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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):  April 29, 2020 (April 23, 2020)

 

EQT CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Pennsylvania   001-3551   25-0464690
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification Number)

 

625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(412) 553-5700

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨       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, no par value   EQT   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.

 

Purchase Agreement

 

On April 23, 2020, EQT Corporation (EQT) entered into a purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several purchasers named therein (collectively, the Initial Purchasers), to issue and sell $440.0 million aggregate principal amount of EQT’s 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the Notes) in a private offering (the Offering) to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). In addition, EQT granted the Initial Purchasers a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional $60.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes on the same terms and conditions, which option was exercised in full on April 24, 2020.

 

The Purchase Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants by EQT and the Initial Purchasers and customary closing conditions. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the parties have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

On April 28, 2020, EQT completed its sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes to the Initial Purchasers. The proceeds from the Offering were approximately $486.3 million, after deducting the Initial Purchaser’s discounts and commissions, and the net proceeds from the Offering were approximately $483.2 million, after deducting such discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by EQT in connection with the Offering. EQT used $32.5 million of the net proceeds from the Offering to pay the cost of the Capped Call Transactions (as defined below) and $450.0 million of the net proceeds to repay a portion of its term loan facility borrowings. EQT intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds to repay or redeem other outstanding indebtedness and/or for general corporate purposes.

 

The Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the Initial Purchasers and their respective affiliates have engaged, and may in the future engage, in investment banking, commercial banking, and other financial advisory and commercial dealings with EQT and its affiliates. Certain of the Initial Purchasers or their respective affiliates may be holders of the indebtedness repaid or redeemed with the net proceeds of the Offering and, accordingly, may receive a portion of the net proceeds of the Offering upon repayment or redemption of such debt. In addition, certain of the Initial Purchasers and/or their respective affiliates are parties to the Capped Call Transactions and, accordingly, received a portion of the net proceeds of the Offering which were used to pay the cost of the Capped Call Transactions.

 

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

The Purchase Agreement and the above description have been included to provide investors and security holders with information regarding the terms of the Purchase Agreement. They are not intended to provide any other factual information about EQT or its subsidiaries or affiliates or equity holders. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement were made only for purposes of that agreement and as of specific dates; were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Purchase Agreement; and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made by each contracting party to the other as a way of allocating contractual risk between them that differ from those applicable to investors. Moreover, the subject matter of the representations and warranties are subject to more recent developments. Accordingly, investors should be aware that these representations, warranties and covenants or any description thereof alone may not describe the actual state of affairs of EQT or its subsidiaries, affiliates, businesses or equity holders as of the date they were made or at any other time.

  

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Indenture

 

On April 28, 2020, the Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture (the Indenture), by and between EQT and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of EQT and will mature on May 1, 2026, unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted. The Notes bear interest from April 28, 2020 at a rate of 1.75% per year payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2020.

 

The Notes are convertible at the option of the holders of the Notes at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding February 1, 2026, only under the following circumstances: (1) during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price of EQT’s common stock, no par value (the Common Stock), for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price on each applicable trading day; (2) during the five business day period after any five consecutive trading day period (the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price of the Common Stock and the conversion rate for the Notes on each such trading day; (3) if EQT calls any or all of the Notes for redemption, at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the redemption date; and (4) upon the occurrence of specified corporate events as set forth in the Indenture. On or after February 1, 2026, holders of the Notes may convert their Notes at their option at any time until the close of business on the second scheduled trading date immediately preceding the maturity date. Upon conversion of a Note, EQT may satisfy its conversion obligation by paying and/or delivering, as the case may be, cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, at EQT’s election, in the manner and subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Indenture. The conversion rate for the Notes is initially 66.6667 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of $15.00 per share of Common Stock. The initial conversion price of the Notes represents a premium of 20% to the $12.50 per share closing price of the Common Stock on April 23, 2020. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment under certain circumstances in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the maturity date or if EQT delivers a notice of redemption, EQT will, in certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Notes in connection with such a corporate event or notice of redemption, as the case may be.

 

EQT may not redeem the Notes prior to May 5, 2023. On or after May 5, 2023 and prior to February 1, 2026, EQT may redeem for cash all or any portion of the Notes, at its option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date, if the last reported sale price per share of Common Stock has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive), including the trading day immediately preceding the date on which EQT provides notice of redemption, during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which EQT provides notice of redemption. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes.

 

If EQT undergoes a Fundamental Change (as defined in the Indenture), holders of the Notes may require EQT to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes at purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the repurchase date.

 

The Indenture includes customary covenants and sets forth certain events of default after which the Notes may be declared immediately due and payable and sets forth certain types of bankruptcy or insolvency events of default involving EQT after which the Notes become automatically due and payable.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Indenture and the Notes are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Indenture and the form of Note, copies of which are filed herewith as Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2, respectively, and are incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

  

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Capped Call Transactions

 

On April 23, 2020, in connection with the pricing of the Notes, and on April 24, 2020, in connection with the Initial Purchasers’ exercise in full of their option to purchase additional Notes, EQT entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (the Capped Call Transactions) with certain of the Initial Purchasers and/or their respective affiliates (the Option Counterparties). The Capped Call Transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially similar to those applicable to the conversion rate of the Notes, the number of shares of Common Stock initially underlying the Notes. The Capped Call Transactions are expected generally to reduce potential dilution to the Common Stock upon any conversion of Notes at maturity and/or offset any potential cash payments EQT is required to make in excess of the principal amount of such converted Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap. The cap price of the Capped Call Transactions will initially be $18.75 per share of Common Stock, which represents a premium of 50% over the last reported sale price of the Common Stock of $12.50 per share on April 23, 2020, and is subject to certain customary adjustments under the terms of the Capped Call Transactions.

 

The Capped Call Transactions are separate transactions entered into by EQT with each Option Counterparty, and are not part of the terms of the Notes and will not affect any holder’s rights under the Notes. Holders of the Notes will not have any rights with respect to the Capped Call Transactions.

 

The Option Counterparties and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the Option Counterparties and their respective affiliates have provided certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for EQT and its affiliates in the ordinary course of their business in the past and may do so in the future, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. The Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates are parties to the Purchase Agreement.

 

The foregoing description of the Capped Call Transactions is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Form of Capped Call Confirmation, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

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

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above with respect to the Notes and the Indenture is hereby incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference, insofar as it relates to the creation of a direct financial obligation.

 

Item 3.02. Unregistered Sale of Equity Securities.

 

The information set forth in Item 1.01 above is hereby incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference, insofar as it relates to the unregistered sale of equity securities of EQT.

 

EQT offered and sold the Notes to the Initial Purchasers in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, and the Notes were or will be resold by the Initial Purchasers to investors in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. EQT relied on these exemptions from registration based in part on representations made by the Initial Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement.

 

The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, if any, have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. A maximum of 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock are initially issuable upon conversion of the Notes, based on the initial maximum conversion rate of 80.0000 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is subject to anti-dilution adjustments as set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that any shares of Common Stock are issued upon conversion of the Notes, they will be issued in transactions anticipated to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 3(a)(9) thereof because no commission or other remuneration is expected to be paid in connection with conversion of the Notes and any resulting issuance of shares of Common Stock.

