.

 

Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, or elsewhere as provided in the Indenture, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations for an equal aggregate principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange thereof, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without charge except for any tax, assessments or other governmental charge imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes (except as otherwise set forth in the Indenture).

 

The Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon), for the purpose of receiving payment hereof, or on account hereof, for the conversion hereof and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any other authenticating agent nor any Paying Agent nor any other Conversion Agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  All payments made to or upon the order of such registered Holder shall, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, satisfy and discharge liability for monies payable on this Note.

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TENANT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform gift to Minors Act).

 



 

New Mountain Finance Corporation
5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023(3)

 

No.

 

Date

 

Principal Amount

 

Notation Explaining
Principal Amount
Recorded

 

Authorized
Signature of Trustee
Or Custodian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(3)           For Global Notes only.

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE

 

To:  New Mountain Finance Corporation The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby exercises the option to convert this Note, or the portion hereof (which is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, and directs that the shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable upon such conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares of Common Stock, and any Notes representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below.  If shares or any portion of this Note not converted are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes and duties payable with respect thereto.  Any amount required to be paid to the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Note.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

 

 

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, if shares of Common Stock is to be issued, or Notes to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

 

 

 

 

Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock if to be issued, and Notes if to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder:

 

 

(Name)

 

(Street Address)

 

(City, State and Zip Code)

 

Please print name and address Principal amount to be converted (if less than all):  $

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number

 



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE

 

To:  New Mountain Finance Corporation The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from New Mountain Finance Corporation (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and requests and instructs the Company to repay the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (which is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple thereof) below designated, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, to the registered holder hereof.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number Principal amount to be repaid (if less than all): $         ,000

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE:

 

 

 

 

 

The above signatures of the holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 



 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER

 

For value received                             hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                    (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints                     attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Indenture between New Mountain Finance Corporation and U.S.  Bank National Association, as Trustee.

 



 

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee shall refuse to register any of the Notes evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof.

 

 

Dated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee

 

 

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions) with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, if Common Stock is to be issued, or Notes to be delivered, other than to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

NOTICE:  The signature on the Conversion Notice, the option to elect repurchase upon a Fundamental Change, or the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 




Exhibit (h)(2)

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation

 

5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

August 15, 2018

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

As representative (the “Representative”) of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule I hereto

 

c/o  Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of $100,000,000 principal amount of 5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023, convertible into common stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Firm Notes”). In addition, the Company proposes to sell, at the election of the Representatives, up to an additional $15,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023 (the “Optional Notes”).  The Firm Notes and the Optional Notes are herein referred to collectively as the “Notes.” If the only firm listed in Schedule I hereto is the Representative, then any references to the terms “Underwriters” and “Representatives” as used herein shall each be construed to refer to such firm. Further, if only one firm is listed in Schedule I hereto, then any references to the terms “Underwriters” and “Representatives” as used herein shall each be construed to mean “Underwriter” and “Representative,” respectively.

 

On May 19, 2011, the Company filed a Form N-54A Notification of Election to be Subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (File No. 814-00832) (the “Notification of Election”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”), pursuant to which the Company elected to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”).

 

The Company has elected to be treated, and intends to qualify annually, as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) (within the meaning of Section 851(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), commencing with its taxable year ending on December 31, 2011.

 

The Company has entered into an investment advisory and management agreement, dated as of May 8, 2014 (the “Investment Management Agreement”), with New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”), which has registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Advisers Act”).

 

The Company has entered into a Second Amended and Restated Administration Agreement, dated as of May 5, 2015 (the “Administration Agreement”), with New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”).

 



 

The Company has entered into a trademark license agreement, dated as of May 19, 2011, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated November 8, 2011 (the “License Agreement”), with New Mountain Capital, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (“New Mountain”).

 

The Company has entered into a custody agreement with U.S. Bank National Association, dated March 31, 2014 (the “Custody Agreement”).

 

The Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company of New Mountain Finance Holdings, L.L.C. (“NMFH LLC”), dated May 8, 2014 (the “NMFH LLC Agreement”).

 

For purposes of this Underwriting Agreement (this “Agreement”), the Investment Management Agreement, the Administration Agreement, the License Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the NMFH LLC Agreement are collectively referred to as the “Company Agreements.”

 

1.  The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters, and the Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to and agree with each of the Underwriters, that:

 

(a)       A registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-218040) (as amended as of its effective date on July 13, 2018, the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Notes and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof has been filed with the Commission; the Company is eligible to use Form N-2; the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, and, excluding exhibits thereto, to each of the other Underwriters, have become effective or been declared effective by the Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations thereunder, the “Act”), which became effective upon filing, no other post-effective amendment to the Initial Registration Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission and not become effective; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission (the base prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement as of its effective date on July 13, 2018, is hereinafter called the “Base Prospectus”; the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated August 15, 2018, relating to the Notes and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act, together with the Base Prospectus, is hereinafter called the “Pricing Prospectus”; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Act in accordance with Section 6(A)(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430C under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement”; and the Base Prospectus, together with the prospectus supplement, dated August 15, 2018, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Act in accordance with Section 6(A)(a) hereof and in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Notes, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus”; any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement relating to the Notes and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Act, in each case after the date of the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be;

 

(b)       No order preventing or suspending the use of the Pricing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and the Pricing Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,

 

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however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information (as defined below);

 

(c)       For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) on the date of this Agreement.  The Pricing Prospectus as supplemented by the information set forth in Schedule III hereto, taken together (collectively, the “Disclosure Package”), as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Additional Disclosure Item (as defined in Section 8 hereof) listed in Schedule II(a) hereto does not conflict in any material respect with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus and each such Additional Disclosure Item, as supplemented by and taken together with the Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements or omissions made in the Disclosure Package in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information; there are no contracts or agreements that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, or the Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described and filed as required;

