UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
______________________________________
FORM 8-K
______________________________________
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): December 4, 2020
______________________________________
THE AES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
______________________________________
Delaware | 001-12291 | 54-1163725 | ||
(State of Incorporation) | (Commission File No.) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
4300 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1100
Arlington, Virginia 22203
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(703) 522-1315
NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: |
Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | AES | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement |
On December 4, 2020, The AES Corporation (the “Company” or “AES”) completed its previously announced offering of $800,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 1.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.450% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”, and together with the 2026 Notes, the “New Notes”) pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement, dated November 19, 2020 (the “Purchase Agreement”), among AES and the representatives of the initial purchasers named therein (the “Initial Purchasers”).
The public offering price of the 2026 Notes and the 2031 Notes was 99.945% and 99.962% of the principal amount, respectively. AES intends to allocate an amount equal to the net proceeds from the offering to one or more eligible green projects. Pending such allocation, AES intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund purchases of any and all of its 5.500% senior notes due 2025 (the “2025 Notes”), 6.000% senior notes due 2026 (the “6.000% 2026 Notes”) and 5.125% senior notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes” and, together with the 2025 Notes and the 6.000% 2026 Notes, the “Tender Offer Notes”) in tender offers (the “Tender Offers”), to fully redeem any of the Tender Offer Notes not tendered in connection with the Tender Offers, to fully redeem the $65.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 4.500% notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) and $63.0 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 5.500% notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes” and together with the Tender Offer Notes and the 2023 Notes, the “Outstanding Notes”), to pay certain related fees and expenses and for general corporate purposes. In conjunction with the Tender Offers, AES is soliciting consents (the “Consent Solicitations”) to the adoption of certain proposed amendments to the indentures governing the Tender Offer Notes to substantially remove all the restrictive covenants and events of default, as well as to alter the notice requirements for optional redemption with respect to each series of Tender Offer Notes.
The New Notes were issued on December 4, 2020 pursuant to a Senior Indenture, dated as of December 8, 1998 (the “Base Indenture”), as amended and supplemented by a ninth supplemental indenture, dated as of April 3, 2003 (the “Ninth Supplemental Indenture”) and the twenty-sixth supplemental indenture, dated as of December 4, 2020 (the “Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture”, and together with the Base Indenture and the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), between AES and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Bank One, National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), as Trustee.
Interest on the 2026 Notes accrues at a rate of 1.375% per annum, and interest on the 2031 Notes accrues at a rate of 2.450% per annum. Interest on each series of New Notes is payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning July 15, 2021. The 2026 Notes will mature on January 15, 2026, and the 2031 Notes will mature on January 15, 2031.
AES may redeem all or a part of the 2026 Notes, at any time prior to December 15, 2025, on any one or more occasions, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2026 Notes to be redeemed (ii) the sum of the present values of the principal amount of the 2026 Notes to be redeemed and the remaining scheduled payments of interest on the 2026 Notes from the redemption date to December 15, 2025, discounted from the scheduled payment dates to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate (as defined in the Indenture) plus 15 basis points. AES may redeem all or a part of the 2031 Notes, at any time prior to October 15, 2030, on any one or more occasions, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the principal amount of the 2031 Notes to be redeemed and the remaining scheduled payments of interest on the 2031 Notes from the redemption date to October 15, 2030, discounted from the scheduled payment dates to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate (as defined in the 2031 notes) plus 25 basis points.
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the Indenture), AES must offer to repurchase each series of New Notes at a price equal to 101.00% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repurchase. The Indenture also contains covenants, subject to certain exceptions, restricting the ability of AES to incur debt secured by any Principal Property (as defined in the Indenture) or by the debt or capital stock of any subsidiary held by the AES; to enter into any sale-lease back transactions involving any Principal Property; or to consolidate, merge, convey or transfer substantially all of its assets; as well as other covenants that are customary for debt securities like the New Notes. In addition, the Indenture contains customary events of default.
The Notes were sold to the Initial Purchasers for resale to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and to persons outside the United States under Regulation S of the Securities Act.
AES has also agreed to register the Notes under the Securities Act by filing an exchange offer registration statement or, under special circumstances, a shelf registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a registration rights agreement, dated as of December 4, 2020 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), between AES and BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as representative of the initial purchasers. Failure to timely comply with certain provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement will result in increased interest on the Notes.
The Notes were issued in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act or any state securities laws. Therefore, the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. This Form 8-K and the Exhibits hereto do not constitute an offer to sell any securities or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any securities.
The foregoing description of the Indenture, the New Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indenture, the forms of New Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement. The Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, the form of the 2026 Notes, the form of the 2031 Notes and the Registration Rights Agreement are attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.1, Exhibit 4.2, Exhibit 4.3 and Exhibit 4.4, respectively.
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of Registrant
The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is hereby incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On December 4, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the early results of the Tender Offers and Consent Solicitations. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Safe Harbor Disclosure
This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are not intended to be a guarantee of future results, but instead constitute AES’ current expectations based on reasonable assumptions. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the proposed use of proceeds of the New Notes, the ultimate allocation of amounts relating to the offering of the New Notes to eligible green projects under AES’ green financing framework and other expected effects of the offering of the New Notes.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in AES’ forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Important factors that could affect actual results are discussed in AES’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including, but not limited to, the risks discussed under Item 1A “Risk Factors” and Item 7: Management’s Discussion & Analysis in AES’ 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Readers are encouraged to read AES’ filings to learn more about the risk factors associated with AES’ business. AES undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Any Stockholder who desires a copy of the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 28, 2020 with the SEC may obtain a copy (excluding Exhibits) without charge by addressing a request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, The AES Corporation, 4300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Exhibits also may be requested, but a charge equal to the reproduction cost thereof will be made. A copy of the Form 10-K may also be obtained by visiting the Company’s website at www.aes.com.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit No. | Description | |
4.1 | Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated December 4, 2020, between AES and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustee. | |
4.2 | Form of 1.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.1) | |
4.3 | Form of 2.450% Senior Notes due 2031 (included in Exhibit 4.1) | |
4.4 | Registration Rights Agreement dated as of December 4, 2020, between AES and BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as representative of the initial purchasers. | |
99.1 | Press Release, dated December 4, 2020, announcing the early results of the Tender Offers and Consent Solicitations | |
101 | Inline XBRL Document Set for the Cover Page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as Inline XBRL. | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
THE AES CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Gustavo Pimenta | |
Name: | Gustavo Pimenta | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Date: December 4, 2020
Exhibit 4.1
THE AES CORPORATION
as Issuer
AND
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
as Trustee
_____________________
TWENTY-SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of December 4, 2020
TO
SENIOR INDENTURE
Dated as of December 8, 1998
_____________________
1.375% Senior Notes due 2026
2.450% Senior Notes due 2031
The TWENTY-SIXTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, is dated as of this 4th day of December, 2020 (the “Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture”), between THE AES CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Company”), and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a national banking association, as trustee (hereinafter referred to as the “Trustee”), as successor trustee to WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.
WHEREAS, the Company entered into a Senior Indenture dated as of December 8, 1998 (the “Senior Indenture”) between the Company and the Trustee to provide for the future issuance of its senior debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (collectively, the “Securities”), said Securities to be issued from time to time in series as might be determined by the Company pursuant to the Senior Indenture and, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have entered into a First Supplemental Indenture, a Second Supplemental Indenture, a Third Supplemental Indenture, a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, a Fifth Supplemental Indenture, a Sixth Supplemental Indenture, a Seventh Supplemental Indenture, an Eighth Supplemental Indenture, a Ninth Supplemental Indenture, a Tenth Supplemental Indenture, an Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, a Twelfth Supplemental Indenture, a Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, a Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, a Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, a Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, a Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, an Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, a Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, a Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, a Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, a Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, a Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, a Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture and a Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture providing for the creation and issuance of various series of Securities and/or amendments to the Senior Indenture (the Senior Indenture, as so amended and supplemented by the foregoing supplemental indentures and this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture is hereinafter referred to as, the “Indenture”);
WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company desires to provide for the establishment of a new series of its Securities to be known as its 1.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and a new series of its Securities to be known as its 2.450% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes” and, together with the 2026 Notes, the “Notes”), the form and substance of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Senior Indenture and this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested the Trustee to join with it in the execution and delivery of this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, and all requirements necessary to make this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture a legal, valid and binding instrument, in accordance with its terms, and to make the 2026 Notes and the 2031 Notes, each when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company have been satisfied;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase and acceptance of each of the 2026 Notes and the 2031 Notes by the Holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting forth, as provided in the Indenture, the form and substance of each of the 2026 Notes and the 2031 Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee as follows:
ARTICLE One
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
Section 1.1 Terms Defined in the Indenture.
Each capitalized term used but not defined in this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Senior Indenture.
Section 1.2 Certain Definitions.
The following definitions are hereby added to the definitions contained in Section 1.1 of the Senior Indenture, but only with respect to the 2026 Notes and the 2031 Notes, as applicable, issued in accordance with the provisions hereof:
“Additional Notes” means any notes of the same series issued under this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture in addition to the Initial Notes or Exchange Notes having the same terms in all respects as the Initial Notes or Exchange Notes, as the case may be, provided that, if Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will have a separate CUSIP number.
“Additional Interest” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Attributable Debt” means the present value (discounted at the rate of 8.0% per annum compounded monthly) of the obligations for rental payments required to be paid during the remaining term of any lease of more than 12 months.
“Board of Directors” means either the Board of Directors of the Company or (except for the purposes of clause (iii) of the definition of “Change of Control”) any committee of such Board duly authorized to act under the Indenture.
“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of, or interests in (however designated), the equity of such Person which is outstanding or issued on or after the date of the Indenture, including, without limitation, all Common Stock and Preferred Stock and partnership and joint venture interests of such Person.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company (determined on a consolidated basis) to any Person or group (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of Persons, (ii) a Person or group (as so defined) of Persons shall have become the beneficial owner of more than 50% of the outstanding Voting Stock of the Company, or (iii) during any one-year period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new director whose election or nomination was approved by a majority of the directors then in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or who were previously so approved) cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors.
2
“Change of Control Offer” has the meaning provided in Section 4.1.
“Change of Control Triggering Event” shall mean the occurrence of a Change of Control and a Rating Event.
“Common Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of common stock of such Person which is outstanding or issued on or after the date of the Indenture, including, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming for this purpose that the notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date: (a) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15 (519)” (or any successor release) published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” or (b) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such Business Day, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.
“Consolidated Net Assets” means the aggregate amount of assets (less reserves and other deductible items) after deducting current liabilities, as shown on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries contained in the latest annual report to the stockholders of the Company and prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business with respect to this Supplemental Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date of execution of this Supplemental Indenture is located at Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, 60 Wall Street, MS NYC60-2405, New York, New York 10005, Attn: Corporates Team Deal Manager: AES Corporation, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the designated 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).