  

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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
4.1   Indenture, dated as of April 28, 2020, between EQT Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.
4.2   Form of 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (included in Exhibit 4.1).
10.1*   Purchase Agreement, dated April 23, 2020, by and among EQT Corporation and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representative of the several initial purchasers named in Schedule 1 attached thereto.
10.2   Form of Capped Call Confirmation.
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
  * Certain schedules and similar attachments have been omitted. EQT agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of any omitted schedule or attachment to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  EQT CORPORATION
     
Date:  April 29, 2020 By: /s/ William E. Jordan
  Name: William E. Jordan
  Title: Executive Vice President and General Counsel
     

  

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

Execution Version 

 

EQT CORPORATION
as Issuer

 

AND

 

The Bank of New York Mellon
as Trustee

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of April 28, 2020

 

1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  

  Page
   

Article 1

Definitions

 
   
Section 1.01 . Definitions 5
Section 1.02 . References to Interest 18
   

Article 2

Issue, Description, Execution, Registration and Exchange of Notes

 
   
Section 2.01 . Designation and Amount 18
Section 2.02 . Form of Notes 18
Section 2.03 . Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts 19
Section 2.04 . Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes 20
Section 2.05 . Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary 21
Section 2.06 . Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes 27
Section 2.07 . Temporary Notes 28
Section 2.08 . Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc. 28
Section 2.09 . CUSIP Numbers 29
Section 2.10 . Additional Notes; Purchases 29
Section 2.11 . Ranking 29
   

Article 3

Satisfaction and Discharge

 
   
Section 3.01 . Satisfaction and Discharge 30
   

Article 4

Particular Covenants of the Company

 
   
Section 4.01 . Payment of Principal, Settlement Amounts and Interest 30
Section 4.02 . Maintenance of Office or Agency 31
Section 4.03 . Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office 31
Section 4.04 . Provisions as to Paying Agent 31
Section 4.05 . [Reserved]. 33
Section 4.06 . Rule 144A Information Requirement; Reporting; and Additional Interest 33
Section 4.07 . Stay, Extension and Usury Laws 35
Section 4.08 . Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults 35
Section 4.09 . Further Instruments and Acts 35
Section 4.10 . No Rights as Stockholders 35

 

 

 

 

 

Article 5

[Reserved]

 
   

Article 6

Defaults and Remedies

 
   
Section 6.01 . Events of Default 36
Section 6.02 . Acceleration 37
Section 6.03 . Additional Interest 38
Section 6.04 . Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor 39
Section 6.05 . Application of Monies Collected by Trustee 41
Section 6.06 . Proceedings by Holders 41
Section 6.07 . Proceedings by Trustee 42
Section 6.08 . Remedies Cumulative and Continuing 42
Section 6.09 . Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders 42
Section 6.10 . Notice of Defaults 43
Section 6.11 . Undertaking to Pay Costs 43
   

Article 7

Concerning the Trustee

 
   
Section 7.01 . Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee 44
Section 7.02 . Certain Rights of the Trustee 45
Section 7.03 . No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. 47
Section 7.04 . Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes 47
Section 7.05 . Monies and Shares of Common Stock to Be Held in Trust 47
Section 7.06 . Compensation and Expenses of Trustee 47
Section 7.07 . [Reserved] 48
Section 7.08 . Eligibility of Trustee 48
Section 7.09 . Resignation or Removal of Trustee 48
Section 7.10 . Acceptance by Successor Trustee 49
Section 7.11 . Succession by Merger, Etc. 50
Section 7.12 . Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company 50
Section 7.13 . Conflicting Interests of Trustee 51
   

Article 8

Concerning the Holders

 
   
Section 8.01 . Action by Holders 51
Section 8.02 . Proof of Execution by Holders 51
Section 8.03 . Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners 51
Section 8.04 . Company-Owned Notes Disregarded. 52
Section 8.05 . Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound 52

 

2

 

 

Article 9

 [Reserved]

 
   

Article 10

Supplemental Indentures

 
   
Section 10.01 . Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 53
Section 10.02 . Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 54
Section 10.03 . Effect of Amendment, Supplement and Waiver 55
Section 10.04 . Notation on Notes 55
Section 10.05 . Evidence of Compliance of Amendment, Supplement or Waiver to Be Furnished to Trustee 56
   

Article 11

Consolidation, Merger and Sale

 
   
Section 11.01 . Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms 56
   

Article 12

Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors

 
   
Section 12.01 . Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations 57
   

Article 13

[Reserved]

 
   

Article 14

Conversion of Notes

 
   
Section 14.01 . Conversion Privilege 57
Section 14.02 . Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion 62
Section 14.03 . Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion in Connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption. 68
Section 14.04 . Adjustment of Conversion Rate 70
Section 14.05 . Adjustments of Prices 80
Section 14.06 . Shares to Be Fully Reserved 80
Section 14.07 . Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Common Stock 80
Section 14.08 . Certain Covenants 83
Section 14.09 . Responsibility of Trustee 83
Section 14.10 . Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions 84
Section 14.11 . Stockholder Rights Plans 84

 

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Article 15

Purchase of Notes at Option of Holders

 
   
Section 15.01 . Intentionally Omitted 85
Section 15.02 . Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change 85
Section 15.03 . Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice 88
Section 15.04 . Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price 89
Section 15.05 . Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes 89
   

Article 16

Redemption

 
   
Section 16.01 . Right of the Company to Redeem the Notes 90
Section 16.02 . Notice of Redemption 90
Section 16.03 . Payment of Notes Called for Redemption 92
Section 16.04 . Selection, Conversion and Transfer of Notes to be Redeemed in Part 92
Section 16.05 . Restrictions on Redemption. 93
Section 16.06 . Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Certain Notes Called for Redemption Surrendered for Conversion in Connection with a Redemption 93
   

Article 17

Miscellaneous Provisions

 
   
Section 17.01 . Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors 93
Section 17.02 . Official Acts by Successor Entity 93
Section 17.03 . Addresses for Notices, Etc. 93
Section 17.04 . Governing Law 94
Section 17.05 . Intentionally Omitted 94
Section 17.06 . Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee 94
Section 17.07 . Legal Holidays 95
Section 17.08 . No Security Interest Created 95
Section 17.09 . Benefits of Indenture 95
Section 17.10 . Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. 95
Section 17.11 . Authenticating Agent 95
Section 17.12 . Execution in Counterparts 96
Section 17.13 . Severability 97
Section 17.14 . Waiver of Jury Trial 97
Section 17.15 . Force Majeure 97
Section 17.16 . Calculations 97
Section 17.17 . U.S.A. Patriot Act 97
Section 17.18 . FATCA 98

 

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A Form of Note A-1
Exhibit B Form of Free Transferability Certificate B-1

  

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INDENTURE, dated as of April 28, 2020, between EQT Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation, as issuer (the “Company,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01), and The Bank of New York Mellon, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the “Trustee,” as more fully set forth in Section 1.01).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”), initially in an aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000, and in order to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture; and

 

WHEREAS, the form of note, the certificate of authentication to be borne by each Note, the Form of Notice of Conversion, the Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and the Form of Assignment and Transfer to be borne by the Notes are to be substantially in the forms hereinafter provided; and

 

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent, as provided in this Indenture, the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, and this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, have been done and performed, and the execution of this Indenture and the issuance hereunder of the Notes have in all respects been duly authorized.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

That in order to declare the terms and conditions upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes (except as otherwise provided below), as follows:

 

Article 1
Definitions

 

Section 1.01. Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. The terms defined in this Article include the plural as well as the singular.

 

Additional Interest” means all amounts, if any, payable pursuant to Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03, as applicable.

 

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Additional Shares” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(a).

 

Adequate Cash Conversion Provisions” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(d)(ii).

 

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

 

Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to a Depositary, as to any matter at any time, the policies and procedures of such Depositary, if any, that are applicable to such matter at such time.

 

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

 

Bid Solicitation Agent” means the Company or the Person appointed by the Company to solicit bids for the Trading Price of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.01(b)(i). The Company shall initially act as the Bid Solicitation Agent.

 

Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or a committee of such board duly authorized to act for it hereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

Capital Stock” means, for any entity, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) stock issued by that entity; provided that debt securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock shall not constitute Capital Stock prior to their conversion or exchange, as the case may be.

 

Cash Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).

 

Certificated Notes” means permanent certificated Notes in registered form issued in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

6

 

 

Clause A Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

Clause B Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

Clause C Distribution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

close of business” means 5:00 p.m. (New York City time).

 

Combination Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).

 

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

 

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

 

Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company, no par value per share, subject to Section 14.07.