 

(d)       The Registration Statement conforms, and the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date of the Initial Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto, as of the Applicable Time as to the Pricing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information;

 

(e)       Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company (any such change or development is hereinafter referred to as a “Material Adverse Change”), otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package;

 

(f)        The Company has good and marketable title in fee simple to, or has valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all material real property and good and marketable title to all material personal property owned by it free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except (i) such liens, encumbrances or defects as are described in the Disclosure Package or (ii) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; the Company owns, leases or has access to all material properties and other assets that are necessary to the conduct of its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

 

(g)       The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and each of the Company Agreements, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(h)       The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Disclosure Package under the caption “Capitalization;” all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon

 

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conversion of the Notes have been duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Notes and the Indenture referred to below, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform in all material respects to the description of the Common Stock contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

 

(i)        The Notes to be issued and sold to the Underwriters hereunder have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the indenture, to be dated as of August 20, 2018 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), and the first supplemental indenture, to be dated as of August 20, 2018 (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee, under which they are to be issued; the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, fraudulent conveyance, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture; and the Notes and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and the offer and sale of the Notes as contemplated hereby has been duly approved by all necessary corporate action; no holder of Common Stock underlying the Notes will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder; and, except as otherwise set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, the issuance of the Notes is not subject to any pre-emptive, co-sale right, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any security holder of the Company or any other person; the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

 

(j)        The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock, membership interests or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or other entity other than (i) as described in the Pricing Prospectus under the caption “Prospectus Supplement Summary,” (ii) the corporations or other entities (a) listed in the Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of June 30, 2018 in the Pricing Prospectus and (b) that the Company acquired since June 30, 2018 and that will be listed in the Company’s Consolidated Schedule of Investments as of September 30, 2018 (each a “Portfolio Company” and collectively, the “Portfolio Companies”) and (iii) the subsidiaries described in Section 1(rr) in this Agreement. Other than the Company’s investments in UniTek Global Services, Inc., NM APP CANADA CORP., NM APP US LLC, NM CLFX LP, NM DRVT LLC, NM JRA LLC, NM GLCR LLC, NM KRLN LLC, NM NL Holdings, L.P., Edmentum Ultimate Holdings, LLC, Edmentum, Inc., NMFC Senior Loan Program II LLC and NMFC Senior Loan Program III LLC, the Company does not control (as such term is defined in Section 2(a)(9) of the Investment Company Act) any of the Portfolio Companies;

 

(k)       This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; each of the Company Agreements has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitute valid, binding and enforceable agreements of the Company, subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; and the Investment Management Agreement has been approved by the Company’s board of directors and shareholders in accordance with Section 15 of the Investment Company Act and contains the applicable provisions required by Section 205 of the Advisers Act and Section 15 of the Investment Company Act;

 

(l)        None of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any of the Company Agreements, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, will (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of its properties or assets are subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws of the Company or (iii) result in a violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties after giving effect to any consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications and waivers as have been obtained or made as of the date of this Agreement, except,

 

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with respect to clause (i), to the extent that any such conflict, breach or violation would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery or performance of any of this Agreement or the Company Agreements, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, except the registration under the Act of the Notes and the shares of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof, such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Notes by the Underwriters and such consents, approvals, authorization, orders, registrations or qualifications which have been obtained or effected;

 

(m)      The Company is not (i) in violation of its organizational documents, including its certificate of incorporation and bylaws, or (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except, with respect to clause (ii), to the extent that any such default would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(n)       The statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes” and “Description of Our Capital Stock,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Notes and the Common Stock, and under the captions “Investment Management Agreement,” “Administration Agreement,” “License Agreement,” and “Regulation,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair summaries in all material respects; the statements set forth in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Material Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as they purport to summarize certain provisions of the United States federal income tax law and regulations, or legal conclusions with respect thereto, fairly present such laws and regulations and are accurate summaries in all material respects;

 

(o)       The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be required to register as an “investment company,” as such term is used in the Investment Company Act;

 

(p)       Other than as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company is a party or of which any property of the Company is the subject which, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

 

(q)       The Company has duly elected to be regulated by the Commission as a BDC under the Investment Company Act, and no order of suspension or revocation has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.  Such election is effective and has not been withdrawn and the provisions of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, and compliance by the Company with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not conflict with the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable to the Company;

 

(r)        Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

 

(s)        The financial statements, together with the related notes, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, changes in net assets, cash flows and financial highlights of the Company for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved.  The selected financial data included in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the

 

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information shown therein and was compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus;

 

(t)        The Company maintains a system of internal accounting and other controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization and with the investment objectives, policies and restrictions of the Company and the applicable requirements of the Investment Company Act and the Code; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, to maintain accountability for assets and to maintain material compliance with the books and records requirements under the Investment Company Act; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  There has been (1) no material weakness (whether or not remediated) in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)); (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially negatively affected, or is reasonably likely to materially negatively affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; and (3) no failure on the part of the Company and any of its directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith to the extent applicable to the Company;

 

(u)       The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including material information pertaining to the operations and assets managed by the Adviser, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within the Company and the Adviser, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established;

 

(v)       The terms of the Investment Management Agreement comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act;

 

(w)      Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there are no agreements requiring the registration under the Act of, and (ii) there are no options, warrants or other rights to purchase any shares of, or exchange any securities for shares of, the Company’s capital stock;

 

(x)       When the Notification of Election was filed with the Commission, it (i) contained all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with, and compiled in all material respects with the requirements of, the Investment Company Act and (ii) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; the Company has not filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the Notification of Election pursuant to Section 54(c) of the Investment Company Act and no order of suspension or revocation of such Notification of Election has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission;