“Disqualified Capital Stock” means that portion of any Capital Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event (other than an event which would constitute a Change of Control), matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the sole option of the holder thereof (except, in each case, upon the occurrence of a Change of Control) on or prior to the date 91 days after the final maturity date of the relevant series of Notes.
3
“DTC” has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.
“Exchange Notes” means the 1.375% Senior Notes due 2026 and the 2.450% Senior Notes due 2031 (the terms of which are identical to the Initial Notes except that the Exchange Notes shall be registered under the Securities Act, and shall not contain the restrictive legend on the face of the Initial Notes), to be issued in exchange for the Initial Notes pursuant to the registered Exchange Offer.
“Exchange Offer” means the offer by the Company to each Holder of the Initial Notes to exchange the aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes held by such Holder for an equal aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Funded Debt” means indebtedness for borrowed money having a maturity of, or by its terms extendible or renewable for, a period of more than 12 months after the date of the determination of the amount thereof.
“Global Securities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.
“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.
“Initial Notes” means (i) in the case of the 2026 Notes, the 1.375% Senior Notes due 2026 of the Company and (ii) in the case of the 2031 Notes, the 2.450% Senior Notes due 2031 of the Company, each issued on December 4, 2020 and delivered under this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture.
“Issue Date” means December 4, 2020, the date of the original issuance of the Initial Notes.
“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor to its rating agency business.
“Notes” means the Initial Notes, the Exchange Notes and any Additional Notes issued on or after the Issue Date in accordance with clause (iii) of Section 2.2(a) treated as a single class of securities, as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, that are issued pursuant to this Indenture.
“Offshore Global Securities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.
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“Offshore Physical Securities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.
“Physical Securities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.
“Preferred Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of preferred or preference stock of such Person which is outstanding or issued on or after the date of the Indenture.
“Principal Property” means any building, structure or other facility (together with the land on which it is erected and fixtures comprising a part thereof) used primarily for manufacturing, processing, research, warehousing or distribution, owned or leased by the Company and having a net book value in excess of 2% of Consolidated Net Assets, other than any such building, structure or other facility or portion thereof which is a pollution control facility financed by state or local governmental obligations or which the principal executive officer, president and principal financial officer of the Company determine in good faith is not of material importance to the total business conducted or assets owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries as an entirety.
“Rating Agency” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P and (2) if Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes of a particular series or fails to make a rating of the Notes of a particular series publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by the Company as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.
“Rating Event” means (x) the rating on a series of Notes is lowered and (y) such Notes are rated below an investment grade rating, in either case, by both of the Rating Agencies on any day within the period (the “Trigger Period”) commencing on the earlier of (i) the occurrence of a Change of Control and (ii) public announcement of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s or any Person’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following the consummation of such Change of Control (which period will be extended so long as the rating of a series of Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies); provided, however, that a Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if (1) during the Trigger Period, the relevant rating is subsequently upgraded to its level at the beginning of the Trigger Period (or better) or (2) the Rating Agency making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply publicly announces or informs the Trustee in writing at the Company’s request that the reduction was not the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the Rating Event).
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC plus one other Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
5
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
“Private Placement Legend” has the meaning provided in Section 2.5.
“QIB” means any “ qualified institutional buyer” (as defined under the Securities Act).
“Registration Default” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Registration Rights Agreement” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated the Issue Date between the Company and BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as representatives of the initial purchasers named in Schedule I to the Registration Rights Agreement.
“Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.
“Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 4.1 hereof.
“Restricted Security” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act; provided that the Trustee shall be entitled to request and conclusively rely on an Officers’ Certificate with respect to whether any Security constitutes a Restricted Security.
“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of S&P Global Inc., and any successor to its rating agency business.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, compounded semi-annually, assuming a price for such Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
“Unrestricted Global Security” means a Security evidencing all or a part of a series of Unrestricted Securities.
“Unrestricted Security” means a Security that does not and is not required to bear the Private Placement Legend, including, without limitation, the Exchange Notes and any Notes registered under the Securities Act pursuant to and in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement and any Security issued pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof in exchange for a Restricted Security; which Security shall be identical to the Initial Securities and the Restricted Securities except that (i) it shall not bear the Private Placement Legend, (ii) it shall not include provisions relating to Additional Interest and (iii) it shall have a CUSIP number that is different than the CUSIP number on a Restricted Security.
6
“U.S. Global Securities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.
“U.S. Physical Securities” has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.
“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock of any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of directors of such Person or other Persons performing similar functions.
ARTICLE Two
THE NOTES
Section 2.1 Form and Dating.
(a) The 2026 Notes and 2031 Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 hereto, respectively, which are a part of this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Senior Indenture and this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution of such Notes. Each series of Notes will initially be issued as Global Securities. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and the Trustee to act as Depositary and custodian, respectively, with respect to each series of Notes. The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Paying Agent and Registrar with respect to each series of Notes. The 2026 Notes and the 2031 Notes offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A shall each be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Notes in registered form, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2, respectively (the “U.S. Global Securities”), registered in the name of the nominee of the Depositary, deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided, and shall bear the legends set forth in Section 2.5. The aggregate principal amount of the U.S. Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, as hereinafter provided.
(b) Securities issued in exchange for interests in the U.S. Global Securities pursuant to Section 2.6 may be issued in the form of Physical Securities (“U.S. Physical Securities”) and shall bear the first legend set forth in Section 2.5.
(c) Securities offered and sold in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Securities in registered form, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A-1 or A-2, as applicable (the “Offshore Global Securities”), registered in the name of the nominee of the Depositary, deposited with the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided, and shall bear the legends set forth in Section 2.5. The aggregate principal amount of the Offshore Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, as hereinafter provided.
7
(d) Securities issued in exchange for interests in the Offshore Global Securities may be issued in the form of Physical Securities in registered form (the “Offshore Physical Securities”).
(e) The Offshore Physical Securities and the U.S. Physical Securities are sometimes collectively herein referred to as the “Physical Securities.” The U.S. Global Securities and the Offshore Global Securities are sometimes referred to herein as the “Global Securities”.
Section 2.2 Execution and Authentication.
(a) The Trustee shall authenticate (i) 2026 Notes for original issue in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $800,000,000 and 2031 Notes for original issue in aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000,000, (ii) Exchange Notes and (iii) any Additional Notes of either series, (such Notes to be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 or A-2, as applicable) in an unlimited amount, in each case, upon written orders of the Company signed by two Officers. Each such Officers’ Certificate shall specify the amount of such Notes to be authenticated, the date on which such Notes are to be authenticated, whether such Notes are to be Initial Notes, Exchange Notes or Additional Notes issued under clause (i), (ii) or (iii), respectively, of the preceding sentence, and the aggregate principal amount of such Notes outstanding on the date of authentication, and shall further specify the amount of such Notes to be issued as a Global Security or Physical Securities. Such Notes shall initially be in the form of one or more Global Securities, which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, such Notes to be issued, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee and (iii) shall be held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction. A Note will not be valid until authenticated by the electronic or manual signature of the Trustee. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Note has been authenticated under this Indenture.
(b) Each series of Notes shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons in the principal amount of at least $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. Upon the occurrence of a Registration Default under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Notes shall be entitled to Additional Interest accruing during the periods described in the Registration Rights Agreement. All references in the Indenture and the Notes to “interest” shall be deemed to include any Additional Interest. The Trustee shall have no responsibility to determine whether a Registration Default has occurred or to calculate or verify the calculation of the Additional Interest.
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Section 2.3 Interest.
Interest on each series of Notes shall be payable in the amount, on the dates and in the manner provided for in the relevant form of the Note attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 or A-2.
Section 2.4 Place of Payment.
(a) The place of payment for each series of Notes shall be the Trustee’s or Paying Agent’s Corporate Trust Office. So long as each series of Notes are in the form of Registered Global Securities, the Company agrees that payments of interest on, and any portion of the Principal of, such Notes shall be made by the Paying Agent, upon receipt from the Company of immediately available funds, directly to the Depositary (by Federal funds wire transfer).
Section 2.5 Restrictive Legend.
(a) Unless and until an Initial Note (i) is exchanged for an Exchange Note or sold in connection with an effective registration statement under the Securities Act pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, or (ii) the Private Placement Legend has been removed from such Initial Note in accordance with Section 2.7 or, with respect to a Restricted Global Security, all of the beneficial interests in such Restricted Global Security have been exchanged for beneficial interests in the Unrestricted Global Security in accordance with Section 2.7, the U.S. Global Securities, U.S. Physical Securities and Offshore Global Securities shall bear the following legend set forth below (the “Private Placement Legend”) on the face thereof:
THIS NOTE (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF OR OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, THE ACQUIRER (1) REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT AND ANY ACCOUNT FOR WHICH IT IS ACTING IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (WITHIN THE MEANING OF RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) AND THAT IT EXERCISES SOLE INVESTMENT DISCRETION WITH RESPECT TO EACH SUCH ACCOUNT OR (B) IT IS NOT A UNITED STATES PERSON (WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), AND (2) AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AES CORPORATION (“AES”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS NOTE OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES AND ONLY (A) TO AES, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 904 OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. PRIOR TO THE REGISTRATION OF ANY TRANSFER IN ACCORDANCE WITH (2)(E) ABOVE, AES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF SUCH LEGAL OPINIONS, CERTIFICATIONS OR OTHER EVIDENCE AS MAY REASONABLY BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF ANY RULE 144 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.
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(b) Each Global Security shall also bear the following legend on the face thereof:
UNLESS AND UNTIL THIS NOTE IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY ANY SUCH NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY OR THEIR AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF CEDE & CO. OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR’S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 2.6 OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE.
Section 2.6 Special Transfer Provisions.
(a) The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Note constituting a Restricted Security to any institutional accredited investor (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) (an “Accredited Investor” or an “Institutional Accredited Investor”) which is not a QIB (excluding transfers to Non-U.S. Persons, which shall be governed by clause (c)):
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(i) The Registrar shall register the transfer in an aggregate principal amount of at least $250,000 of any Note constituting a Restricted Security, whether or not such Security bears the Private Placement Legend, if the proposed transferee has delivered to the Registrar a certificate substantially in the form Exhibit B hereto, and the proposed transferee has delivered to the Registrar and the Company an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and such other certifications, legal opinions or other information that the Trustee may (but shall be under no duty to) reasonably request in order to confirm that such transaction is being made pursuant to an exemption from or in a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and
(ii) If the proposed transferor is a member of, or participant in, the Depositary (an “Agent Member”) holding a beneficial interest in a U.S. Global Security, whether or not such Note bears a Private Placement Legend, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the certificate and opinion, if any, required by paragraph (i) above and (y) instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, whereupon (a) the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the applicable U.S. Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in such U.S. Global Security to be transferred, and an increase in the applicable Global Security to which the beneficial interest is to be transferred or shall authenticate and deliver one or more U.S. Physical Securities of like tenor and amount.