 

Company” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture, and subject to the provisions of Article 11, shall include its successors.

 

Company Order” means a written order of the Company, signed by an Officer of the Company.

 

Conversion Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.02.

 

Conversion Consideration” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(j).

 

Conversion Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(c).

 

Conversion Obligation” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).

 

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

 

Conversion Rate” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(a).

 

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal designated office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 500 Ross Street, 12th Floor, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15262, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal 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).

 

7

 

 

Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, with respect to the Global Notes, or any successor entity thereto.

 

Daily Conversion Value” means, for each of the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Days during the relevant Observation Period, 1/25th of the product of (i) the Conversion Rate on such VWAP Trading Day and (ii) the Daily VWAP for such VWAP Trading Day.

 

Daily Measurement Value” shall have the meaning specified in the definition of “Daily Settlement Amount.”

 

Daily Settlement Amount,” for each of the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Days during the relevant Observation Period, shall consist of:

 

(a)            cash in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Specified Dollar Amount, if any, divided by 25 (such quotient, the “Daily Measurement Value”) and (ii) the Daily Conversion Value for such VWAP Trading Day; and

 

(b)            if the Daily Conversion Value on such VWAP Trading Day exceeds the Daily Measurement Value, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the difference between the Daily Conversion Value and the Daily Measurement Value, divided by (ii) the Daily VWAP for such VWAP Trading Day.

 

Daily VWAP” means, for each of the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Days during the relevant Observation Period, the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “EQT<equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such VWAP Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of Common Stock on such VWAP Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company). The “Daily VWAP” shall be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.

 

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

 

Defaulted Amounts” means any amounts on any Note (including, without limitation, the Redemption Price, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, principal and interest) that are payable but are not punctually paid or duly provided for.

 

Delisting” shall have the meaning specified in clause (d) of the definition of “Fundamental Change.”

 

Depositary” means, with respect to each Global Note, the Person specified in Section 2.05(b) as the Depositary with respect to such Notes, until a successor shall have been appointed and become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter, “Depositary” shall mean or include such successor.

 

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Designated Financial Institution” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(j).

 

Distributed Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

“effective date” means the first date on which shares of the Common Stock trade on the Relevant Stock Exchange, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

 

Effective Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c).

 

Event of Default” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

Ex-Dividend Date” means the first date on which shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive the issuance, dividend or distribution in question, from the Company or, if applicable, from the seller of Common Stock on such exchange or market (in the form of due bills or otherwise) as determined by such exchange or market.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Exchange Election” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(j).

 

Expiration Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(e).

 

Expiration Time” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(e).

 

Form of Assignment and Transfer” shall mean the “Form of Assignment and Transfer” attached as Attachment 3 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall mean the “Form of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” attached as Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

Form of Notice of Conversion” shall mean the “Form of Notice of Conversion” attached as Attachment 1 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

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

 

(a)            a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries and its and their respective employee benefit plans, (A) has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 (as in effect on the first date of issuance of the Notes) under the Exchange Act, of Common Stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Common Stock and (B) has filed a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing that an event described in clause (A) has occurred; provided, however, that a “person” or “group” shall not be deemed a beneficial owner of, or to own beneficially, any securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such “person” or “group” or any of their affiliates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange thereunder;

 

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(b)            the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than a change from no par value to par value, a change in par value or a change from par value to no par value, or changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which all of the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, or other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which all of the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof); or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated assets, taken as a whole, to any Person other than one of the Company’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clauses (A) or (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of the Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation, Permitted Limited Liability Company or Permitted Partnership or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (b);

 

(c)            the stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company (other than a liquidation or dissolution that will occur contemporaneously with a transaction described in clause (b)(B) above); or

 

(d)            the Common Stock (or other common stock underlying the Notes) ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) (any such event, a “Delisting”) and is not listed or quoted on one of The New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) within one Business Day of the Trading Day on which the applicable Delisting occurs;

 

provided, however, that a transaction or transactions described in clauses (a) or (b) above shall not constitute a Fundamental Change, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by the holders of the Company’s Common Stock, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made in respect of dissenters’ appraisal rights, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock that are listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Select Market or the NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions, and as a result of such transaction or transactions such consideration becomes the Reference Property for the Notes (subject to the provisions set forth in Section 14.02).

 

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Any event, transaction or series of related transactions that constitute a Fundamental Change under both clause (a) and clause (b) above shall be deemed to be a Fundamental Change solely under clause (b) above.

 

Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(c).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(b)(i).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 15.02(a).

 

Global Note” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(a).

 

Holder,” as applied to any Note, or other similar terms (but excluding the term “beneficial holder”), shall mean any person in whose name at the time a particular Note is registered on the Note Register. The registered Holder of a Note shall be treated as its owner for all purposes.

 

Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented.

 

Interest Payment Date” means May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2020.

 

Issue Date” means April 28, 2020.

 

Last Reported Sale Price” of the Common Stock (or any other security) on any date means:

 

(a)            the closing sale price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on such date as reported in composite transactions for the Relevant Stock Exchange;

 

(b)            if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not listed for trading on a Relevant Stock Exchange on such date, the last quoted bid price per share for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on such date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization; and

 

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(c)            if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not so quoted, the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices per share for the Common Stock on such date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose.

 

Make-Whole Fundamental Change” means any transaction or event that constitutes a Fundamental Change, after giving effect to any exceptions to or exclusions from the definition thereof, but without regard to the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof.

 

Make-Whole Fundamental Change Company Notice” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(b).

 

Market Disruption Event” means:

 

(a)            a failure by the Relevant Stock Exchange to open for trading during its regular trading session; or

 

(b)            the occurrence or existence prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Scheduled Trading Day for the Common Stock for more than one half-hour period in the aggregate during regular trading hours of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the Relevant Stock Exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock.

 

Maturity Date” means May 1, 2026.

 

Measurement Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.01(b)(i).

 

Note” or “Notes” shall have the meaning specified in the first paragraph of the recitals of this Indenture.

 

Note Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

 

Note Registrar” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05.

 

Notice of Conversion” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(b)(ii)(A).

 

Notice of Redemption” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(a).

 

Observation Period” with respect to any Note surrendered for conversion means:

 

(a)            subject to clause (b) of this definition, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs prior to February 1, 2026, the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the second VWAP Trading Day immediately succeeding such Conversion Date;

 

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(b)            if the relevant conversion date occurs on or after the Redemption Notice Date with respect to the Notes pursuant to Article 16 and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the relevant Redemption Date, the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the 26th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date; and

 

(c)            subject to clause (b) of this definition, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after February 1, 2026, the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the 26th Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date.

 

Offering Memorandum” means the preliminary offering memorandum dated April 23, 2020 relating to the offering and sale of the Notes, as supplemented by the related pricing term sheet.

 

Officer” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel, the Chief Accounting Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Vice President, any Executive Vice President, the Controller, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of such Person.

 

Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an Officer of the Company that meets the requirements of Section 17.06.

 

open of business” means 9:00 a.m. (New York City time).

 

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel which is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, that meets the requirements of Section 17.06, which opinion may contain customary exemptions and qualifications as to the matters set forth herein. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

outstanding,” when used with reference to Notes, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

 

(a)            Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee or accepted by the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)            Notes, or portions thereof, that have become due and payable and in respect of which monies in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent);

 

(c)            Notes that have been paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or Notes in lieu of which, or in substitution for which, other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Notes are held by protected purchasers in due course;

 

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(d)            Notes surrendered for purchase in accordance with Article 15 for which the Paying Agent holds money sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, in accordance with Section 15.04(b); and

 

(e)            Notes converted pursuant to Article 14 and required to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.08 and Notes otherwise required to be cancelled pursuant to Section 2.08.

 

Paying Agent” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.02.

 

Permitted Limited Liability Company” means a limited liability company that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Permitted Partnership” means a partnership that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

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

 

Physical Settlement” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a).