 

(y)       Following the execution and effectiveness of the License Agreement, the Company owns, or has obtained a valid and enforceable license for, or other right to use, the trademarks (whether registered or unregistered) and trade names described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being licensed by it or which are necessary for the conduct of its businesses;

 

(z)       The Company maintains insurance covering its properties, operations, personnel and businesses as the Company deems adequate; such insurance insures against such losses and risks to an extent which is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its businesses; all such insurance is fully in force;

 

(aa)     The Company has not sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or agreements referred to or described in, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration

 

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Statement, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to any such contract or agreement;

 

(bb)     The Company has not, directly or indirectly, extended credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company;

 

(cc)     Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company has made any payment of funds of the Company or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus;

 

(dd)     Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its directors, officers, affiliates or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to result in, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Notes;

 

(ee)     Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) no person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Company, except in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no director of the Company is an “affiliated person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of any of the Underwriters;

 

(ff)      The operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable to a BDC and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

 

(gg)     The Company has not distributed and prior to the later to occur of (i) the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 5 hereof) and (ii) the completion of the distribution of the Notes will not distribute any offering material other than (A) the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, and (B) such materials as may be approved by the Representatives and filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 482 of the Act;

 

(hh)     None of the persons identified as “independent directors” in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package is an “interested person” as that term is defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the Investment Company Act;

 

(ii)       Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers or stockholders of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus which is not so described;

 

(jj)       Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Adviser has any material lending or other relationship with any affiliate of any Underwriter and the Company will not use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay any indebtedness owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter;

 

(kk)     Except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto), (i) each of the Company and the NMFC Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 1(rr)) has filed or has caused to be filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns required to be filed or has properly requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Change), (ii) each of the Company and the NMFC Subsidiaries has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Change, (iii) the Company has elected to be treated, and has operated, and intends to continue to operate, its business so as to continue to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code and (iv) each of the Company and the NMFC Subsidiaries intends to direct the investment of the net proceeds of the offering of the Notes, and has operated, and intends to continue to operate, its business, in such a manner so as to enable the Company to continue to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code;

 

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(ll)       The Company is not aware that any executive officer, key employee or significant group of employees, if any, of the Company plans to terminate employment with the Company or is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by the present or proposed business activities of the Company;

 

(mm)  The Company (i) has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws (as that term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act) by the Company and (ii) is conducting its business in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, decisions, directives and orders applicable to the Company, except in the case of (i) and (ii) as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to, result in a Material Adverse Change;

 

(nn)     Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA;

 

(oo)     The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, “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 with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, has been threatened;

 

(pp)     Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use any of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Notes contemplated by this Agreement, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available any such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC;

 

(qq)     Any statistical and market-related data included in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate; and

 

(rr)       Each of the Company’s consolidated subsidiaries as determined in accordance with GAAP (the “NMFC Subsidiaries”) has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as either a limited liability company or a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware or the State of Maryland, as applicable, with full power and authority to own, lease and/or operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the outstanding equity interests of each of the NMFC Subsidiaries free and clear of any liens, charges or encumbrances in favor of any third parties, except such liens, charges or encumbrances as have been or may be imposed thereon in accordance with the terms and conditions of the secured revolving credit facility between NMFH LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as amended, the “Holdings Credit Facility”). None of the NMFC Subsidiaries employ any persons or conduct any business other than, in the case of NMFH LLC, in connection with the Holdings Credit Facility (and any activities incidental thereto), and New Mountain Finance SBIC, L.P., New Mountain Finance SBIC II, L.P. and New Mountain Net Lease Corporation, including the acquisition, holding or disposition of assets on behalf of the Company, including the receipt of interest, dividends and principal payments thereon.

 

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2.  The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, the Underwriters that:

 

(a)       Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Disclosure Package, there has not been any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of each of the Adviser and the Administrator (any such change or development is hereinafter referred to as an “Adviser Material Adverse Change” with respect to the Adviser and as an “Administrator Material Adverse Change” with respect to the Administrator), otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package;

 

(b)       Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited liability company and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package, and each has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which each owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Change or Administrator Material Adverse Change, as applicable;

 

(c)       The Adviser is duly registered with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act from acting under the Investment Management Agreement for the Company as contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. There has been no proceeding initiated or, to the Adviser’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission for the purpose of suspending the registration of the Adviser under the Advisers Act;

 

(d)       (i) This Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser and constitute valid, binding and enforceable agreements of the Adviser subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) this Agreement and the Administration Agreement have each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Administrator and constitute valid, binding and enforceable agreements of the Administrator subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally;

 

(e)       None of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement or the Administration Agreement, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, will (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or by which the Adviser or the Administrator is bound or to which any of the respective property or assets of each of the Adviser or the Administrator is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of each of the Adviser’s or the Administrator’s limited liability company agreement or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or any of its properties after giving effect to any consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations, qualifications and waivers as will have been obtained or made as of the date of this Agreement, except, with respect to clause (i), to the extent that any such conflict, breach or violation would not reasonably be expected to result either in an Adviser Material Adverse Change or an Administrator Material Adverse Change, as applicable; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the execution, delivery or performance of any of this Agreement, the Investment Management Agreement or the Administration Agreement, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby by the Adviser and the Administrator, except such as have been obtained under the Act, the Investment Company Act and the Advisers Act and except such consents, approvals, authorization, orders, registrations or qualifications which have been obtained or effected;

 

(f)        There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or of which any of their respective property is the subject which would reasonably be expected to individually or in the aggregate materially adversely affect either the Adviser’s or the Administrator’s ability to