(b) The following provisions shall apply with respect to the registration of any proposed transfer of a Note to a QIB (excluding transfers to Non U.S. Persons, which shall be governed by clause (c)):
(i) if the Note to be transferred consists of (x) either Offshore Physical Securities prior to the removal of the Private Placement Legend or U.S. Physical Securities, the Registrar shall register the transfer if such transfer is being made by a proposed transferor who has checked the box provided for on the form of Note stating, or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing, that the sale has been made in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144A to a transferee who has signed the certification provided for on the form of Note stating, or has otherwise advised the Company and the Registrar in writing that it is purchasing the Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as it has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon its foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A or (y) an interest in the U.S. Global Securities, the transfer of such interest may be effected only through the book entry system maintained by the Depositary; and
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(ii) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, and the Notes to be transferred consist of U.S. Physical Securities which after transfer are to be evidenced by an interest in a U.S. Global Security, upon receipt by the Registrar of instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the applicable U.S. Global Security in an amount equal to the principal amount of the U.S. Physical Securities to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the U.S. Physical Securities so transferred.
(c) The following provisions shall apply with respect to any transfer of a Note to a Non-U.S. Person:
(i) prior to the 41st day after the date on which such Note is originally issued, the Registrar shall register any proposed transfer of a Note to a Non-U.S. Person upon receipt of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto from the proposed transferor and the Registrar shall register any proposed transfer to any Non-U.S. Person if the Note to be transferred is a U.S. Physical Security or an interest in U.S. Global Securities, upon receipt of a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto from the proposed transferor;
(ii) on or after the 41st day after the date on which such Note is originally issued, the Registrar shall register any proposed transfer of any Offshore Physical Security or Offshore Global Security without requiring any certification; and
(iii) (a) if the proposed transferor is an Agent Member holding a beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Securities, upon receipt by the Registrar of (x) the documents, if any, required by paragraph (i) or (ii) and (y) instructions in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a decrease in the principal amount of the U.S. Global Securities in an amount equal to the principal amount of the beneficial interest in the U.S. Global Securities to be transferred, and (b) if the proposed transferee is an Agent Member, upon receipt by the Registrar of instructions given in accordance with the Depositary’s and the Registrar’s procedures, the Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Offshore Global Securities in an amount equal to the principal amount of the U.S. Physical Securities or the U.S. Global Securities, as the case may be, to be transferred, and the Trustee shall cancel the U.S. Physical Security, if any, so transferred or decrease the amount of the U.S. Global Security.
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(d) Upon the registration of transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes not bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Registrar shall deliver Notes that do not bear the Private Placement Legend. Upon the registration of transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes bearing the Private Placement Legend, the Registrar shall deliver only Notes that bear the Private Placement Legend unless (i) the transferee certifies that it is not an Affiliate of the Company and the requested transfer is after the first anniversary of the later of (a) the date on which such Notes are originally issued and (b) the last date on which the Company or an Affiliate of the Company was the owner of such Notes (or any predecessor Securities) or such shorter period of time as permitted by Rule 144(d) under the Securities Act or any successor provision thereunder or (ii) the circumstance contemplated by paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section 2.6 exists, (iii) there is delivered to the Registrar an Opinion of Counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that neither such legend nor the related restrictions on transfer are required in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act or until such time as the Private Placement Legend is no longer required pursuant to Sections 2.5 and 2.7 and such Private Placement Legend is removed pursuant to Sections 2.5 and 2.7.
(e) By its acceptance of any Note bearing the Private Placement Legend, each Holder of such Note acknowledges the restrictions on transfer of such Note set forth in this Indenture and in the Private Placement Legend and agrees that it shall transfer such Note only as provided in this Indenture. The Registrar shall retain copies of all letters, notices and other written communications received pursuant to this Section 2.6 in accordance with its customary procedures. The Company, at its own expense, shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such letters, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.
Section 2.7 Exchange From Restricted Global Security Into An Unrestricted Global Security.
(a) Beneficial interests in the Restricted Global Security may be automatically exchanged into beneficial interests in the Unrestricted Global Security on or after December 5, 2021 upon compliance with the conditions set forth in this Section 2.7. The Company shall (i) provide written notice to the Trustee at least 10 calendar days prior to such mandatory exchange, instructing the Trustee to direct the Depositary to exchange all of the outstanding beneficial interests in a particular Restricted Global Security to the Unrestricted Global Security, which the Company shall have previously otherwise made eligible for exchange with DTC, (ii) provide prior written notice to all Holders of such exchange at least 10 calendar days prior to such mandatory exchange, which notice must include the date of such exchange, the CUSIP number of the relevant Restricted Global Security and the CUSIP number of the Unrestricted Global Security into which such Holders’ beneficial interests shall be exchanged, and (iii) on or prior to the date of such exchange, deliver to the Trustee for authentication one or more Unrestricted Global Securities, duly executed by the Company, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of Restricted Global Securities to be exchanged.
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(b) As a condition to any such exchange pursuant to this Section 2.7, the Company shall provide, and the Trustee shall be entitled to rely upon, an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that the Private Placement Legend and the related restrictions on transfer are not required or advisable in order to maintain compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
(c) Upon such exchange of beneficial interests pursuant to this Section 2.7, the aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, to reflect the relevant increase or decrease in the principal amount of such Global Security resulting from the applicable exchange.
ARTICLE Three
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES
Section 3.1 Optional Redemption.
(a) At any time prior to December 15, 2025 (the “2026 Par Call Date”), and at any time prior to October 15, 2030 (the “2031 Par Call Date” and, each of the 2026 Par Call Date and the 2031 Par Call Date, a “Par Call Date”), the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the applicable series of Notes, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a price together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding, the redemption date, equal to the greater of:
(i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed; or
(ii) The sum of the present values of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and the remaining scheduled payments of interest on the Notes from the redemption date to the applicable Par Call Date, discounted from their respective scheduled payment dates to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points in the case of the 2026 Notes, and 25 basis points in the case of the 2031 Notes.
In addition, at any time and from time to time on or after the applicable Par Call Date, the Notes of the applicable series will be redeemable, in whole or in part at any time, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes of such series being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to the redemption date.
(b) Except pursuant to Section 3.1(a), the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to the applicable Par Call Date.
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ARTICLE Four
REPURCHASE OF NOTES UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL TRIGGERING EVENT
Section 4.1 Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.
(a) Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event, each holder of each series of Notes shall have the right to require that the Company repurchase such holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repurchase.
(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall send a notice to each Holder of each series of Notes with a copy to the Trustee stating:
(i) that a Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Company to repurchase such Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repurchase (the “Change of Control Offer”),
(ii) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change of Control Triggering Event (including information with respect to pro forma historical income, cash flow and capitalization after giving effect to such Change of Control Triggering Event),
(iii) the repurchase date (which shall be not earlier than 30 days or later than 60 days from the date such notice is sent) (the “Repurchase Date”),
(iv) that any Notes not tendered shall continue to accrue interest,
(v) that any Notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest after the Repurchase Date, unless the Company defaults in depositing the purchase amount,
(vi) that Holders electing to have a Note purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Purchase” on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on the Repurchase Date,
(vii) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent receives, not later than the close of business on the third Business Day (or such shorter periods as may be required by applicable law) preceding the Repurchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of Notes the Holder delivered for purchase, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased, and
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(viii) that Holders which elect to have their Notes purchased only in part will be issued new Notes in a principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.
(c) On the Repurchase Date, the Company shall (i) accept for payment Notes of each series or portions thereof tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit with the Trustee money sufficient to pay the purchase price of all Notes of each series or portions thereof so tendered and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee Notes so accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate identifying the Notes of each series or portions thereof tendered to the Company.
(d) The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Holders of the Notes so accepted payment in an amount equal to the purchase price, and promptly authenticate and deliver to such Holders a new Note in a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered (or through book-entry transfer for global Notes). The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Repurchase Date. Neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be responsible for monitoring the Company’s rating status, making any request upon any Rating Agency, or determining whether any Rating Event based upon the rating of the Notes by any Rating Agency has occurred.
(e) The Company shall comply with all applicable tender offer rules, including without limitation Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, in connection with a Change of Control Offer.
ARTICLE Five
ADDITIONAL COVENANTS APPLICABLE TO THE NOTES SECTION
Section 5.1 Restrictions on Secured Debt.
(a) If the Company shall incur, issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money represented by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of indebtedness, secured by a mortgage, pledge or other lien on any Principal Property or any capital stock or indebtedness held directly by the Company of any Subsidiary of the Company, the Company shall secure each series of Notes equally and ratably with (or prior to) such indebtedness, so long as such indebtedness shall be so secured, unless after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of all such indebtedness so secured, together with all Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions involving Principal Properties, would not exceed 15% of the Consolidated Net Assets of the Company.
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(b) The foregoing restriction shall not apply to, and there shall be excluded in computing secured indebtedness for the purpose of such restriction, indebtedness secured by (a) property of any Subsidiary of the Company, (b) liens on property of, or on any shares of stock or debt of, any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary, (c) liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary, (d) liens in favor of U.S. or foreign governmental bodies to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments, (e) liens on property, shares of stock or debt existing at the time of acquisition thereof (including acquisition through merger or consolidation), purchase money mortgages and construction cost mortgages existing at or incurred within 180 days of the time of acquisition thereof, (f) liens existing on the first date on which any Note is authenticated by the Trustee, (g) liens under one or more credit facilities for indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $900,000,000 at any time outstanding, (h) liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings, and (i) any extension, renewal or replacement of any debt secured by any liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) through (h), inclusive.
Section 5.2 Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks.
(a) The Company shall not enter into any sale and leaseback transaction involving any Principal Property, the acquisition or completion of construction and commencement of full operation of which has occurred more than 180 days prior thereto, unless (a) the Company could incur a lien on such property under the restrictions described in Section 5.1 hereof in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect to the sale and leaseback transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes or (b) the Company, within 180 days after the sale or transfer by the Company, applies to the retirement of its Funded Debt an amount equal to the greater of (i) the net proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property sold and leased pursuant to such arrangement or (ii) the fair market value of the Principal Property so sold and leased as determined by the board of directors of the Company; provided that the amount to be applied to the retirement of Funded Debt of the Company shall be reduced by (A) the principal amount of any Notes delivered within 180 days after such sale or transfer to the Trustee for retirement and cancellation, and (B) the principal amount of Funded Debt, other than the Notes, voluntarily retired by the Company within 180 days after such sale or transfer; provided, further, that no retirement referred to in this clause (b) may be effected by payment at maturity or pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund payment or any mandatory prepayment provision.
ARTICLE Six
ADDITIONAL EVENTS OF DEFAULT APPLICABLE TO THE NOTE
Section 6.1 Additional Events of Default.