 

Predecessor Note” of any particular Note means every previous Note evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Note; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in lieu of or in exchange for a mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, lost, destroyed or stolen Note that it replaces.

 

Record Date” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of Common Stock have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors, statute, contract or otherwise).

 

Redemption” means the redemption of any Note by the Company pursuant to Article 16.

 

Redemption Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 16.02(a).

 

Redemption Notice Date” means, with respect to a Redemption, the date on which the Company sends the Notice of Redemption to the applicable Holders for such Redemption pursuant to Section 16.02(a).

 

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Redemption Price” means for any Note to be redeemed pursuant to Article 16, called for Redemption shall be 100% of the principal amount of such Note, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on such Note to, but not including, the Redemption Date; provided, however, that if the Redemption Date falls after a Regular Record Date and on or before the next Interest Payment Date, then (i) the Holder of such Note at the close of business on such Regular Record Date shall be entitled, notwithstanding such Redemption, to receive, on the relevant Interest Payment Date, the unpaid interest that would have accrued on such Note to, but not including, such Interest Payment Date; and (ii) the Redemption Price shall be the principal amount of such Note.

 

Redemption Reference Price” means, for any conversion of Notes in connection with a Redemption, the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices per share of the Common Stock over the five consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Notice Date.

 

Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

 

Regular Record Date,” with respect to any Interest Payment Date, shall mean the April 15 and October 15 (whether or not such day is a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

 

Relevant Stock Exchange” means The New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not then listed on The New York Stock Exchange, the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or any other security) is then listed.

 

Resale Restriction Termination Date” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

 

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

 

Restricted Securities” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

 

Rule 144” means Rule 144 as promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144A” means Rule 144A as promulgated under the Securities Act.

 

Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the Relevant Stock Exchange. If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Scheduled Trading Day” means a “Business Day.”

 

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Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Settlement Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 14.02(a)(iii).

 

Settlement Method” means, with respect to any conversion of Notes, Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement, as elected (or deemed to have been elected) by the Company.

 

Specified Corporate Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

 

Specified Dollar Amount” means, with respect to any conversion of Notes, the maximum cash amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes to be received upon conversion as specified by the Company (or deemed specified) in the notice specifying the Company’s chosen Settlement Method.

 

Spin-Off” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

Stock Price” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.03(c).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

 

(a)            any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors or comparable governing body of such Person (in the case of a limited liability company, the voting power to elect managers or otherwise control the actions of such limited liability company), is at the time owned or controlled, directly or through another Subsidiary, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

 

(b)            any partnership (1) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (2) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person.

 

Successor Company” shall have the meaning specified in Section 11.01(a)(i).

 

Trading Day” means a day on which:

 

(a)            trading in the Common Stock (or any other security for which a Last Reported Sale Price must be determined) generally occurs on the Relevant Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not then listed on a Relevant Stock Exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock (or such other security) is then traded; and

 

(b)            a Last Reported Sale Price for the Common Stock (or any other security for which a Last Reported Sale Price must be determined) is available on the Relevant Stock Exchange or such other market; provided, that, if the Common Stock (or such other security) is not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a “Business Day.”

 

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Trading Price” per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes on any date of determination means the average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained in writing by the Bid Solicitation Agent for $5,000,000 principal amount of Notes at approximately 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized securities dealers the Company selects for this purpose; provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent but two such bids are obtained, then the average of such two bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by the Bid Solicitation Agent, that one bid shall be used. If the Bid Solicitation Agent cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for $5,000,000 principal amount of Notes from a nationally recognized securities dealer, then the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on such day.

 

transfer” shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b).

 

Trigger Event” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, as it was in force at the date of execution of this Indenture.

 

Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

 

Unit of Reference Property” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.07(a).

 

Valuation Period” shall have the meaning specified in Section 14.04(c).

 

VWAP Trading Day” means a day on which:

 

(a)            there is no Market Disruption Event; and

 

(b)            trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on the Relevant Stock Exchange.

 

If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading on any Relevant Stock Exchange, “VWAP Trading Day” means a “Business Day.”

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person, 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

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Section 1.02. References to Interest . Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note in this Indenture shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to any of Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03. Unless the context otherwise requires, any express mention of Additional Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Article 2
Issue, Description, Execution, Registration and Exchange of Notes

 

Section 2.01. Designation and Amount. The Notes shall be designated as the “1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026.” The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is initially limited to $500,000,000, subject to Section 2.10 and except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of other Notes to the extent expressly permitted hereunder.

 

Section 2.02. Form of Notes. The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially in the respective forms set forth in Exhibit A, the terms and provisions of which shall constitute, and are hereby expressly incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture. To the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 2.03. Date and Denomination of Notes; Payments of Interest and Defaulted Amounts.

 

(a)            The Notes shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication and shall bear interest from the date specified on the face of such Note. Accrued interest on the Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for a partial month, on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed in a 30-day month.

 

(b)            The Person in whose name any Note (or its Predecessor Note) is registered on the Note Register at the close of business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date. However, the Company shall not pay in cash accrued interest on any Notes when they are converted, except in the circumstances described in Article 14. Interest shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained by the Company for such purposes, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office. The Company shall pay interest:

 

(i)            on any Certificated Notes (A) to Holders holding Certificated Notes having an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000 or less, by check mailed to the Holders of these Notes at their address as it appears in the Note Register and (B) to Holders holding Certificated Notes having an aggregate principal amount of more than $5,000,000, either by check mailed to such Holders or, upon application by such a Holder to the Paying Agent not later than the relevant Regular Record Date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to that Holder’s account within the United States, which application shall remain in effect until the Holder notifies the Note Registrar to the contrary in writing; and

 

(ii)            on any Global Note by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

(c)            Any Defaulted Amounts shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant payment date but shall accrue interest per annum at the rate borne by the Notes from, and including, such relevant payment date, and such Defaulted Amounts together with such interest thereon shall be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clauses (i) or (ii) below:

 

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(i)            The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Amounts to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of the Defaulted Amounts proposed to be paid on each Note and the date of the proposed payment (which shall be not less than 25 days after the receipt by the Trustee of such notice, unless the Trustee shall consent to an earlier date), and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Amounts or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Amounts as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Amounts which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment, and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of such special record date and the Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor to be sent to each Holder at its address as it appears in the Note Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Amounts and the special record date therefor having been sent, such Defaulted Amounts shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor Notes) are registered at the close of business on such special record date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii) of this Section 2.03(c).

 

(ii)            The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Amounts in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or designated for issuance, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system and the Depositary, if, after written notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

 

(iii)            The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any holder of Notes to determine the Defaulted Amounts, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of Defaulted Amounts owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of the Defaulted Amounts.

 

Section 2.04. Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Notes. The Notes shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual, electronic or facsimile signature of at least one of its Officers.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Notes executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes and the documents required under Section 17.06, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Notes, without any further action by the Company hereunder.

 

Only such Notes as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form set forth on the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto, executed by manual, electronic or facsimile signature by an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee as provided by Section 17.11), shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee (or such an authenticating agent) upon any Note executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Note so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

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In case any Officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Notes shall cease to be such Officer before the Notes so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, or disposed of by the Company, such Notes nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Notes had not ceased to be such Officer of the Company; and any Note may be signed on behalf of the Company by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Note, shall be an Officer of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such Person was not such an Officer.

 

Section 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Notes; Restrictions on Transfer; Depositary. The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the register maintained in such office or in any other office or agency of the Company designated pursuant to Section 4.02, the “Note Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations or procedures as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Notes and transfers of Notes. Such register shall be in written form or in any form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable period of time. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed the “Note Registrar” for the purpose of registering Notes and transfers of Notes as herein provided. The Company may appoint one or more co-Note Registrars in accordance with Section 4.02.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Note to the Note Registrar or any co-registrar, and satisfaction of the requirements for such transfer set forth in this Section 2.05, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and bearing such restrictive legends as may be required by this Indenture.