 

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properly render services to the Company under the Investment Management Agreement or Administration Agreement, as applicable, or have a material adverse effect on either the Adviser’s or the Administrator’s current or future financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations and, to the Adviser’s and the Administrator’s knowledge, no such proceedings have been threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

 

(g)       Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator (i) is in violation of its respective limited liability company agreement or (ii) is in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which either the Adviser or the Administrator is a party or by which either the Adviser or the Administrator or any of their respective properties may be bound, except, with respect to clause (ii), to the extent that any such default would not reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Change or an Administrator Material Adverse Change, as applicable;

 

(h)       Each of the Adviser and the Administrator possesses all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective business, and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator has received any notice of proceeding relating to the revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Change or an Administrator Material Adverse Change, as applicable;

 

(i)        The descriptions of the Adviser and the Administrator and each of their respective principals and business, and the statements attributable to each of the Adviser and the Administrator, in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus do not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(j)        Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has the financial resources available to each necessary for the performance of their respective services and obligations as contemplated in the Disclosure Package and under this Agreement and the Investment Management Agreement with respect to the Adviser, and under this Agreement and the Administration Agreement with respect to the Administrator;

 

(k)       Each of the Adviser and the Administrator is not aware that (i) any of their respective executives, key employees or significant group of employees plans to terminate employment with either the Adviser or the Administrator, respectively, or (ii) any such executive or key employee is subject to any noncompete, nondisclosure, confidentiality, employment, consulting or similar agreement that would be violated by either the Adviser’s or the Administrator’s present or proposed business activities;

 

(l)        The Adviser maintains a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions effectuated by the Adviser under the Investment Management Agreement are executed in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization and (ii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with its management’s general or specific authorization;

 

(m)      The Administrator maintains a system of internal controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions for which the Administrator has bookkeeping and record keeping responsibility for under the Administration Agreement are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for the Company’s assets and (ii) the recorded accountability for such assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences;

 

(n)       Each of the Adviser and the Administrator has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to result in, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Notes, and neither the Adviser nor the Administrator is aware of any such action being taken by any of their respective affiliates;

 

(o)       Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator nor, to their respective knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person, in each case, acting on behalf of each of the Adviser or the Administrator

 

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has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA;

 

(p)       Each of the Adviser’s and the Administrator’s operations are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Money Laundering Laws and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving either the Adviser or the Administrator with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to each of the Adviser’s or the Administrator’s knowledge, threatened; and

 

(q)       Neither the Adviser nor the Administrator nor, to their respective knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of each of the Adviser or the Administrator is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the OFAC; and neither the Adviser or the Administrator will cause the Company to use any of the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Notes contemplated by this Agreement, or cause the Company to lend, contribute or otherwise make available any such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

3.  Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth:

 

(a)       The Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.5% of the principal amount thereof, the principal amount of Firm Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (ii) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional Notes as provided below, the Company agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 99.5% of the principal amount thereof, that portion of the principal amount of Optional Notes as to which such election shall have been exercised determined by multiplying such principal amount of Optional Notes by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum principal amount of Optional Notes which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum principal amount of Optional Notes that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.

 

(b)       The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Optional Notes, at the purchase price set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering sales of Notes in excess of the principal amount of Firm Notes.  Any such election to purchase Optional Notes may be exercised only by written notice from you to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement, setting forth the aggregate principal amount of Optional Notes to be purchased and the date on which such Optional Notes are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 5 hereof) or, unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

 

4.  Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Notes, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Notes for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

 

5.  The Notes to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, represented by one or more definitive global Notes in book-entry form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours’ prior notice to the Company shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Underwriters, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance. The Company will cause the certificates representing the Notes to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery

 

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(as defined below) with respect thereto at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”).  The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Notes, 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 20, 2018 or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Notes, 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified by the Representatives in the written notice given by the Representatives of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Optional Notes, or such other time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing.  Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Notes is herein called the “First Time of Delivery,” such time and date for delivery of the Optional Notes, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Subsequent Time of Delivery,” and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery.”

 

(a)       The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 10 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Notes and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters pursuant to Section 10(j) hereof, will be delivered at the offices of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004 (the “Closing Location”), and the Notes will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such Time of Delivery.  A meeting will be held at the Closing Location on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto.  For the purposes of this Agreement “New York Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York City are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

6.   (A)     The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:

 

(a)       To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 497 under the Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 430C under the Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus prior to the last Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and to furnish you with copies thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Pricing Prospectus or other prospectus in respect of the Notes or shares of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof, of the suspension of the qualification of the Notes or shares of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Pricing Prospectus or other prospectus or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;

 

(b)       Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably request to qualify the Notes and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as you may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Notes, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required (i) to qualify as a foreign corporation, (ii) to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or (iii) to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject;

 

(c)       Prior to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement or as otherwise agreed to by the Company and the Representatives and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time by the Act after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Notes and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements

 

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therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic copies as you may from time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of any of the Notes at any time nine months or more after the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many written and electronic copies as you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;

 

(d)       To make generally available to the Company’s securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 16 months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

 

(e)       For one year following the date hereof, to furnish to the holders of the Notes after the end of each fiscal year, within the required time period for filing thereof (or as soon as practicable thereafter), an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and, after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), to make available to its stockholders, within the required time period for filing thereof (or as soon as practicable thereafter), consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries, if any, for such quarter in reasonable detail; provided, however, that the Company will be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of this paragraph (e) if the Company files with or furnishes to the Commission the reports, documents or information of the types otherwise so required;

 

(f)        To use the net proceeds received from the sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Disclosure Package under the caption “Use of Proceeds”;

 

(g)       To reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy any obligations to issue shares of its Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes;

 

(h)       To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”);

 

(i)        If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act;

 

(j)        To use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Company to continue to qualify to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code, and to maintain such election in effect, for each taxable year during which the Company is a BDC under the Investment Company Act;

 

(k)       To use, during a period of two years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a BDC; provided, however, the Company may change the nature of its business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw its election as, a BDC, with the approval of its board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 and Section 12(d)(1)(E) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provision;

 

(l)        Not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which could reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Notes;

 

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(m)      Before using, approving or referring to any Additional Disclosure Item (as defined in Section 8 hereof), the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of such material for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any such material to which the Representatives reasonably object; and

 

(n)       To comply with the applicable provisions of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Investment Company Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Notes as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus.