(a) Pursuant to Section 6.1(f) of the Senior Indenture, an “Event of Default” shall be deemed to occur with respect to a series of Notes if an event of default, as defined in any indenture or instrument evidencing or under which the Company has as of the date of this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture or shall thereafter have outstanding any indebtedness, shall happen and be continuing and either (i) such default results from the failure to pay the principal of such indebtedness in excess of $50 million at final maturity of such indebtedness or (ii) as a result of such default the maturity of such indebtedness shall have been accelerated so that the same shall be or become due and payable prior to the date on which the same would otherwise have become due and payable, and such acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within 60 days and the principal amount of such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other indebtedness of the Company in default, or the maturity of which has been accelerated, aggregates $50 million or more; provided that the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any such default unless written notice thereof shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company, by the holder or an agent of the holder of any such indebtedness, by the trustee then acting under any indenture or other instrument under which such default shall have occurred, or by the Holders of not less than 25% in the aggregate principal amount of such series of Notes at the time outstanding; and provided, further, that if such default shall be remedied or cured by the Company or waived by the requisite number of percentage of holder of such indebtedness as provided in such indenture or instrument, then the Event of Default described under this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed likewise to have been remedied, cured or waived without further action on the part of the Trustee, any Holder of Notes or any other person.
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ARTICLE
Seven
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 7.1 Ratification.
(a) The Senior Indenture, as supplemented by this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. This Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent provided herein and therein.
Section 7.2 Counterparts.
(a) This Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 7.3 Notice to Holders.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Senior Indenture, this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, or any Note, where the Senior Indenture, this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture or any Note provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or repurchase) to a Holder of a global Note (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to DTC (or its designee) pursuant to the standing instructions from DTC or its designee, including by electronic mail in accordance with DTC operational arrangements or other applicable DTC requirements.
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Section 7.4 Reports
(a) In connection with Section 4.5 of the Senior Indenture, the Company shall be deemed to have furnished such information, documents or reports to the Trustee, the Holders and/or prospective purchasers of the notes, if the Company has filed such information, documents or reports with the Commission via the EDGAR filing system (or any successor system) and/or posted such information, documents or reports on the Company’s website and such information, documents or reports are publicly available; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such materials have been filed pursuant to the EDGAR system (or its successor) or posted on any website. Delivery of such information 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 their covenants under the Senior Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
(b) For so long as any Notes remain outstanding, at any time the Company is not required to file the reports required by Section 7.4(a) with the SEC, the Company shall furnish to the Holders of the Notes and to securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Section 7.5 PATRIOT Act
(a) The Company acknowledges that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Supplemental Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act.
Section 7.6 Electronic Signature
Facsimile, documents executed, scanned and transmitted electronically and electronic signatures, including those created or transmitted through a software platform or application, shall be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Indenture and all other related documents and all matters and agreements related thereto, with such facsimile, scanned and electronic signatures having the same legal effect as original signatures. The parties agree that this Supplemental Indenture or any other related document or any instrument, agreement or document necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture or the other related documents or related hereto or thereto (including, without limitation, addendums, amendments, notices, instructions, communications with respect to the delivery of securities or the wire transfer of funds or other communications) (“Executed Documentation”) may be accepted, executed or agreed to through the use of an electronic signature in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations in effect from time to time applicable to the effectiveness and enforceability of electronic signatures. Any Executed Documentation accepted, executed or agreed to in conformity with such laws, rules and regulations will be binding on all parties hereto to the same extent as if it were physically executed and each party hereby consents to the use of any third party electronic signature capture service providers as may be reasonably chosen by a signatory hereto or thereto. When the Trustee acts on any Executed Documentation sent by electronic transmission, the Trustee will not be responsible or liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from its reliance upon and compliance with such Executed Documentation, notwithstanding that such Executed Documentation (a) may not be an authorized or authentic communication of the party involved or in the form such party sent or intended to send (whether due to fraud, distortion or otherwise) or (b) may conflict with, or be inconsistent with, a subsequent written instruction or communication; it being understood and agreed that the Trustee shall conclusively presume that Executed Documentation that purports to have been sent by an authorized officer of a Person has been sent by an authorized officer of such Person. The party providing Executed Documentation through electronic transmission or otherwise with electronic signatures agrees to assume all risks arising out of such electronic methods, including, without limitation, the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, on the date or dates indicated in the acknowledgments and as of the day and year first written above.
THE AES CORPORATION, as the Issuer | ||
By: | /s/ Ahmed Pasha | |
Name: | Ahmed Pasha | |
Title: | Treasurer |
Attest: | ||
By: | /s/ Gustavo Pimenta | |
Name: | Gustavo Pimenta | |
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
[Signature Page to the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture]
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Trustee: |
||
By: | /s/ Luke Russell | |
Name: | Luke Russell | |
Title: | Assistant Vice President | |
By: | /s/ Chris Niesz | |
Name: | Chris Niesz | |
Title: | Vice President |
[Signature Page to the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture]
Exhibit A-1
[FORM OF 2026 NOTE]*
[FACE OF 2026 NOTE]
THE AES CORPORATION
1.375% Senior Note due 2026
CUSIP No.
ISIN No.
No. | Principal Amount $ |
THE AES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars ($ ) on January 15, 2026.
Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15; commencing July 15, 2021.
Record Dates: Each January 1 and July 1 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
________________________
* | Add Private Placement Legend to Initial Note and, if applicable, add Global Security Legend. |
A-1-1
By: | ||
Authorized Signature | ||
By: | ||
Authorized Signature |
Dated:
Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the 1.375% Senior Notes due 2026 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS as Trustee |
||
By: | ||
Authorized Signature |
A-1-2
[REVERSE OF FORM OF 2026 NOTE]
THE AES CORPORATION
1.375% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2026
1. Interest. THE AES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which definition shall include any successor thereto in accordance with the Indenture (as defined below)), promises to pay, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, interest on the principal amount set forth on the reverse side hereof at a rate of 1.375% per annum plus any Additional Interest payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. All references in this Note to “interest” shall mean and include any Additional Interest. Interest on the Notes will accrue from and including the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 4, 2020 through but excluding the date on which interest is paid. Interest shall be payable in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing July 15, 2021. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on each January 1 and July 1 immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date (each, a “Regular Record Date”). Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. At the Company’s option, interest may be paid by check sent to the registered address of the Holder of this Note.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Trustee”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice.
4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of December 8, 1998 between the Company and the Trustee as supplemented by the Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 3, 2003 and the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 4, 2020 between the Company and the Trustee (said Indenture, as so supplemented, the “Indenture”). This Note is one of an issue of Securities of the Company issued under the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as amended from time to time. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders of the Notes are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of them. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Indenture. The Notes are general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company ranking pari passu with all of the Company’s unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The Company may, subject to the terms of the Indenture and applicable law, issue Additional Notes under the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture. The Notes issued on December 4, 2020 and any Additional Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes of the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture. The Indenture limits the ability of the Company to incur certain secured indebtedness and to enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions.
A-1-3
5. Optional Redemption.
(a) At any time prior to December 15, 2025 (one month prior to the maturity date of the Notes) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and the remaining scheduled payments of interest on the Notes from the redemption date to December 15, 2025, discounted from the scheduled payment dates to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points.
In addition, at any time and from time to time on or after the Par Call Date, the Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part at any time, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to the redemption date.
(b) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to the Par Call Date.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming for this purpose that the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date: (a) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15 (519)” (or any successor release) published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” or (b) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such Business Day, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.
“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC plus one other Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
A-1-4
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, compounded semi-annually, assuming a price for such Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
6. Change of Control Offer. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall be required, as and to the extent set forth in the Indenture, to offer to purchase all of the outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the repurchase date).
7. Sinking Fund. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.
8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay to it any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Notes or portion of a Note selected for redemption, or transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days before selection of such Notes to be redeemed.
9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company at its written request. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an “abandoned property” law designates another Person.
11. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver. The Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of the holders of any outstanding Notes, amend, waive or supplement the Indenture or the Notes for certain specified purposes, including, among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies, maintaining the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or making any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect. Other amendments and modifications of the Indenture or the Notes may be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all series affected, subject to certain exceptions requiring the consent of the Holders of the particular Securities.
A-1-5
12. Successor Corporation. When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture and the transaction complies with the terms of Article 5 of the Senior Indenture, the predecessor corporation, subject to certain exceptions, will be released from those obligations.
13. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default are set forth in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of the Senior Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, or the Trustee may, by written notice to the Company, and the Trustee at the request of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes will, declare the principal of, plus accrued interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of the Senior Indenture with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the Principal of and accrued interest on all of the Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of all series issued under the Indenture that are affected may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing default (except a default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines in good faith that withholding notice is in their interests. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.
14. Trustee Dealing with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.
15. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee, stockholder or beneficiary, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.
16. Defeasance. The Indenture contains provisions (which provisions apply to this Note) for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Company in respect of this Note and (b) certain restrictive covenants and Defaults and Events of Default, in each case upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.
17. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
18. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of Notes 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 Gifts to Minors Act).
19. GOVERNING LAW. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
A-1-6
The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
THE AES CORPORATION
4300 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Telephone: (703) 522-1315
Telecopy: (703) 528-4510
Attention: Legal Department
A-1-7
ASSIGNMENT FORM
If you the holder want to assign this Note, fill in the form below and have your signature guaranteed:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to ___________________________________________________
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax ID number) _________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code) and irrevocably appoint _______________________agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date: |
Your signature: |
|
||
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
A-1-8
[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE
The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $ . The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Date of Exchange | Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note | Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note | Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase | Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Securities Custodian |
A-1-9
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT TO PURCHASE
[Date]
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Solutions
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10005
Attention: AES Corporate Trust Administrator
Re: |
The AES Corporation
1.375% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) |
The undersigned hereby elects to have [all] [a portion of] its 2026 Notes purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture.
If the undersigned elects to have only part of its 2026 Notes purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, state the principal amount (minimum amount of $2,000; multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000):
$
Dated: | Signed: | |||
(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Signature Guarantee: | ||
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) |
A-1-10
[Check One]
(1) | to the Company; or |
(2) | pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
(3) | To an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter can be obtained from the Trustee); or |
(4) | outside the United States to a Person that is not a U.S. Person in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
(5) | pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or |
(6) | pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
(7) | pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; |
and unless the box below is checked, the undersigned confirms that such Security is not being transferred to an “affiliate” of the Company as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (an “Affiliate”):
☐ The transferee is an Affiliate of the Company.
Unless one of the items 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; provided that if box (3), (4), (5) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, in its sole discretion, such legal opinions, certifications (including an investment letter in the case of box (3) or (4)) and other information as the Trustee or the Company have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
A-1-11
If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 2.6 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.
Dated: | Signed: | |||
(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Signature Guarantee: | ||
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Dated:
A-1-12
Exhibit A-2
[FORM OF 2031 NOTE]*
[FACE OF 2031 NOTE]
THE AES CORPORATION.