 

Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02. Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive, bearing registration numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

All Notes presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange, repurchase or conversion shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney-in-fact duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be imposed by the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Company or the Trustee may require a Holder to pay a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge required by law or permitted pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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None of the Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar or any co-Note Registrar shall be required to exchange or register a transfer of (i) any Notes surrendered for conversion or, if a portion of any Note is surrendered for conversion, such portion thereof surrendered for conversion or (ii) any Notes, or a portion of any Note, surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) in accordance with Article 15.

 

All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes in accordance with this Indenture shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

(a)            So long as the Notes are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depositary, unless otherwise required by law, subject to the fourth paragraph from the end of Section 2.05(b) all Notes shall be represented by one or more Notes in global form (each, a “Global Note”) registered in the name of the Depositary or the nominee of the Depositary. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in a Global Note that does not involve the issuance of a Certificated Note, shall be effected through the Depositary (but not the Trustee or the Custodian) in accordance with this Indenture (including the restrictions on transfer set forth herein) and the Applicable Procedures.

 

(b)            Every Note that bears or is required under this Section 2.05(b) to bear the legend set forth in this Section 2.05(b) (together with any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes and required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(c), collectively, the “Restricted Securities”) shall be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.05(b) (including the legend set forth below), unless such restrictions on transfer shall be eliminated or otherwise waived by written consent of the Company, and the Holder of each such Restricted Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, agrees to be bound by all such restrictions on transfer. As used in this Section 2.05(b) and Section 2.05(c), the term “transfer” encompasses any sale, pledge, transfer or other disposition whatsoever of any Restricted Security.

 

Until the date (the “Resale Restriction Termination Date”) that is the later of (1) the date that is one year after the Issue Date, or such shorter period of time as permitted by Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor provision thereto, and (2) such later date, if any, as may be required by applicable law, any certificate evidencing such Note (and all securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution thereof, other than Common Stock, if any, issued upon conversion thereof which shall bear the legend set forth in Section 2.05(c), if applicable) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless such Notes have been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee):

 

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THIS SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK, IF ANY, ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND 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 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, AND

 

(2)            AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF EQT CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW EXCEPT:

 

(A)            TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF;

 

(B)            PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY THAT COVERS THE RESALE OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH COMMON STOCK;

 

(C)            TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

(D)            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)(D) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE 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 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH ACQUIRER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF ANY (A) “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974 (“ERISA”)) THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (B) PLAN, INCLUDING AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OR ERISA (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”) OR (C) ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE THE ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (A) AND (B), PURSUANT TO ERISA OR OTHERWISE, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) BY SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN (A) A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR (B) A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.

 

No transfer of any Note prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date will be registered by the Note Registrar unless the applicable box on the Form of Assignment and Transfer has been checked.

 

On any Resale Restriction Termination Date, the Company shall, at its option, deliver to the Trustee a certificate in the form of Exhibit B hereto executed by an Officer of the Company, and upon the Trustee’s receipt of such certificate the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(b) shall be deemed removed from any Global Notes representing such Notes without further action on the part of Holders. If the Company delivers such a certificate to Trustee, the Company shall: (i) notify Holders of the Notes that the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(b) has been removed or deemed removed; and (ii) instruct the Depositary to change the CUSIP number for the Notes to the unrestricted CUSIP number for the Notes. It is understood that the Depositary of any Global Note may require a mandatory exchange or other process to cause such Global Note to be identified by an unrestricted CUSIP number in the facilities of such Depositary. For the avoidance of doubt, for Notes that are not in certificated form, the Notes shall continue to bear Additional Interest pursuant to this paragraph until such time as they are identified by an unrestricted CUSIP number in the facilities of the Depositary or any successor depositary for the Notes, as a result of completion of the Depositary’s mandatory exchange process or otherwise.

 

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Any Note (or security issued in exchange or substitution therefor) (i) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms, (ii) that has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become effective or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer or (iii) that has been sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, may, upon surrender of such Note for exchange to the Note Registrar in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.05, be exchanged for a new Note or Notes, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by this Section 2.05(b) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number.

 

The Company shall be entitled to instruct the Custodian in writing to so surrender any Global Note as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms for exchange, and, upon such instruction, the Custodian shall so surrender such Global Note for exchange; and any new Global Note so exchanged therefor shall not bear the restrictive legend specified in this Section 2.05(b) and shall not be assigned a restricted CUSIP number. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee upon the occurrence of the Resale Restriction Termination Date and promptly after a registration statement, if any, with respect to the Notes or any Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes has been declared effective under the Securities Act.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture (other than the provisions set forth in this Section 2.05(b)), a Global Note may not be transferred as a whole or in part except (i) by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary and (ii) for transfers of portions of a Global Note in certificated form made upon request of a member of, or a participant in, the Depositary (for itself or on behalf of a beneficial owner) by written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of the Depositary in accordance with Applicable Procedures and in compliance with this Section 2.05(b).

 

The Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act. The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company to act as the “Depositary” with respect to each Global Note. Initially, each Global Note shall be issued to the Depositary, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary, and deposited with the Trustee as custodian for Cede & Co.

 

If:

 

(a)            the Depositary (i) notifies the Company at any time that the Depositary is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days or (ii) ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days; or

 

(b)            there has occurred and is continuing an Event of Default and a beneficial owner of any Note requests through the Depositary that its beneficial interest therein be issued in a Certificated Note,

 

the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate, an Opinion of Counsel and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes, shall authenticate and deliver Certificated Notes to each beneficial owner of the related Global Notes (or a portion thereof) in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such Global Notes in exchange for such Global Notes, and upon delivery of the Global Notes to the Trustee such Global Notes shall be canceled.

 

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Certificated Notes issued in exchange for all or a part of the Global Note pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. Upon execution and authentication, the Trustee shall deliver such Certificated Notes to the Persons in whose names such Certificated Notes are so registered.

 

At such time as all interests in a Global Note have been converted, canceled, repurchased, redeemed or transferred, such Global Note shall be, upon receipt thereof, canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Applicable Procedures and existing instructions between the Depositary and the Custodian. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Note is exchanged for Certificated Notes, converted, canceled, repurchased, redeemed or transferred to a transferee who receives Certificated Notes therefor or any Certificated Note is exchanged or transferred for part of such Global Note, the principal amount of such Global Note shall, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and instructions existing between the Depositary and the Custodian, be appropriately reduced or increased, as the case may be, and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Note, by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, to reflect such reduction or increase.

 

Neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Note or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility or liability for any act or omission of the Depositary.

 

(c)            Until the Resale Restriction Termination Date, any stock certificate representing Common Stock issued upon conversion of a Note shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless the Note or such Common Stock has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer, or pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, or unless otherwise agreed by the Company in writing, with notice thereof to the Trustee and any transfer agent for the Common Stock):

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND 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 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, AND

 

25

 

 

(2)            AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF EQT CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE ISSUE DATE OF THE NOTE UPON THE CONVERSION OF WHICH SECURITY WAS ISSUED OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW EXCEPT:

 

(A)            TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF;

 

(B)            PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY THAT COVERS THE RESALE OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH COMMON STOCK;

 

(C)            TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

(D)            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)(D) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE COMMON STOCK RESERVE 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 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

(d)            Any such Common Stock (i) as to which such restrictions on transfer shall have expired in accordance with their terms, (ii) that has been transferred pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act and that continues to be effective at the time of such transfer or (iii) that has been sold pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act, may, upon surrender of the certificates representing such shares of Common Stock for exchange in accordance with the procedures of the transfer agent for the Common Stock, be exchanged for a new certificate or certificates for a like aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, which shall not bear the restrictive legend required by Section 2.05(c).