 

(B)  Each of the Adviser and the Administrator agrees with each of the Underwriters not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which could reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale of the Notes.

 

7.  The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters that, during the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date that is 30 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), not to (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, exchange, convert, make any short sale or otherwise dispose, except as provided hereunder, of any convertible notes or securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Notes or the Common Stock, including but not limited to any options or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, Common Stock (other than pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan described in the Pricing Prospectus) or (ii) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i), without the prior written consent of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC.

 

8.   The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the Representatives, (i) it will not distribute any offering material other than the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and (ii) it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Act and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement” as defined in Rule 482 under the Act; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Notes, including any in-person roadshow or investor presentations (including slides and scripts relating thereto) made to investors by or on behalf of the Company (the materials and information referred to in this Section 8 are herein referred to as an “Additional Disclosure Item”); any Additional Disclosure Item the use of which has been consented to by the Representatives is listed on Schedule II(a) hereto; and, without the prior consent of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute a free writing prospectus.

 

9.  The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Notes and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, reproduction and filing of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes, the Blue Sky Memorandum and closing documents (including any compilations thereof) in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Notes; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Notes and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(A)(b) hereof, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (iv) to the extent applicable, all fees and expenses in connection with listing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes on the Exchange; (v) the filing fees incident to, and in addition, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters up to $10,000.00 in connection with any required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Notes; (vi) the cost of preparing the Notes; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Notes; (viii) all “road show” expenses of the

 

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Company (provided that the Company will pay fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate cost of any private aircraft used in connection with such “road show” presentations, if any); (ix) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Notes, if any; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of their obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section 9. In connection with clause (ii) of the proceeding sentence, the Representatives agree to pay New York State stock transfer tax, and the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for associated carrying costs if such tax payment is not rebated on the day of payment and for any portion of such tax payment not rebated. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section 9, and Sections 11, 12 and 14 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of any of the Notes by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

10.  The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Notes to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall have performed all of their respective obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

 

(a)       The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 6(A)(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; no stop order suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to your reasonable satisfaction;

 

(b)       Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to you their written opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, with respect to such matters as you may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

 

(c)       Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, counsel for the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, shall have furnished to you their written opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

 

(d)       On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement and also at such Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to you;

 

(e)       Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Pricing Prospectus there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, the effect of which, is in the Representatives’ judgment so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Notes being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

 

(f)        On or after the Applicable Time, to the extent the Company has rated debt securities, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule

 

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436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s debt securities;

 

(g)       On or after the Applicable Time, there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the Exchange or the NASDAQ Stock Market; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in the Representatives’ judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Notes being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in each of the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;

 

(h)       The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes shall have been duly listed, subject to notice of issuance, on the Exchange;

 

(i)        The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 6(A)(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses;

 

(j)        Each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of their respective officers satisfactory to you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator of all of their respective obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section 10 and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request, provided that the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator, as applicable, have been informed as to such other matters for which certificates will be requested prior to the Applicable Time;

 

(k)       The Company shall have obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed copies of an agreement from each of the Company’s directors and officers with respect to the Common Stock, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A hereof and otherwise in substance satisfactory to you;

 

(l)        The Underwriters shall have received an executed original copy of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture; and

 

(m)      The Notes shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

11.  Indemnification.

 

(a)       The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Additional Disclosure Item, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Additional Disclosure Item in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

 

(b)       The Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may

 

16



 

become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Additional Disclosure Item, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred, provided, however, that the Adviser or the Administrator shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Additional Disclosure Item in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

 

(c)       Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which any of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Additional Disclosure Item, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Additional Disclosure Item, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to any of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse any of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred. Each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator acknowledge that the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth paragraphs related to price stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids under the heading “Underwriting” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (the “Underwriter Information”).

 

(d)       Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party under such subsection, except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the

 

17



 

indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(e)       If the indemnification provided for in this Section 11 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein but is otherwise applicable in accordance with its terms, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Notes.  If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (d) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company, the Adviser, and the Administrator on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The relative fault 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, the Adviser or the Administrator on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this subsection (e) 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 which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (e).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (e) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

(f)        The obligations of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator under this Section 11 shall be in addition to any liability which each of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 11 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of each of the Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Prospectus as about to become a director of the Company), the Adviser or the Administrator and to each person, if any, who controls the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator within the meaning of the Act.  No party shall be entitled to indemnification under this Section 11 if such indemnification of such party would violate Section 17(i) of the Investment Company Act.

 

12.  (a)  If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Notes which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to purchase such Notes on the terms contained herein.  If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Notes, then the Company shall be entitled to a further

 

18



 

period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Notes on such terms.  In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Notes, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Notes, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 12 with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Notes.

 

(b)       If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the principal amount of such Notes which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Notes to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Notes which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Notes which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the principal amount of Notes of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

(c)       If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Notes which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Notes to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Notes of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional Notes) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 9 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 11 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

13.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of each of the Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Notes.