2.450% Senior Note due 2031
CUSIP No.
ISIN No.
No. | Principal Amount $ |
THE AES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for value received promises to pay to or registered assigns, the principal sum of Dollars ($ ) on January 15, 2031.
Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15; commencing July 15, 2021.
Record Dates: Each January 1 and July 1 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note contained herein, which shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
________________________
* | Add Private Placement Legend to Initial Note and, if applicable, add Global Security Legend. |
A-2-1
By: | ||
Authorized Signature | ||
By: | ||
Authorized Signature |
Dated:
Certificate of Authentication
This is one of the 2.450% Senior Notes due 2031 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS as Trustee |
||
By: | ||
Authorized Signature |
A-2-2
[REVERSE OF FORM OF 2031 NOTE]
THE AES CORPORATION
2.450% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2031
1. Interest. THE AES CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” which definition shall include any successor thereto in accordance with the Indenture (as defined below)), promises to pay, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, interest on the principal amount set forth on the reverse side hereof at a rate of 2.450% per annum plus any Additional Interest payable pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. All references in this Note to “interest” shall mean and include any Additional Interest. Interest on the Notes will accrue from and including the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from December 4, 2020 through but excluding the date on which interest is paid. Interest shall be payable in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing July 15, 2021. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
2. Method of Payment. The Company will pay interest on the Notes (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered Holders of Notes at the close of business on each January 1 and July 1 immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date (each, a “Regular Record Date”). Holders must surrender Notes to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. At the Company’s option, interest may be paid by check sent to the registered address of the Holder of this Note.
3. Paying Agent and Registrar. Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (the “Trustee”) will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar without notice.
4. Indenture. The Company issued the Notes under an Indenture dated as of December 8, 1998 between the Company and the Trustee as supplemented by the Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of April 3, 2003 and the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 4, 2020 between the Company and the Trustee (said Indenture, as so supplemented, the “Indenture”). This Note is one of an issue of Securities of the Company issued under the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as amended from time to time. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders of the Notes are referred to the Indenture and such Act for a statement of them. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Indenture. The Notes are general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company ranking pari passu with all of the Company’s unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The Company may, subject to the terms of the Indenture and applicable law, issue Additional Notes under the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture. The Notes issued on December 4, 2020 and any Additional Notes subsequently issued shall be treated as a single class for all purposes of the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture. The Indenture limits the ability of the Company to incur certain secured indebtedness and to enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions.
A-2-3
5. Optional Redemption.
(c) At any time prior to October 15, 2030 (three months prior to the maturity date of the Notes) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem all or a part of the Notes, upon not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and the remaining scheduled payments of interest on the Notes from the redemption date to October 15, 2030, discounted from the scheduled payment dates to the redemption date semiannually (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points.
In addition, at any time and from time to time on or after the Par Call Date, the Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part at any time, at the Company’s option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Notes to the redemption date.
(d) Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the Notes will not be redeemable at the Company’s option prior to the Par Call Date.
“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed (assuming for this purpose that the Notes matured on the Par Call Date) that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity.
“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date: (a) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the most recently published statistical release designated “H.15 (519)” (or any successor release) published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption “Treasury Constant Maturities,” or (b) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such Business Day, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.
“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.
“Reference Treasury Dealer” means BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC plus one other Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) selected by the Company; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.
A-2-4
“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, compounded semi-annually, assuming a price for such Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.
6. Change of Control Offer. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall be required, as and to the extent set forth in the Indenture, to offer to purchase all of the outstanding Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but not including, the date of repurchase (subject to the right of the Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date falling prior to or on the repurchase date).
7. Sinking Fund. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.
8. Denominations, Transfer, Exchange. The Notes are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 thereafter. A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay to it any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Notes or portion of a Note selected for redemption, or transfer or exchange any Notes for a period of 15 days before selection of such Notes to be redeemed.
9. Persons Deemed Owners. The registered holder of a Note may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
10. Unclaimed Money. If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company at its written request. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an “abandoned property” law designates another Person.
11. Amendment, Supplement, Waiver. The Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of the holders of any outstanding Notes, amend, waive or supplement the Indenture or the Notes for certain specified purposes, including, among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies, maintaining the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 or making any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect. Other amendments and modifications of the Indenture or the Notes may be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all series affected, subject to certain exceptions requiring the consent of the Holders of the particular Securities.
A-2-5
12. Successor Corporation. When a successor corporation assumes all the obligations of its predecessor under the Notes and the Indenture and the transaction complies with the terms of Article 5 of the Senior Indenture, the predecessor corporation, subject to certain exceptions, will be released from those obligations.
13. Defaults and Remedies. Events of Default are set forth in the Indenture. Subject to certain limitations in the Indenture, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of the Senior Indenture with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, then the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes may, or the Trustee may, by written notice to the Company, and the Trustee at the request of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes will, declare the principal of, plus accrued interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) of the Senior Indenture with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the Principal of and accrued interest on all of the Notes shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. Holders of the Notes may not enforce the Indenture or the Notes except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may require indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it before it enforces the Indenture or the Notes. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of all series issued under the Indenture that are affected may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Holders of the Notes notice of any continuing default (except a default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines in good faith that withholding notice is in their interests. The Company must furnish an annual compliance certificate to the Trustee.
14. Trustee Dealing with Company. The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its Affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.
15. No Recourse Against Others. A director, officer, employee, stockholder or beneficiary, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Notes or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Notes.
16. Defeasance. The Indenture contains provisions (which provisions apply to this Note) for defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Company in respect of this Note and (b) certain restrictive covenants and Defaults and Events of Default, in each case upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein.
17. Authentication. This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.
18. Abbreviations. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder of Notes 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 Gifts to Minors Act).
19. GOVERNING LAW. THE INDENTURE AND THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.
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The Company will furnish to any Holder of Notes upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to:
THE AES CORPORATION
4300 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Telephone: (703) 522-1315
Telecopy: (703) 528-4510
Attention: Legal Department
A-2-7
ASSIGNMENT FORM
If you the holder want to assign this Note, fill in the form below and have your signature guaranteed:
I or we assign and transfer this Note to ___________________________________________________
(Insert assignee’s social security or tax ID number) _________________________________________________
(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code) and irrevocably appoint _______________________agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.
Date: |
Your signature: |
|
||
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note) |
Signature Guarantee:
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL NOTES]
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL NOTE
The initial principal amount of this Global Note is $ . The following increases or decreases in this Global Note have been made:
Date of Exchange | Amount of decrease in Principal Amount of this Global Note | Amount of increase in Principal Amount of this Global Note | Principal amount of this Global Note following such decrease or increase | Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee or Securities Custodian |
A-2-9
OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT TO PURCHASE
[Date]
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Solutions
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10005
Attention: AES Corporate Trust Administrator
Re: |
The AES Corporation
2.450% Senior Notes due 2031 (the “2031 Notes”) |
The undersigned hereby elects to have [all] [a portion of] its 2031 Notes purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture.
If the undersigned elects to have only part of its 2031 Notes purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, state the principal amount (minimum amount of $2,000; multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000):
$
Dated: | Signed: | |||
(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Signature Guarantee: | ||
Participant in a recognized Signature Guarantee Medallion Program (or other signature guarantor program reasonably acceptable to the Trustee) |
A-2-10
[Check One]
(1) | to the Company; or |
(2) | pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act; or |
(3) | To an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) that has furnished to the Trustee a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements (the form of which letter can be obtained from the Trustee); or |
(4) | outside the United States to a Person that is not a U.S. Person in compliance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act; or |
(5) | pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act; or |
(6) | pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or |
(7) | pursuant to another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act; |
and unless the box below is checked, the undersigned confirms that such Security is not being transferred to an “affiliate” of the Company as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (an “Affiliate”):
☐ The transferee is an Affiliate of the Company.
Unless one of the items 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; provided that if box (3), (4), (5) or (7) is checked, the Company or the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Notes, in its sole discretion, such legal opinions, certifications (including an investment letter in the case of box (3) or (4)) and other information as the Trustee or the Company have reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
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If none of the foregoing boxes is checked, the Trustee or Registrar shall not be obligated to register this Note in the name of any person other than the Holder hereof unless and until the conditions to any such transfer of registration set forth herein and in Section 2.6 of the Indenture shall have been satisfied.
Dated: | Signed: | |||
(Sign exactly as name appears on the other side of this Security) |
Signature Guarantee: | ||
TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (2) ABOVE IS CHECKED
The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Note for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned’s foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A.
Dated:
A-2-12
Exhibit B
Form of Certificate
to be
Delivered in Connection with
Transfers to Non-QIB Accredited Investors
[Date]
The AES Corporation
4300 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Attention: Legal Department
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
c/o DB Services Americas, Inc.
5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
Attn: Transfer Department
Facsimile: 615-866-3889
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust and Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60 - 2405
New York, New York 10005
Attn: Corporates Team, AES Corporation SF2260
Facsimile: (732) 578-4635
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Solutions
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10005
Attention:
Re: |
The AES Corporation
[1.375% Senior Notes due 2026] [2.450% Senior Notes due 2031] (the “Notes”) |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with our proposed purchase of The AES Corporation (the “Company”), we confirm that:
1. We understand that any subsequent transfer of the Notes is subject to certain restrictions and conditions set forth in the indenture relating to the Notes and the undersigned agrees to be bound by, and not to resell, pledge or otherwise transfer the Notes except in compliance with, such restrictions and conditions and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
B-1
2. We understand that the offer and sale of the Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, and that the Notes may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree, on our own behalf and on behalf of any accounts for which we are acting as hereinafter stated, that if we should sell or otherwise transfer any Notes prior to the date which is two years after the original issuance of the Notes, we will do so only (i) to the Company or any of their subsidiaries, (ii) inside the United States in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act to a “qualified institutional buyer” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (iii) inside the United States to an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined below) that, prior to such transfer, furnishes (or has furnished on its behalf by a U.S. broker-dealer) to the Trustee (as defined in the Indenture relating to the Notes), a signed letter containing certain representations and agreements relating to the restrictions on transfer of the Notes and, if such transfer is in respect of any aggregate principal amount of Notes of less than $250,000, also furnishes an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Company that such transfer complies with the Securities Act, (iv) outside the United States in accordance with Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (v) pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act (if available), or (vi) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, and we further agree to provide to any person purchasing any of the Notes from us a notice advising such purchaser that resales of the Notes are restricted as stated herein.
3. We understand that, on any proposed resale of any Notes, we will be required to furnish to the Trustee and the Company such certification, legal opinions and other information as the Trustee and the Company may reasonably require to confirm that the proposed sale complies with the foregoing restrictions. We further understand that the Notes purchased by us shall bear a legend to the foregoing effect.
4. We are an institutional “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act) and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Notes, and we and any accounts for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risk of our or their investment, as the case may be.