 

(e)            Any Note or Common Stock issued upon the conversion or exchange of a Note that is repurchased or owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (or any Person who was an Affiliate of the Company at any time during the three months immediately preceding) may not be resold by the Company or such Affiliate (or such Person, as the case may be) unless registered under the Securities Act or resold pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act in a transaction that results in such Note or Common Stock, as the case may be, no longer being a “restricted security” (as defined under Rule 144). The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Note (including any transfers between or among members of, or participants in, the Depositary or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Note) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

 

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

 

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Section 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes. In case any Note shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in its discretion may execute, and upon its written request the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note, bearing a registration number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Note so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

 

The Trustee or such authenticating agent may authenticate any such substituted Note and deliver the same upon the receipt of such security or indemnity as the Trustee, the Company and, if applicable, such authenticating agent may reasonably require. Upon the issuance of any substitute Note, the Company or the Trustee may require the payment by the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Note that has matured or is about to mature or has been surrendered for required repurchase or is about to be converted in accordance with Article 14 shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, in its sole discretion, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of or convert or authorize the conversion of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note), as the case may be, if the applicant for such payment or conversion shall furnish to the Company, to the Trustee and, if applicable, to such authenticating agent such security or indemnity as may be reasonably required by them to save each of them harmless from any loss, liability, cost or expense caused by or connected with such substitution, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and, if applicable, any Paying Agent or Conversion Agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.

 

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Every substitute Note issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any Note is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Notes duly issued hereunder. To the extent permitted by law, all Notes shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment or conversion or repurchase of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment or conversion of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.07. Temporary Notes. Pending the preparation of Certificated Notes, the Company may execute and the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by the Trustee shall, upon written request of the Company, authenticate and deliver temporary Notes (printed or lithographed). Temporary Notes shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the Certificated Notes but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Notes, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Note shall be executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or such authenticating agent upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the Certificated Notes. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee or such authenticating agent Certificated Notes (other than any Global Note) and thereupon any or all temporary Notes (other than any Global Note) may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at each office or agency maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 4.02 and the Trustee or such authenticating agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Notes an equal aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same limitations under this Indenture as Certificated Notes authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 2.08. Cancellation of Notes Paid, Converted, Etc. The Company shall cause all Notes surrendered for the purpose of payment at maturity, repurchase upon a Fundamental Change, Redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion (subject to the provisions of Section 14.02(j)), if surrendered to the Company or any of the Company’s agents that the Company controls or its Subsidiaries, to be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and such Notes shall no longer be considered outstanding for purposes of this Indenture upon their payment at maturity, repurchase upon a Fundamental Change, Redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or conversion (subject to the provisions of Section 14.02(j)). All Notes delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled promptly by it in accordance with its customary procedures. Except for Notes surrendered for transfer or exchange, no Notes shall be authenticated in exchange for any Notes cancelled, except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of canceled Notes in accordance with its customary procedures and, after such disposition, shall deliver evidence of such disposition to the Company, at the Company’s written request in a Company Order.

 

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Section 2.09. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in all notices issued to Holders as a convenience to such Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or on such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

 

Section 2.10. Additional Notes; Repurchases. (a) The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Holders, reopen this Indenture and issue additional Notes under this Indenture with the same terms as the Notes issued on the Issue Date (other than differences in the issue date, the issue price and interest accrued prior to the issue date of such additional Notes and, if applicable, the initial Interest Payment Date and restrictions on transfer in respect of such additional Notes) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided that if any such additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes issued on the Issue Date for U.S. federal income tax or securities law purposes, such additional Notes shall have one or more separate CUSIP numbers. Such Notes issued on the Issue Date and the additional Notes shall rank equally and ratably and shall be treated as a single series for all purposes under this Indenture. Prior to the issuance of any such additional Notes, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a Company Order, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, such Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to cover such matters, in addition to those required by Section 17.06, as the Trustee shall reasonably request.

 

(b)            The Company may, to the extent permitted by law and without the consent of or notice to Holders, directly or indirectly (regardless of whether such Notes are surrendered to the Company), repurchase Notes in the open market or otherwise, whether by the Company or its Subsidiaries or through a privately negotiated transaction or public tender or exchange offer or through counterparties to private agreements, including by cash-settled swaps or other derivatives. The Company may, at its option, reissue, resell or surrender to the Trustee for cancellation any Notes that the Company or its Subsidiaries may repurchase; provided that in the case of a reissuance or resale, such Notes shall have one or more separate CUSIP numbers if the Notes are not fungible with the Notes issued on the Issue Date for U.S. federal income tax or securities law purposes. Any Notes so repurchased by the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than Notes repurchased upon a Fundamental Change, which shall be governed by Section 2.08) shall be considered outstanding for all purposes under this Indenture (other than, at any time when such Notes are held by the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any Subsidiary of any such Affiliates, for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under this Indenture) unless and until such time the Company surrenders (or causes such Notes to be surrendered) to the Trustee for cancellation and, upon receipt of a written order from the Company, the Trustee shall cancel all Notes so surrendered.

 

Section 2.11. Ranking. The Notes constitute a senior general unsecured obligation of the Company, ranking senior in right of payment to all future indebtedness of the Company that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes by the terms of such indebtedness and ranking equally in right of payment with all existing and future indebtedness of the Company that is not so subordinated.

 

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Article 3
Satisfaction and Discharge

 

Section 3.01. Satisfaction and Discharge. This Indenture and the Notes shall upon request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate cease to be of further effect (except as set forth in the last paragraph of this Section 3.01), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when:

 

(i)            either:

 

(A)            all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (x) Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06 and (y) Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 4.04(d)) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)            the Company has deposited with the Trustee or delivered to Holders, as applicable, after all of the outstanding Notes have (i) become due and payable, whether at the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, and/or (ii) have been converted (and the related Settlement Amounts have been determined), cash or, solely to satisfy the Company’s Conversion Obligations, cash and/or shares of Common Stock (or if applicable, Reference Property), as applicable, sufficient to pay all of the outstanding Notes and/or satisfy all conversions, as the case may be, and pay all other sums due and payable under this Indenture by the Company; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.06 and, if cash or shares of Common Stock shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.01(i)(B), Section 4.04 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

Article 4
Particular Covenants of the Company

 

Section 4.01. Payment of Principal, Settlement Amounts and Interest. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion of, and interest on the Notes on the dates and in the manner provided in the Notes. Principal, Settlement Amounts and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company, holds as of 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, Settlement Amounts and interest then due. Unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee, the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action.

 

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The Company shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) and overdue Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash, at the rate equal to the interest rate on the Notes to the extent lawful; it shall pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period), at the same rate to the extent lawful.

 

Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an Affiliate of the Trustee) where Notes may be presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for payment or repurchase (“Paying Agent”) or for conversion (“Conversion Agent”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Notes may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The terms “Paying Agent” and “Conversion Agent” include any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.

 

The Company hereby appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent, Note Registrar, Custodian and Conversion Agent and designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company.

 

The Company reserves the right to vary or terminate the appointment of any Note Registrar, Paying Agent or Conversion Agent, and Bid Solicitation Agent; act as the Paying Agent or Bid Solicitation Agent; appoint additional Paying Agents or Conversion Agents; or approve any change in the office through which any Note Registrar or Paying Agent or Conversion Agent acts.

 

Section 4.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, shall appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.09, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

 

Section 4.04. Provisions as to Paying Agent. (a) If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, the Company shall cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 4.04:

 

(i)            that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes;

 

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(ii)            that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(iii)            that at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon request of the Trustee, it shall forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust.

 

(b)            If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay such principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable), the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash and accrued and unpaid interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash, or accrued and unpaid interest on, the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.

 

(c)            Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay, cause to be paid or deliver to the Trustee all sums or amounts held in trust by the Company or any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section 4.04, such sums or amounts to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment or delivery by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability but only with respect to such sums or amounts.