 

14.  If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 12 hereof, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 9 and 11, hereof; provided, if for any other reason, other than the occurrence of an event provided in Section 10(g) hereof, any Notes are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for its allocable portion of all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Notes not so delivered by the Company, but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 9 and 11 hereof.

 

15.  In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you jointly or by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, on behalf of you as the Representative.

 

All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

 

(i) if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you in care of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10152, Attention: Equity Syndicate

 

19



 

Department, with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Stuart Gelfond, Esq. and Joshua Wechsler, Esq.; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 11(e) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request; provided, however, that notices under Section 7 shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you as the Representatives at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10152, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, with a copy, which shall not constitute notice, to Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Stuart Gelfond, Esq. and Joshua Wechsler, Esq.;

 

(ii) if to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to New Mountain Finance Corporation, 787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Robert Hamwee, with a copy to Steven B. Boehm c/o Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20001; and

 

Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

 

In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

16.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator, to the extent provided in Sections 11 and 13 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Notes from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

 

17.  Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.  As used herein, the term “business day” shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

 

18.  Each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator hereby acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement and (iv) each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.  Each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owes a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

19.  This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

20.  THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY MATTERS RELATED TO THIS TRANSACTION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

20



 

21.  The Company, the Adviser, the Administrator and each of the Underwriters 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 Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

22.  This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

23.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company is authorized to disclose to any persons the U.S. federal and state income tax treatment and tax structure of the potential transaction and all materials of any kind (including tax opinions and other tax analyses) provided to the Company relating to that treatment and structure, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind. However, any information relating to the tax treatment and tax structure shall remain confidential (and the foregoing sentence shall not apply) to the extent necessary to enable any person to comply with securities laws. For this purpose, “tax structure” is limited to any facts that may be relevant to that treatment.

 

24.  Except as set forth below, no claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (a “Claim”) may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator each consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto.  The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator each hereby consents to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against any Underwriter or any indemnified party.  Each Underwriter and the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates), the Adviser and the Administrator (each on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its members and affiliates) each waive all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement.  The Company, the Adviser and the Administrator each agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon each of the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator and may be enforced in any other courts to the jurisdiction of which the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator each is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

21



 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company, the Adviser and the Administrator.  It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company, the Adviser or the Administrator for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Karrie J. Jerry

 

 

Name:

Karrie J. Jerry

 

 

Title:

Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate

 

 

 

Secretary

 

 

 

New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Karrie J. Jerry

 

 

Name:

Karrie J. Jerry

 

 

Title:

Authorized Person

 

 

 

New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Karrie J. Jerry

 

 

Name:

Karrie J. Jerry

 

 

Title:

Authorized Person

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement (Company)]

 



 

 

Accepted as of the date hereof:

 

 

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Kevin Brillhart

 

 

Name: Kevin Brillhart

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

As Representative of the several Underwriters

 

named in Schedule I hereto

 

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement (Underwriter)]

 


 

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter

 

Principal Amount of
Firm Notes to be
Purchased

 

Principal Amount
of
Optional Notes
to be Purchased
if Maximum
Option Exercised

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

$

100,000,000

 

$

15,000,000

 

Total

 

$

100,000,000

 

$

15,000,000

 

 



 

SCHEDULE II

 

Additional Disclosure Item: None

 



 

SCHEDULE III

 

PRICING TERM SHEET

Dated August 15, 2018

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation

5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023

 

The information in this pricing term sheet supplements New Mountain Finance Corporation’s preliminary prospectus supplement, dated August 15, 2018, together with the accompanying prospectus, dated July 13, 2018, relating to these securities (the “Preliminary Prospectus”), and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus to the extent inconsistent with the information in the Preliminary Prospectus. In all other respects, this term sheet is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Preliminary Prospectus. Terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus. All references to dollar amounts are references to U.S. dollars.

 

Issuer:

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation (“NMFC”)

 

 

 

Ticker / Exchange:

 

NMFC / New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)

 

 

 

Title of Securities:

 

5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”)

 

 

 

Aggregate Principal Amount Offered:

 

$100,000,000 (or $115,000,000 if the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional Notes)

 

 

 

Offering Price:

 

100.0% of principal amount

 

 

 

Annual Interest Rate:

 

The Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 5.75% per year

 

 

 

NYSE Last Reported Sale Price on August 15, 2018:

 

$13.80 per share of NMFC common stock

 

 

 

Initial Conversion Price:

 

Approximately $15.18 per share of NMFC common stock

 

 

 

Initial Conversion Rate:

 

65.8762 shares of NMFC common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes

 

 

 

Redemption:

 

NMFC may not redeem the Notes prior to May 15, 2023. On or after May 15, 2023, NMFC may redeem the Notes for cash, in whole or from time to time in part, at its option at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, (ii) accrued and unpaid interest (including additional interest, if any) to, but excluding, the redemption date and (iii) an amount equal to the present value of the interest that would accrue on the Notes from, and including, the redemption date until the maturity date, with such present value computed by us using a discount rate equal to the yield to maturity of United States Treasury securities with three months of remaining maturity (as determined in a commercially reasonable manner by us prior to providing the applicable notice of redemption) plus 50 basis points.

 

 

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

February 15 and August 15, commencing on February 15, 2019

 

 

 

Maturity Date:

 

August 15, 2023, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased

 

 

 

Sole Bookrunner:

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

 

 

Trade Date:

 

August 16, 2018

 

 

 

Expected Settlement Date:

 

August 20, 2018

 

 

 

CUSIP:

 

647551 AC4

 



 

ISIN:

 

US647551AC49

 

 

 

Expected Egan-Jones Rating*:

 

BBB+

 

 

 

Use of Proceeds:

 

NMFC estimates that the net proceeds it will receive from the sale of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes in this offering will be approximately $99.1 million (or approximately $114.0 million if the underwriters fully exercise their overallotment option), after deducting the discounts, commissions and estimated expenses payable by NMFC.