5. We are acquiring the Notes purchased by us for our account or for one or more accounts (each of which is an institutional “accredited investor”) as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion, and we are not acquiring the Notes with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act.
6. The principal amount of the Notes to which this Certificate relates is $ .
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.
Very truly yours, | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
B-2
Exhibit C
Form of Certificate
to Be
Delivered in Connection with
Transfers Pursuant to Regulation S
[Date]
The AES Corporation
4300 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22203
Attention: Legal Department
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
c/o DB Services Americas, Inc.
5022 Gate Parkway, Suite 200
Jacksonville, Forida 32256
Attn: Transfer Department
Facsimile: 615-866-3889
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Trust and Agency Services
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
Mail Stop: NYC60 - 2405
New York, New York 10005
Attn: Corporates Team, AES Corporation SF2260
Facsimile: (732) 578-4635
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Corporate, Municipal and Escrow Solutions
60 Wall Street, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10005
Attention:
Re: |
The AES Corporation
[1.375% Senior Notes due 2026] [2.450% Senior Notes due 2031] (the “Notes”) |
In connection with our proposed sale of $ aggregate principal amount of the Notes, we confirm that such sale has been effected pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and, accordingly, we represent that:
1. the offer of the Notes was not made to a person in the United States;
C-1
2. either (a) at the time the buy offer was originated, the transferee was outside the United States or we and any person acting on our behalf reasonably believed that the transferee was outside the United States, or (b) the transaction was executed in, on or through the facilities of a designated off-shore securities market and neither we nor any person acting on our behalf knows that the transaction has been pre-arranged with a buyer in the United States;
3. no directed selling efforts have been made in the United States in contravention of the requirements of Rule 903(b) or Rule 904(b) of Regulation S, as applicable;
4. the transaction is not part of a plan or scheme to evade the registration requirements of the Securities Act; and
5. we have advised the transferee of the transfer restrictions applicable to the Notes.
C-2
You and the Company are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceedings or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby. Terms used in this certificate have the meanings set forth in Regulation S.
Very truly yours, | ||
[Name of Transferor] | ||
By: | ||
Authorized Signature | ||
C-3
Exhibit 4.4
Registration Rights Agreement
Dated as of December 4, 2020
between
THE AES CORPORATION
and
BofA Securities, Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
As Representatives of the Initial Purchasers
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into this 4th day of December, 2020 between The AES Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Mizuho Trust & Banking Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the initial purchasers named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”).
This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, dated November 19, 2020 among the Company and the Representatives (the “Purchase Agreement”), which provides for the sale by the Company to the Initial Purchasers of an aggregate of $800,000,000 principal amount of the Company’s 1.375% Senior Notes Due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) and $1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 2.450% Senior Notes Due 2031 (the “2031 Notes” and together with the 2026 Notes, the “Securities”). In order to induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement. The execution of this Agreement is a condition to the closing under the Purchase Agreement.
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
“1933 Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
“1934 Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of l934, as amended from time to time.
“Additional Interest” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Business Day” shall mean any day except (i) a Saturday, Sunday or other day in The City of New York on which banks are required or authorized to close or (ii) any other day on which the SEC is closed.
“Closing Date” shall mean December 4, 2020, the date the Securities were originally issued.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Company’s successors.
“Depositary” shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other depositary appointed by the Company, provided, however, that such depositary must have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in the City of New York.
“Effectiveness Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) herein.
“Exchange Offer” shall mean the offer by the Company to exchange the Exchange Securities for Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration” shall mean a registration under the 1933 Act effected pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean an exchange offer registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein.
“Exchange Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Exchange Securities” shall mean the 1.375% Senior Notes Due 2026 and the 2.450% Senior Notes Due 2031 issued by the Company under the Indenture containing terms identical to the Securities in all material respects (except that the additional interest rate, restrictions on transfers and restrictive legends shall be eliminated), to be offered to Holders of Securities in exchange for Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
“Holder” shall mean an Initial Purchaser, for so long as it owns any Registrable Securities, and each of its successors, assigns and direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable Securities under the Indenture and each Participating Broker-Dealer that holds Exchange Securities for so long as such Participating Broker-Dealer is required to deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.
“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of December 8, 1998, between the Company and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as successor to Bank One National Association (formerly known as The First National Bank of Chicago), as trustee, as the same has been or may be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
“Initial Purchaser” “or “Initial Purchasers” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Issuer FWP” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i).
“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Registrable Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable Securities held by the Company or any Affiliate (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company shall be disregarded in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage amount.
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“Participating Broker-Dealer” shall mean each of the Initial Purchasers and any other broker-dealer which makes a market in the Securities and exchanges Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer for Exchange Securities.
“Person” shall mean an individual, partnership (general or limited), corporation, limited liability company, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Private Exchange” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Private Exchange Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof.
“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including any such prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and in each case including all materials incorporated by reference therein.
“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, that Securities and, if issued, the Private Exchange Securities, shall cease to be Registrable Securities (i) when a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities or Private Exchange Securities shall have become or been declared effective under the 1933 Act and such Securities or Private Exchange Securities shall have been disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) when such Securities or Private Exchange Securities have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule l44 (or any similar provision then in force, but not Rule 144(A)) under the 1933 Act, (iii) when such Securities or Private Exchange Securities shall have ceased to be outstanding or (iv) when the Exchange Offer is consummated (except in the case of Securities and Private Exchange Securities purchased from the Company and continued to be held by the Initial Purchasers).
“Registration Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
“Registration Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including without limitation: (i) all SEC registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws in connection with blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities and any filings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, (iii) all expenses of the Company in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendments or supplements thereto, and other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, incurred by the Company, if any, (v) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits required by or incident to such performance and compliance, (vi) the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of the Trustee, and any escrow agent or custodian, (vii) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one firm special counsel representing the Holders of Registrable Securities and (viii) the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with any Registration Statement, but excluding any transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Registrable Securities by a Holder.
-3-
“Registration Statement” shall mean any registration statement of the Company which covers any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all materials incorporated by reference therein.
“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency or government body performing the functions currently performed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof.
“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of this Agreement which covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the Private Exchange Securities on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all materials incorporated by reference therein.
“Suspension Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.
“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.
2. Registration Under the 1933 Act.
2.1 Exchange Offer. Unless the Exchange Offer shall not be permissible under applicable law or SEC policy, prior to the 365th calendar day following the Closing Date the Company shall, for the benefit of the Holders, at the Company’s cost, use its commercially reasonable efforts to, (A) prepare and file with the SEC, an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an appropriate form under the 1933 Act with respect to a proposed Exchange Offer and the issuance and delivery to the Holders, in exchange for the Securities (other than Private Exchange Securities), of a like principal amount of Exchange Securities, (B) cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become or be declared effective under the 1933 Act, (C) keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective until the closing of the Exchange Offer and (D) cause the Exchange Offer to be consummated on or prior to the 425th calendar day following the Closing Date. Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and electing to exchange Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder (a) is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, (b) is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable Securities acquired directly from the Company for its own account, (c) acquired the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business and (d) has no arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) to transfer such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the 1933 Act and under state securities or blue sky laws.
-4-
In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company shall:
(a) mail as promptly as practicable after the commencement of the Exchange Offer to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;
(b) keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not less than 20 calendar days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein as the “Exchange Period”);
(c) utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;
(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the expiration of the Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of such Holder, the principal amount of Securities delivered for exchange, and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing such Holder’s election to have such Securities exchanged;
(e) notify each Holder that any Security not tendered will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest, but will not retain any rights under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and
(f) otherwise comply in all material respects with all applicable laws relating to the Exchange Offer.
If, prior to consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Initial Purchasers hold any Securities acquired by them and having the status of an unsold allotment in the initial distribution, the Company upon the request of any Initial Purchaser shall, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer, issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser in exchange (the “Private Exchange”) for the Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities of the Company on a senior basis, that are identical (except that such securities shall bear appropriate transfer restrictions) to the Exchange Securities (the “Private Exchange Securities”).
The Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities shall be issued under (i) the Indenture or (ii) an indenture identical in all material respects to the Indenture and which, in either case, has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), or is exempt from such qualification and shall provide that the Exchange Securities shall not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture but that the Private Exchange Securities shall be subject to such transfer restrictions. The Indenture or such indenture shall provide that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Securities shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class of securities under the Indenture and that none of the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities or the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter under the Indenture. If the customary procedures of the Depositary and the CUSIP Bureau allow, the Private Exchange Securities shall be of the same series as and the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have the Private Exchange Securities bear the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities. The Company shall not have any liability under this Agreement solely as a result of such Private Exchange Securities not bearing the same CUSIP number as the Exchange Securities.
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As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer and/or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:
(i) accept for exchange all Registrable Securities duly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and the letter of transmittal which shall be an exhibit thereto;
(ii) accept for exchange all Securities properly tendered pursuant to the Private Exchange;
(iii) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange; and
(iv) cause the Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, to each Holder of Registrable Securities so accepted for exchange in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registrable Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.
Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security will accrue from the last date on which interest was paid on the Registrable Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Registrable Securities, from the Closing Date. The Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange shall not be subject to any conditions, other than (i) that the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, or the making of any exchange by a Holder, does not violate applicable law, rule or regulation or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, (ii) the due tendering of Registrable Securities in accordance with the Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange, (iii) that each Holder of Registrable Securities exchanged in the Exchange Offer shall have represented that (A) it is not an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) of the Company or, if it is such an affiliate, it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act, to the extent applicable; (B) all Exchange Securities to be received by it shall be acquired in the ordinary course of its business and that at the time of the consummation of the Exchange Offer it shall have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) of the Exchange Securities, (C) if such Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities, (D) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for the Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities and (E) shall have made such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to render the use of Form S-4 or other appropriate form under the 1933 Act available and (iv) that no action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange which, in the Company’s judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange. The Company shall inform the Initial Purchasers of the names and addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.
2.2 Shelf Registration. (i) If, because of any changes in law, SEC rules or regulations or applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the SEC, the Company is not permitted to effect the Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) if for any other reason the Exchange Offer is not consummated within 425 calendar days of the Closing Date, (iii) upon receipt of a request of any of the Initial Purchasers that they are not permitted under the applicable law or interpretations of the SEC to participate in the Exchange Offer or (iv) if and to the extent that a Holder is not permitted to participate in the Exchange Offer or does not receive fully tradable Exchange Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then in case of each of clauses (i) through (iv) the Company shall, at its cost, use commercially reasonable efforts to:
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(a) as promptly as practicable, and in any event on or prior to the 30th calendar day after such filing obligation arises, but in no event earlier than the 425th calendar day after the Closing Date, file with the SEC, a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by the Majority Holders participating in the Shelf Registration and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement;
(b) cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act on or prior to the 90th calendar day after such filing;
(c) keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for (i) a period of two years from the Closing Date, or (ii) for such shorter period that will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding or otherwise to be Registrable Securities (the “Effectiveness Period”); and
(d) notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that (i) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, 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 and (iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Shelf Registration Statement, and any supplement to such Prospectus (as amended or supplemented from time to time), does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that clauses (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph shall not apply to any information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Initial Purchasers or any Holder for inclusion therein.