 

(d)            Subject to any applicable escheat laws, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash, and accrued and unpaid interest on, any Note and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable), the Settlement Amounts owed on conversion to the extent they include cash, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on request of the Company contained in an Officer’s Certificate, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease.

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Section 4.05. [Reserved].

 

Section 4.06. Rule 144A Information Requirement; Reporting; and Additional Interest. (a) For as long as any Notes are outstanding hereunder, at any time the Company is not subject to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall, so long as any of the Notes or any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes shall, at such time, constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, upon written request, provide to any Holder, beneficial owner or prospective purchaser of such Notes or any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Notes, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to facilitate the resale of such Notes or such Common Stock, as the case may be, pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Company shall take such further action as any Holder or beneficial owner of such Notes or such Common Stock, as the case may be, may reasonably request to the extent from time to time required to enable such Holder or beneficial owner to sell such Notes or such Common Stock, as the case may be, in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time. The provisions of this Section 4.06(a) shall expire when the restrictive legend on the Notes specified in Section 2.05(b) has been removed.

 

(b)            The Company shall furnish to the Trustee within 15 days after the same are required to be filed with the Commission (after giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule under the Exchange Act or any other relief granted by the Commission), copies of any documents or reports that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any such information, documents or reports, or portions thereof, subject to confidential treatment and any correspondence with the Commission). Any such document or report that the Company files with the Commission via the Commission’s EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) shall be deemed to be furnished to the Trustee for purposes of this Section 4.06(b) as of the time such documents are filed via the EDGAR system (or such successor).

 

(c)            Delivery of the reports, information and documents described in Section 4.06(b) to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the Commission or the Commission’s EDGAR system or any website under this Indenture or participate in any conference calls.

 

(d)            Subject to Section 6.03(b), if, at any time during the six-month period beginning on, and including, the date that is six months after the Issue Date, the Company fails to timely file any document or report that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as applicable (other than Current Reports on Form 8-K), after giving effect to all applicable grace periods thereunder, or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were Affiliates of the Company at any time during the three months immediately preceding (as a result of restrictions pursuant to U.S. federal securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes), the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes from, and including, the first date after the conclusion of the six-month period described above on which such failure to file occurs or the first date the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable as described above by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were Affiliates of the Company at any time during the three months immediately preceding without restriction pursuant to U.S. federal securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes, whichever is earlier, until the earlier of (i) the one-year anniversary of the Issue Date and (ii) the date on which such failure to file has been cured (if applicable) and the Notes are otherwise freely tradable by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were Affiliates of the Company at any time during the three months immediately preceding without restriction pursuant to U.S. federal securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes. Such Additional Interest shall accrue on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during such period described in the preceding sentence.

 

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(e)            Subject to Section 4.06(f) and Section 6.03(b), if, and for so long as, the restrictive legend on the Notes specified in Section 2.05(b) has not been removed (or deemed removed), the Notes are assigned a restricted CUSIP number or the Notes are not otherwise freely tradable as described in Section 4.06(d) by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were Affiliates of the Company at any time during the three months immediately preceding without restrictions pursuant to U.S. federal securities law or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes as of the 380th day after the Issue Date, the Company shall pay Additional Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of Notes outstanding until the restrictive legend on the Notes specified in Section 2.05(b) has been removed (or deemed removed), the Notes are assigned an unrestricted CUSIP number and the Notes are freely tradable as described in Section 4.06(d) by Holders other than the Company’s Affiliates or Holders that were Affiliates of the Company at any time during the three months preceding without restrictions pursuant to U.S. federal securities laws or the terms of this Indenture or the Notes. The restrictive legend on the Notes shall be deemed removed pursuant to the terms of this Indenture upon notice by the Company to the Trustee and delivery of the documents required pursuant to this Indenture, and, at such time, the Notes will be automatically assigned an unrestricted CUSIP. However, for the avoidance of doubt, for Notes that are not in certificated form, the Notes shall continue to bear Additional Interest pursuant to this Section 4.06(e) until such time as such Notes are identified by an unrestricted CUSIP in the facilities of the Depositary as a result of completion of the Depositary’s mandatory exchange process or otherwise.

 

(f)            Additional Interest, which shall constitute the sole remedy relating to the failure to comply with the Company’s obligations under this Section 4.06, shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date following accrual in the same manner as regular interest on the Notes and shall be in addition to any Additional Interest that may accrue, at the Company’s election, pursuant to Section 6.03. In no event, however, shall Additional Interest accrue on any day (taking into consideration any Additional Interest payable as described in Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) or Section 6.03(a)) at a rate in excess of 0.50% per annum, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to the requirement to pay such Additional Interest.

 

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(g)            If Additional Interest is payable by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) or Section 6.03(a), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to that effect stating (i) the amount of such Additional Interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such Additional Interest is payable. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such Additional Interest is payable.

 

Section 4.07. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it shall not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

 

Section 4.08. Compliance Certificate; Statements as to Defaults.

 

(a)            The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year (beginning with the year ending December 31, 2020), an Officer’s Certificate stating whether the signer thereof has knowledge of any Default that occurred during the previous year and is then continuing, if so, specifying each such failure and the nature thereof.

 

(b)            The Company shall, so long as any of the Notes are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate within 30 days after an Officer of the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any event that would constitute a Default or Event of Default, specifying each such event, the status thereof and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

Section 4.09. Further Instruments and Acts. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.

 

Section 4.10. No Rights as Stockholders. Holders of Notes, as such, will not have any rights as stockholders of the Company (including voting rights and rights to receive any dividends or other distributions on Common Stock).

 

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Article 5
[Reserved]

 

Article 6
Defaults and Remedies

 

Section 6.01. Events of Default. The following events shall be “Events of Default” with respect to the Notes:

 

(a)            default in any payment of interest on any Note when due and payable, and the default continues for a period of 30 days;

 

(b)            default in the payment of principal of any Note when due and payable on the Maturity Date, upon any required repurchase, upon Redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

 

(c)            failure by the Company to comply with its obligation to convert the Notes in accordance with this Indenture upon exercise of a Holder’s conversion right, if such failure continues for a period of three Business Days following the due date for the delivery thereof;

 

(d)            failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Company Notice in accordance with Section 15.02(c) or notice of a specified corporate transaction in accordance with Section 14.01(b)(ii) or (iii) or a Make-Whole Fundamental Change Company Notice in accordance with Section 14.03(b), in each case when due;

 

(e)            failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article 11;

 

(f)            failure by the Company to perform any covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture, which failure shall not have been remedied, or without provision deemed to be adequate for the remedying thereof having been made, for a period of 90 days after written notice shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or shall have been given to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series then outstanding;

 

(g)            default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $200,000,000 whether such indebtedness exists as of the Issue Date or shall thereafter be created, which default shall constitute a failure to pay any portion of the principal of such indebtedness when due and payable after the expiration of any applicable grace period with respect thereto or shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such indebtedness having been discharged, or such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled, which continues for a period of 30 days after written notice shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or shall have been given to the Company and the Trustee by holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding;

 

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

 

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(i)            the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Company to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the Company to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the assets of the Company or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of comparable corporate action by the Company under any foreign laws; or

 

(j)            a final judgment or judgments for the payment of $200,000,000 or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) in the aggregate rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, which judgment(s) is not paid, discharged or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished.

 

Section 6.02. Acceleration. In case one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(h) or Section 6.01(i)), either the Trustee by notice in writing to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee, may declare 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(h) or Section 6.01(i) occurs and is continuing, 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, all Notes shall automatically be immediately due and payable.

 

The immediately preceding paragraph, however, is subject to the conditions that if, at any time after the principal of the Notes shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay installments of accrued and unpaid interest upon all Notes and the principal of any and all Notes that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest and on such principal at the rate borne by the Notes at such time) and amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.06, and if (1) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) any and all existing Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on Notes that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.09, then and in every such case (except as provided in the immediately succeeding sentence) the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Notes and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences and such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any Default or Event of Default resulting from (i) the nonpayment of the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, any Notes, (ii) a failure to repurchase any Notes when required or (iii) a failure to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes.