 

NMFC intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under the NMFC Credit Facility and then, to the extent any net proceeds remain, the Holdings Credit Facility. However, through re-borrowing under such credit facilities, NMFC intends to make new investments in accordance with its investment objective and strategies described in the Preliminary Prospectus and use available capital for other general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements. The Notes have no restrictions related to the type and security of assets in which NMFC might invest.

 

 

 

Adjustment to Conversion Rate Upon a Non-Stock Change of Control:

 

The following table below sets forth the number of additional shares (as defined under “Description of the Notes—Adjustment to Conversion Rate Upon a Non-Stock Change of Control” in the Preliminary Prospectus) to be received per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for each stock price and effective date set forth below:

 

 

 

Share Price and Additional Shares

 

Date

 

$13.80

 

$14.00

 

$14.50

 

$15.00

 

$15.18

 

$15.50

 

$16.00

 

$16.50

 

$17.00

 

$18.00

 

August 20, 2018

 

6.5875

 

5.7679

 

3.9441

 

2.4467

 

1.9881

 

1.2774

 

0.4513

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2019

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.7848

 

2.3060

 

1.8623

 

1.1935

 

0.4513

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2020

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.7848

 

2.3060

 

1.8623

 

1.1935

 

0.4513

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2021

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.7848

 

2.3060

 

1.8577

 

1.1710

 

0.4288

 

0.0673

 

0.0018

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2022

 

6.5875

 

5.6164

 

3.6628

 

2.0613

 

1.5988

 

0.9303

 

0.2738

 

0.0364

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

August 15, 2023

 

6.5875

 

5.5524

 

3.0893

 

0.7905

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

0.0000

 

 

The exact stock price and effective dates may not be set forth on the table, in which case, if the stock price is:

 

·                  between two stock prices on the table or the effective date is between two dates on the table, the number of additional shares will be determined by straight-line interpolation between the number of additional shares set forth for the higher and lower stock price amounts and the two dates, as applicable, based on a 360-day year;

 

·                  in excess of $18.00 per share (subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be issued upon conversion; and

 

·                  less than $13.80 per share (subject to adjustment), no additional shares will be issued upon conversion.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the total number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion, exceed 72.4637 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, subject to the same adjustments as the conversion rate as set forth above under “Description of the Notes — Conversion Rate Adjustments” in the Preliminary Prospectus. Additional shares deliverable as described in this section “Description of the Notes — Adjustment to Conversion Rate Upon a Non-Stock Change of Control” in the Preliminary Prospectus, will be delivered on the settlement date applicable to the relevant conversion.

 


*Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

 



 

General

 

Please refer to the indenture governing the Notes for the exact terms relating to the conversion rate of the Notes.

 

This communication is intended for the sole use of the person to whom it is provided by the sender.

 

Investors are advised to carefully consider the investment objectives, risks and charges and expenses of NMFC before investing. The preliminary prospectus supplement, dated August 15, 2018, and the accompanying prospectus, dated July 13, 2018, each of which has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, contain a description of these matters and other important information about NMFC and should be read carefully before investing.

 

This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the laws of any such jurisdiction.

 

A shelf registration statement relating to these securities is on file with and has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained, when available, from Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 375 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10152-4077, or by calling (800) 326-5897, or by email: [email protected].

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation

 

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

August       , 2018

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

 

Re:                             New Mountain Finance Corporation - Lock-Up Agreement

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representative (the “Representative”), proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), on behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I thereof (collectively, the “Underwriters”), with New Mountain Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company and New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, providing for a public offering of the Company’s 5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form N-2 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

In consideration of the agreement by the Underwriters to offer and sell the Notes, and of other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees that, during the period specified in the following paragraph (the “Stockholder Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, exchange, convert, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any options or warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company, or any securities convertible into, exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of Common Stock of the Company, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, owned directly by the undersigned (including holding as a custodian) or with respect to which the undersigned has beneficial ownership within the rules and regulations of the SEC (collectively the “Undersigned’s Shares” or the “Shares”) or (ii) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (i). The foregoing restrictions are expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of the Undersigned’s Shares even if such Shares would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include without limitation any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including without limitation any put or call option) with respect to any of the Undersigned’s Shares or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from such Shares.

 

The Stockholder Lock-Up Period will commence on the date of this Lock-Up Agreement and continue for 30 days after the public offering date set forth on the final prospectus used to sell the Notes (the “Public Offering Date”) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Undersigned’s Shares (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, or (iii) with the prior written consent of the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters. For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote

 



 

than first cousin. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is (a) a corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership) or other entity, such corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership) or other entity may transfer the Undersigned’s Shares to any wholly-owned subsidiary of such corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership) or other entity; or (b) a limited liability company or partnership (including a limited partnership), such limited liability company or partnership (including a limited partnership) may transfer the Undersigned’s Shares to any member or partner of such limited liability company or partnership (including a limited partnership); provided, however, that in any such case, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding such Undersigned’s Shares subject to the provisions of this Agreement and there shall be no further transfer of such Undersigned’s Shares except in accordance with this Agreement, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value. The undersigned now has, and, except as contemplated by clause (i), (ii), or (iii) above, for the duration of this Lock-Up Agreement will have, good and marketable title to the Undersigned’s Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims whatsoever. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Undersigned’s Shares except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this Lock-Up Agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the offering. The undersigned further understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

 



 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exact Name of Stockholder

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title

 

[Signature Page to Lock-Up Agreement]

 




Exhibit (l)(2)

 

[Letterhead of Eversheds Sutherland LLP]

 

August 20, 2018

 

New Mountain Finance Corporation

787 Seventh Avenue, 48th Floor

New York, NY 10019

 

Re:

New Mountain Finance Corporation

 

Registration Statement on Form N-2

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to New Mountain Finance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission”) of a registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-218040), which was initially field with the Commission on May 16, 2017 (as amended from time to time by pre-effective amendments and post-effective amendments thereto, the Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act”), and the prospectus dated July 13, 2018, and the final prospectus supplement thereto, dated August 16, 2018 (the “Prospectus Supplement”).  The Registration Statement provides that, among other types of securities, shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), and debt securities of the Company may be issued from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act in amounts, at prices, and on terms to be set forth in one or more supplements to the final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it becomes effective.