Subject to the limitation set forth in the next succeeding paragraph and subject to the provisions of Section 3, the Company shall be entitled to suspend its obligation to file any amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement, furnish any supplement or amendment to a Prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement, make any other filing with the SEC, cause the Shelf Registration Statement or other filing with the SEC to remain effective or take any similar action (collectively, “Registration Actions”) upon (A) the issuance by the SEC of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of proceedings with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act (or successor provision), (B) the occurrence of any event or the existence of any fact as a result of which the Shelf Registration Statement would or shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or the related Prospectus would or shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any 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, or (C) the occurrence or existence of any corporate development that, in the discretion of the Company, makes it appropriate to postpone or suspend the availability of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related Prospectus, it being understood that the Company may not invoke this clause C for the purpose of avoiding its obligations under this Agreement. Upon the occurrence of any of the conditions described in (A), (B) or (C) above, the Company shall give prompt notice (a “Suspension Notice”) thereof to the Holders. Upon the termination of such condition, the Company shall give prompt notice thereof to the Holders and shall promptly proceed with all Registration Actions that were suspended pursuant to this paragraph and comply as promptly as practicable with the requirements of Section 3(1) hereof, if applicable.
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The Company may suspend Registration Actions pursuant to the preceding paragraph for one or more periods (each, a “Suspension Period”) not to exceed, in the aggregate, 120 days in any twelve month period, during which no Additional Interest (as defined in Section 2.5) shall be payable. If one or more Suspension Periods exceed 120 days in any twelve month period, then Additional Interest will begin to accrue on the 121st day until such Registration Default is cured. Each Suspension Period shall be deemed to begin on the date the relevant Suspension Notice is given to the Holders and shall end on the date on which the Company gives the Holders a notice that the Suspension Period has terminated. The Company shall extend the Effectiveness Period (or the period during which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled to use the Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in connection with the resale of the Exchange Securities described in Section 3(f) below) by the total number of days during which a Suspension Period was in effect, so long as there are Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the foregoing, the Company shall at all times use its reasonable best efforts to end any Suspension Period at the earliest possible time.
The Company further agrees, if necessary, to supplement or amend the Shelf Registration Statement, as required by Section 3(b) below, and to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.
2.3 Expenses. The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2. Each Holder shall pay all transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
2.4 Effectiveness.
(a) Other than with respect to a Suspension Period, the Company will be deemed not to have used its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be, to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite period if the Company voluntarily takes any action that would, or omits to take any action which omission would, result in any such Registration Statement not becoming or being declared effective or in the Holders of Registrable Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such Registrable Securities during that period as and to the extent contemplated hereby, unless such action is required by applicable law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree.
(b) An Exchange Offer Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof or a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless either it has been declared effective by the SEC or it automatically becomes effective pursuant to the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that if, after it has become or been declared effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement will be deemed not to have become effective during the period of such interference, until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement may legally resume.
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2.5 Interest. If either (i) the Exchange Offer is not consummated on or prior to the 425th calendar day following the Closing Date, (ii) a Shelf Registration Statement applicable to the Registrable Securities, if required, is not filed or declared effective when required, or (iii) a Registration Statement applicable to the Securities is declared effective as required but thereafter fails to remain effective or usable in connection with resales for more than 120 calendar days in the aggregate in any twelve month period (each such event referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) above, a “Registration Default”), the interest rate borne by such Registrable Securities shall be increased (“Additional Interest”) by one-quarter of one percent per annum upon the occurrence of each Registration Default, which rate will increase by one quarter of one percent each 90-day period that such Additional Interest continues to accrue under any such circumstance, provided that the maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate will in no event exceed half of one percent (0.50%) per annum. Following the cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of Additional Interest on such Registrable Securities will cease and the interest rate will revert to the original rate.
Subject to the Company’s ability to declare Suspension Periods, if the Shelf Registration Statement is unusable by the Holders for any reason, and the aggregate number of days in any consecutive twelve-month period for which the Shelf Registration Statement shall not be usable exceeds 90 days in the aggregate, then the interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities will be increased by 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Registrable Securities for the first 90-day period (or portion thereof) beginning on the 91st such date that such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be usable, which rate shall be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Registrable Securities at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period, provided that the maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate will in no event exceed half of one percent (0.50%) per annum. Any amounts payable under this paragraph shall also be deemed “Additional Interest” for purposes of this Agreement. Upon the Shelf Registration Statement once again becoming usable, the interest rate borne by the Registrable Securities will be reduced to the original interest rate if the Company is otherwise in compliance with this Agreement at such time.
Additional Interest shall be computed based on the actual number of days elapsed in each 90-day period in which the Shelf Registration Statement is unusable.
The Company shall notify the Trustee within five business days after each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which Additional Interest is required to be paid (an “Event Date”). Additional Interest shall be paid by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of Registrable Securities, on or before the applicable semiannual interest payment date, immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the Additional Interest then due. The Additional Interest due shall be payable on each interest payment date to the record Holder of Registrable Securities entitled to receive the interest payment to be paid on such date as set forth in the Indenture. Each obligation to pay Additional Interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the day following the applicable Event Date.
3. Registration Procedures.
In connection with the obligations of the Company with respect to Registration Statements pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof, the Company shall, subject to the rights of the Company to invoke and maintain a Suspension Period in accordance with Section 2.2 without being in violation of any of the provisions hereunder:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement, within the relevant time period specified in Section 2, on the appropriate form under the 1933 Act, which form (i) shall be selected by the Company, (ii) shall, in the case of a Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable Securities by the selling Holders thereof, (iii) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include or incorporate by reference all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein, and (iv) shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Regulation S-T under the 1933 Act, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with Section 2 hereof;
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(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period (subject to Company’s ability to declare Suspension Periods) and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in force) under the 1933 Act and comply during the Effectiveness Period with the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder required to enable the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement in accordance with the intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders thereof (including sales by any Participating Broker-Dealer);
(c) in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities of the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities; (ii) furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, electronic copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto and such other documents as such Holder may reasonably request, including financial statements and schedules and, if the Holder so requests, all exhibits in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;
(d) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement becomes or is declared effective by the SEC, and do any and all other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each such Holder to consummate the disposition in each such jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(e) notify as promptly as practicable each Holder of Registrable Securities under a Shelf Registration or any Participating Broker-Dealer who has notified the Company that it is utilizing the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as provided in paragraph (f) below and, if requested by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer, confirm such advice in writing promptly (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments thereto become effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for post-effective amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts during the period a Shelf Registration Statement is effective which makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, provided, however, that no notice by the Company shall be required pursuant to this clause (v) in the event that the Company either promptly files a Prospectus supplement to update the Prospectus or a Form 8-K or other appropriate Exchange Act report that is incorporated by reference into such Registration Statement, which, in either case, contains the requisite information with respect to such event or facts that results in such Registration Statement no longer containing any untrue statement of material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading, (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities, as the case may be, for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and (vii) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to such Registration Statement would be appropriate, other than post-effective amendment solely to add selling Holders;
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(f) in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled “Plan of Distribution” which section shall be reasonably acceptable to the Representatives on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential “underwriter” status of any broker-dealer that holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that will be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act) of Exchange Securities to be received by such broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives on behalf of the Participating Broker-Dealers and its counsel, represent the prevailing views of the staff of the SEC, including a statement that any such broker-dealer who receives Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter and must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (ii) furnish to each Participating Broker-Dealer, without charge, electronic copies of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably request for a period not to exceed 90 days after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, (iii) hereby consent to the use of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto, by any Person subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the SEC, including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the sale or transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, and (iv) include in the transmittal letter or similar documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:
“If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the 1933 Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Securities received in respect of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer;” and
(y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act;
(g) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement as soon as practicable;
(h) in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each Holder of Registrable Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules (without documents incorporated therein by reference and all exhibits thereto, unless requested);
(i) if electronic global certificates for the Registrable Securities are not then available, cooperate with the selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends (other than as required by applicable law); and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) and registered in such names as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least three business days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable Securities;
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(j) in the case of a Shelf Registration, upon the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any facts, each as contemplated by Sections 3(e)(ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) hereof and subject to the Company’s ability to declare Suspension Periods, as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable Securities or Participating Broker-Dealers, such Prospectus will not contain at the time of such delivery any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. At such time as such public disclosure is otherwise made or the Company determines that such disclosure is not necessary, in each case, to correct any misstatement of a material fact or to include any omitted material fact, the Company agrees promptly to notify each Holder Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement of such determination and to furnish each Holder such number of copies of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as such Holder may reasonably request;
(k) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to a Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus (except for any document filed under the 1934 Act and which is to be incorporated by reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus, and except for amendments and supplements that are filed solely to name selling Holders) after initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders; and make representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, or the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders, available for discussion of such document;
(l) obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Securities, Private Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for the Exchange Securities, Private Exchange Securities or the Registrable Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with the Depositary;
(m) (i) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the TIA in connection with the registration of the Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, (ii) cooperate with the Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and (iii) execute, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner;
(n) in the case of a Shelf Registration or if a Prospectus is required to be delivered by any Participating Broker-Dealer in the case of an Exchange Offer, make available for inspection during business hours by representatives of the Holders of the Registrable Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and one legal firm counsel or accountant retained by any of the foregoing, all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents of the Company reasonably requested by any such persons, and cause the respective officers, directors, employees, and any other agents of the Company to supply all information reasonably requested by any such representative, special counsel or accountant in connection with a Registration Statement, and make such representatives of the Company available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers;
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(o) (i) in the case of an Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a reasonable time prior to the filing of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to an Exchange Offer Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, provide electronic copies of such document to the Initial Purchasers and to counsel to the Initial Purchasers and make such changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers may reasonably request, and make the representatives of the Company available for discussion of such documents as shall be reasonably requested by the Initial Purchasers;
(ii) in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time prior to filing any Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus forming a part thereof, any amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to such Prospectus (except for amendments and supplements that are filed solely to name selling Holders), provide electronic copies of such document to the Holders of Registrable Securities, to the Initial Purchasers and to counsel for the Holders, if any, make such changes in any such document prior to the filing thereof as the Initial Purchasers or the counsel to the Holders reasonably request, and make the representatives of the Company available for discussion of such document as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities, the Initial Purchasers on behalf of such Holders or counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities; and
(p) otherwise comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement covering at least 12 months which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 thereunder.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may (as a condition to such Holder’s participation in the Shelf Registration) require each Holder of Registrable Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the proposed distribution by such Holder of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
In the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event or the discovery of any facts, each of the kind described in Section 3(e)(ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) and (vii) hereof or a Suspension Period, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(l) hereof, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company (at its expense) all copies in such Holder’s possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holder’s possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
4. Indemnification; Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Initial Purchasers, each Holder, each Participating Broker-Dealer, and each Person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
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(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Preliminary Prospectus or “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 (“Issuer FWP”) of the 1933 Act, relating to a Shelf Registration, pursuant to which Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities were registered under the 1933 Act, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 4(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel chosen by any indemnified party), reasonably incurred and documented in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under subparagraph (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Preliminary Prospectus or Issuer FWP.