 

This opinion letter is rendered in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of up to $100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount (or up to $115,000,000 aggregate principal amount if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full) of the Company’s 5.75% Convertible Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”), which are convertible into shares of Common Stock (the “Underlying Shares”) in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the indenture, dated as of August 20, 2018 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company, as issuer, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture by and between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), and as described in the Prospectus.  The Notes are being sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated as of August 15, 2018, by and among the Company, New Mountain Finance Advisers BDC, L.L.C., and New Mountain Finance Administration, L.L.C., on the one hand, and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, on the other hand, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

 

As counsel to the Company, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement, and have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of the following:

 

(i)                                    The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended by the Certificate of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office thereto, certified as of a recent date by the Delaware Secretary of State;

 

(ii)                                 The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 

(iii)                              A Certificate of Good Standing with respect to the Company issued by the Delaware Secretary of State as of a recent date;

 



 

(iv)                             The Underwriting Agreement;

 

(v)                                The Base Indenture;

 

(vi)                             The Supplemental Indenture;

 

(vii)                          A specimen copy of the form of the Notes to be issued pursuant to the Supplemental Indenture in the form attached to the Supplemental Indenture

 

(viii)                       The resolutions of the board of directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, relating to, among other things, (i) the authorization and approval of the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement; (ii) the offering, issuance, and sale of the Notes, and the issuance of the Underlying Shares upon conversion thereof, pursuant to the Registration Statement; and (iii) the authorization of the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company.

 

With respect to such examination and our opinion expressed herein, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification, (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or reproduced copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copied documents, and (v) that all certificates issued by public officials have been properly issued, (vi) the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Company and (vii) that the Indenture will be a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties thereto (other than the Company).

 

As to certain matters of fact relevant to the opinions in this opinion letter, we have relied on certificates of officers of the Company and on the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.  We have also relied on certificates of public officials (which we have assumed remain accurate as of the date of this opinion).  We have not independently established the facts, or in the case of certificates of public officials, the other statements, so relied upon.

 

The opinions set forth below are limited to the effect of the contract laws of the state of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law, each as in effect as of the date hereof, and we express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any other laws of such jurisdiction or the laws of any other jurisdictions.  Without limiting the preceding sentence, we express no opinion as to any state securities or broker-dealer laws or regulations thereunder relating to the offer, issuance and sale of the Notes or the Underlying Shares. This opinion letter has been prepared, and should be interpreted, in accordance with customary practice followed in the preparation of opinion letters by lawyers who regularly give, and such customary practice followed by lawyers who on behalf of their clients regularly advise opinion recipients regarding, opinion letters of this kind.

 

On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that:

 

1.              When the Notes are duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee, all in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance, and other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and to general principles of equity (including without limitation the availability of specific performance or injunctive relief and the application of concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

 



 

2.              The issuance of the Underlying Shares has been duly authorized for issuance and, assuming a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company are available for issuance when the Notes are converted, the Underlying Shares, if and when issued and delivered upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the Indenture, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter (i) are strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter, and without limiting the foregoing, no other opinions are to be implied or construed and (ii) are only as of the date of this opinion letter, and we are under no obligation, and do not undertake, to advise the Company or any other person or entity either of any change of law or fact that occurs, or of any fact that comes to our attention, after the date of this opinion letter, even though such change or such fact may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion in this opinion letter.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the “Legal Matters” section in the Registration Statement. We do not admit by giving this consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

/s/ EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND (US) LLP

 




Exhibit (n)(4)

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the use in this Post-effective Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No. 333-218040 on Form N-2 of our reports dated February 28, 2018, relating to the consolidated financial statements of New Mountain Finance Corporation and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of New Mountain Finance Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement, and of our report dated February 28, 2018, relating to information of New Mountain Finance Corporation set forth under the heading “Senior Securities” appearing in the Registration Statement.

 

We also consent to the reference to us under the headings “Selected Financial and Other Data”, “Senior Securities” and “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in such Prospectus.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

 

 

New York, New York

 

August 15, 2018

 

 




Exhibit (n)(5)

 

Deloitte & Touche LLP

 

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10112

USA

 

Tel:

+1 212 492 4000

Fax:

+1 212 489 1687

www.deloitte.com

 

August 15, 2018

 

The Board of Directors of

New Mountain Finance Corporation

New York, New York

 

We have reviewed, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the unaudited interim financial information of New Mountain Finance Corporation and subsidiaries for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, and have issued our report dated May 7, 2018, and for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2018, and 2017, and have issued our report dated August 7, 2018. As indicated in such reports, because we did not perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that information.

 

We are aware that our reports referred to above, which were included in your Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018 are being used in this Post-Effective Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement No. 333-218040 on Form N-2.

 

We also are aware that the aforementioned reports, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, are not considered a part of the Registration Statement prepared or certified by an accountant or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

 

 

 

Member of

 

Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu Limited

 





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