(b) Each Holder severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Initial Purchasers, and the other selling Holders, and each of their respective directors and officers, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company, the Initial Purchasers, or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof, as incurred and documented, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in any Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), any Prospectus included therein (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or in any Preliminary Prospectus or Issuer FWP in reliance upon and in conformity with written information with respect to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for use therein; provided, however, that no such Holder shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto).
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(c) Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action or proceeding commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of the indemnity agreement in this Section 4. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying party or parties be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 4(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 45 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 4 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders and the Initial Purchasers on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Holders or the Initial Purchasers and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
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The Company, the Holders and the Initial Purchasers agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Initial Purchasers 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 Section 4. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 4 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, no Initial Purchaser shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities sold by it were offered exceeds the amount of any damages which such Initial Purchaser 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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 4, each Person, if any, who controls an Initial Purchaser or Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to indemnification and contribution as such Initial Purchaser or Holder, and each officer and director of the Company, and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Initial Purchasers’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 4 are several in proportion to the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A to the Purchase Agreement and not joint.
5. Miscellaneous.
5.1 Rule 144 and Rule 144A. If the Company ceases to be so required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company covenants that it will upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly available such information as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, (b) deliver such information to a prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A under the 1933 Act and it will take such further action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, and (c) take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its Registrable Securities without registration under the 1933 Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC.
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5.2 No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not entered into and the Company will not after the date of this Agreement enter into any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof. The rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not and will not for the term of this Agreement in any way conflict with the rights granted to the holders of the Company’s other issued and outstanding securities under any such agreements.
5.3 Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure.
5.4 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.4, which address initially is the address set forth in the Purchase Agreement with respect to the Initial Purchasers; and (b) if to the Company, initially at the Company’s address set forth in the Purchase Agreement, and thereafter at such other address of which notice is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.4.
All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; two business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the person giving the same to the Trustee under the Indenture, at the address specified in such Indenture.
5.5 Successor and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, assigns and transferees of each of the parties, including, without limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders; provided that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture. If any transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding such Registrable Securities such person shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement, including the restrictions on resale set forth in this Agreement, the Indenture and, if applicable, the Purchase Agreement, and such person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.
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5.6 Third Party Beneficiaries. The Initial Purchasers (even if the Initial Purchasers are not Holders of Registrable Securities) shall be third party beneficiaries to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent they deem such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect their rights or the rights of Holders hereunder. Each Holder of Registrable Securities shall be a third party beneficiary to the agreements made hereunder between the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, and shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights hereunder.
5.7 Restriction on Resales. Until the expiration of one year after the original issuance of the Securities, the Company will not, and will cause its “affiliates” (as such term is defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the 1933 Act) not to, resell any Securities which are “restricted securities” (as such term is defined under Rule 144(a)(3) under the 1933 Act) that have been reacquired by any of them and shall immediately upon any purchase of any such Securities submit such Securities to the Trustee for cancellation.
5.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
5.9 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
5.10 GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT ANDY ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICT OF LAWS THEREOF.
5.11 Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
THE AES CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ John Haberl | |
Name: | John Haberl | |
Title: | Assistant Treasurer |
Confirmed and accepted
as
of the date first above
written:
BOFA SECURITIES, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Kevin Wehler | |
Name: | Kevin Wehler | |
Title: | Managing Director |
BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Robert Stowe | |
Name: | Robert Stowe | |
Title: | Managing Director |
MIZUHO SECURITIES USA LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Scott Trachsel | |
Name: | Scott Trachsel | |
Title: | Managing Director |
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Ian Drewe | |
Name: | Ian Drewe | |
Title: | Executive Director |
For themselves and the other several Initial Purchasers named in Schedule I hereto
Schedule I
BofA Securities, Inc.
Barclays Capital Inc.
Mizuho Securities USA LLC
Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
MUFG Securities Americas Inc.
Santander Investment Securities Inc.
SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.
Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.
HSBC Securities (USA) Inc.
Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.
Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
SG Americas Securities, LLC
BMO Capital Markets Corp.
Evercore Group L.L.C.
WR Securities, LLC
Exhibit 99.1
Press Release
Investor Contact: Ahmed Pasha 703-682-6451
Media Contact: Amy Ackerman 703-682-6399
AES Announces Early Results of Tender Offers and Consent Solicitations for Any and All of Its Outstanding 5.500% Senior Notes Due 2025, 6.000% Senior Notes Due 2026, and 5.125% Senior Notes Due 2027
ARLINGTON, Va., December 4, 2020 – The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) (“AES” or the “Company”) announced today the early tender results of its previously announced offers to purchase (the “Tender Offers” and each, a “Tender Offer”) for cash, subject to certain terms and conditions, any and all of its of its outstanding 5.500% senior notes due 2025, 6.000% senior notes due 2026, and 5.125% senior notes due 2027 (collectively, the “Securities”).
In conjunction with the Tender Offers, the Company also commenced solicitations of consents (the “Consent Solicitations”) to amend each series of Securities and the related supplemental indentures under which they were issued to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and events of default, and to shorten the minimum notice requirements for optional redemption with respect to the Securities from thirty days to three business days. The Tender Offers and Consent Solicitations (collectively, the “Offers”) are being made pursuant to the Company’s Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement (the “Offer to Purchase”), dated November 19, 2020, which set forth a more detailed description of the terms of the Offers. The Tender Offers will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 17, 2020, unless extended or earlier terminated by AES (as the same may be extended, the “Expiration Date”).
According to information received from Global Bondholder Services Corporation (“GBSC”), the Depositary and Information Agent for the Offers, as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 3, 2020 (the “Early Tender Date”), the Company had received valid tenders and related consents from Holders of the Securities as outlined in the table below.
Title of Security |
CUSIP Number |
Principal Amount Outstanding |
Aggregate Principal Amount Tendered |
% Tendered |
5.500% Senior Notes due 2025 | 00130H BW4 | $544,000,000 | $436,334,000 | 80.21% |
6.000% Senior Notes due 2026 | 00130H BX2 | $500,000,000 | $400,806,000 | 80.16% |
5.125% Senior Notes due 2027 | 00130H BY0 | $500,000,000 | $458,254,000 | 91.65% |
The Early Settlement Date for Securities tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase is expected to occur on December 7, 2020, but may change at AES’ option and is subject to all conditions to the Tender Offers having been satisfied or waived by AES. Holders that tendered Securities at or prior to the Early Tender Date and whose Securities are accepted for payment will be entitled to receive the Total Consideration, which includes the Early Tender Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Settlement Date. Holders who validly tender their Securities after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to the Expiration Date will be entitled to receive only the tender offer consideration equal to the Total Consideration less the Early Tender Premium (the “Tender Offer Consideration”), plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Final Settlement Date, if and when such Securities are accepted for payment.
The Company’s Consent Solicitations sought consents from holders of each series of the Securities to amend each series of Securities and the related supplemental indentures under which they were issued to eliminate substantially all of the restrictive covenants and events of default in the indentures governing the Securities, and to shorten the minimum notice requirements for optional redemption with respect to the Securities from thirty days to three business days (the “Proposed Amendments”). Adoption of the Proposed Amendments required the consent of a majority of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of each series of Securities (the “Requisite Consents”). As of the Early Tender Date, the Company had received the Requisite Consents from holders of each series of the Securities. As a result of receiving the Requisite Consents, the Company expects to promptly enter into a supplemental indenture, effecting the Proposed Amendments, which is binding on all remaining holders of each series of the Securities.
Closing of the Offers is subject to the conditions described in the Offer to Purchase. However, the Financing Condition described in the Offer to Purchase was satisfied on December 4, 2020, upon AES’ consummation of the New Financing in the form of long-term senior debt securities in an aggregate principal amount of $1.8 billion. Full details of the terms and conditions of the Offers are set out in the Offer to Purchase, which are available from Global Bondholder Services Corporation. AES may amend, extend or, subject to applicable law, terminate the Offers at any time.
AES has retained BofA Securities Inc. to serve as the Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent for the Offers. Global Bondholder Services Corporation has been retained to serve as the Information and Depositary Agent for the Tender Offers. Questions regarding the Tender Offers may be directed to BofA Securities Inc. at Attn: Debt Advisory, 620 South Tryon Street, 20th Floor Charlotte, NC 28255, All Call: (980) 387-3907. Email: debt_advisory@bofa.com. Requests for the Offer to Purchase may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation at 65 Broadway – Suite 404, New York, New York 10006, Attn: Corporate Actions, (212) 430-3774 (for banks and brokers) or (866) 470-4200 (for all others).
AES is making the Offers only by, and pursuant to, the terms of the Offer to Purchase. None of AES, the Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent, the Information Agent and Tender Agent make any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender or refrain from tendering their Securities. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender Securities and, if so, the principal amount of the Securities to tender. The Offers are not being made to holders of Securities in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the securities laws or blue sky laws require the Offers to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offers will be deemed to be made on behalf of AES by the Dealer Manager and Solicitation Agent, or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
This press release does not constitute an offer to purchase securities or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase any new securities, including in connection with the New Debt Financing, nor does it constitute an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. Capitalized terms used in this press release but not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Offer to Purchase.
About AES
The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a Fortune 500 global energy company accelerating the future of energy. Together with our many stakeholders, we’re improving lives by delivering the greener, smarter energy solutions the world needs. Our diverse workforce is committed to continuous innovation and operational excellence, while partnering with our customers on their strategic energy transitions and continuing to meet their energy needs today. For more information, visit www.aes.com.
Safe Harbor Disclosure
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are not intended to be a guarantee of future results, but instead constitute AES’ current expectations based on reasonable assumptions.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in AES’ forward-looking statements due to risks, uncertainties and other factors. Important factors that could affect actual results are discussed in the Offer Materials related to the Offer and in AES’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including, but not limited to, the risks discussed under Item 1A: “Risk Factors” and Item 7: “Management’s Discussion & Analysis” in AES’ 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Readers are encouraged to read AES’ filings to learn more about the risk factors associated with AES’ business. AES undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Any Stockholder who desires a copy of AES’ 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 27, 2020 with the SEC may obtain a copy (excluding Exhibits) without charge by addressing a request to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, The AES Corporation, 4300 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Exhibits also may be requested, but a charge equal to the reproduction cost thereof will be made. A copy of the Form 10-K may be obtained by visiting AES’ website at www.aes.com.
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