 

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Section 6.03. Additional Interest.

 

(a)            Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or in the Notes to the contrary, to the extent the Company elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b) shall, after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, consist exclusively of the right to receive Additional Interest on the Notes at a rate equal to (i) 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the period beginning on, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred and ending on the earlier of (x) the date on which such Event of Default is cured or validly waived in accordance with this Indenture and (y) the 180th day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred; and (ii) if such Event of Default has not been cured or validly waived prior to the 181st day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred, 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the period beginning on, and including, the 181st day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred and ending on the earlier of (x) the date on which the Event of Default is cured or validly waived and (y) the 360th day immediately following, and including, the date on which such Event of Default first occurred (in addition to any Additional Interest that may accrue pursuant to Sections 4.06(d) and 4.06(e)). For the avoidance of doubt, the first 180-day period described in this Section 6.03 shall not commence until expiration of the 90 day period referenced in Section 6.01(f).

 

(b)            Any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall be in addition to any Additional Interest that may accrue pursuant to Sections 4.06(d) and 4.06(e). Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture to the contrary, in no event, however, shall Additional Interest accrue (taking into consideration any Additional Interest payable pursuant to Section 6.03(a), together with Additional Interest payable pursuant to Sections 4.06(d) and 4.06(e)) on any day at a rate in excess of 0.50% per annum, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to the requirement to pay such Additional Interest.

 

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(c)            If the Company elects to pay Additional Interest pursuant to Section 6.03(a), such Additional Interest shall be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Notes and will accrue on all Notes then outstanding from, and including, the date on which the Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b) first occurs to, but not including, the 361st day thereafter (or such earlier date on which such Event of Default is cured or waived by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding). On the 361st day after such Event of Default (if the Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b) is not cured or waived prior to such 361st day), such Additional Interest will cease to accrue and the Notes will be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02. In the event the Company does not elect to pay Additional Interest following an Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b) in accordance with this Section 6.03, or the Company elects to make such payment but does not pay the Additional Interest when due, the Notes shall immediately be subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 6.03 shall not affect the rights of Holders in the event of the occurrence of any other Event of Default. In no event shall Additional Interest payable pursuant to the foregoing election accrue at a rate per year in excess of the applicable rate specified in Section 6.03(b), regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to requirements to pay such Additional Interest pursuant to this Section 6.03.

 

(d)            In order to elect to pay Additional Interest as the sole remedy during the 360 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default relating to the Company’s failure to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 4.06(b), the Company must notify, in writing, all Holders of the Notes, the Trustee and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) of such election on or before the close of business on the date on which such Event of Default first occurs. Upon the Company’s failure to timely give such notice, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.02.

 

Section 6.04. Payments of Notes on Default; Suit Therefor.     If an Event of Default described in Section 6.01 (a), (b) or (c) shall have occurred and the Notes have become due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02, the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on the Notes for principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable), satisfaction of the Conversion Obligation with respect to all Notes that have been converted, and interest, if any, with (to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) interest on any such overdue amounts, at the rate borne by the Notes at such time, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06. If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.

 

In the event there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company under Bankruptcy Law, or any other applicable law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Company, the property of the Company, or in the event of any other judicial proceedings relative to the Company, or to the creditors or property of the Company, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.04, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, in respect of the Notes, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents and to take such other actions as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors, or its property, and to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of any amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, custodian or similar official is hereby authorized by each of the Holders to make such payments to the Trustee, as administrative expenses, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements, including agents and counsel fees, and including any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 7.06, incurred by it up to the date of such distribution. To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation, expenses, advances and disbursements out of the estate in any such proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, monies, securities and other property that the Holders of the Notes may be entitled to receive in such proceedings, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise.

 

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Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting such Holder or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Notes, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes.

 

In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and in any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Holders of the Notes, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of the Notes parties to any such proceedings.

 

In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of any waiver, rescission or annulment pursuant to Section 6.09 or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Holders and the Trustee shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Holders and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

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Section 6.05. Application of Monies Collected by Trustee.    Any monies collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 6 with respect to the Notes shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such monies, upon presentation of the several Notes, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

 

FIRST:      to the payment of all amounts due the Trustee, including its agents and counsel, under this Indenture;

 

SECOND:      to the payment of (i) the amounts then due and unpaid on the Notes for principal, the Redemption Price (if applicable), the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price (if applicable), and/or satisfaction of the Conversion Obligation with respect to all Notes that have been converted, and (ii) interest on the Notes in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Notes; and

 

THIRD:      to the Company.

 

Section 6.06. Proceedings by Holders.     Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal (including, if applicable, the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price) or interest when due, or the right to receive payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, no Holder of any Note shall have any right by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

(a)            such Holder has previously given the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default is continuing;

 

(b)            the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee in writing to pursue the remedy;

 

(c)            such Holders have offered the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, claim or expense;

 

(d)            the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt thereof and the offer of such security or indemnity; and

 

(e)            the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the Trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

 

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A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder, it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any actions or forbearances by a Holder are unduly prejudicial to other Holders.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture and any provision of any Note, each Holder shall have the contractual right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of (x) principal (including, if applicable, the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price), (y) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and (z) the consideration due upon the conversion of, such Note, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Note or in this Indenture, and such contractual right shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 6.07. Proceedings by Trustee.     In case of an Event of Default, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as are necessary to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

 

Section 6.08. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.    Except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 2.06, all powers and remedies given by this Article 6 to the Trustee or to the Holders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Holders of the Notes, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any of the Notes to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or any acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, every power and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders.

 

Section 6.09. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Holders.  (a) The Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Notes; provided, however, that (i) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture, and (ii) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. The Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with any rule of law or with this Indenture, it determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not any such directions are unduly prejudicial to such Holders) or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

 

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(b)            The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and rescind any acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences hereunder except:

 

(i)            a default in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price and Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes;

 

(ii)            a failure by the Company to deliver the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes; or

 

(iii)            with respect to any other provision that requires the consent of each affected Holder pursuant to Section 10.02 to amend;

 

provided that, in the case of the rescission of any acceleration with respect to the Notes, (1) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (2) all existing Events of Default (other than the nonpayment of the principal of and interest on the Notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration) have been cured or waived and all amounts owing to the Trustee have been paid.

 

Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.09, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Notes and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 6.10. Notice of Defaults.     If a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall deliver to all Holders as the names and addresses of such Holders appear upon the Note Register notice of such Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) or accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on any Note or a Default in the payment or delivery of the consideration due upon conversion, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.

 

Section 6.11. Undertaking to Pay Costs.     All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Note by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may, in its discretion, require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided that the provisions of this Section 6.11 (to the extent permitted by law) shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (including, but not limited to, the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to the Notes being repurchased as provided in this Indenture) or accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on any Note on or after the due date expressed or provided for in such Note or to any suit for the enforcement of the payment or delivery of consideration due upon conversion.

 

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Article 7
Concerning the Trustee

 

Section 7.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

 

(a)            Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred:

 

(i)            the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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

 

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

 

(c)            No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

 

(i)            this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section;

 

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

 

(iii)            the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding determined as provided in Article 8 relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture; and

 

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(iv)            no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d)            Whether or not therein provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of, or affording protection to, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 7.01.

 

Section 7.02. Certain Rights of the Trustee.

 

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

 

(b)            any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

(c)            the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and require an Opinion of Counsel and any advice of such counsel or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

 

(d)            the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled, at a reasonable time on any Business Day, to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

(e)            the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through duly authorized agents, custodians, nominees or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, custodian, nominee or attorney appointed by it with due care hereunder;

 

(f)            the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties;

 

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(g)            [Reserved;]

 

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

 

(i)            in no event shall the Trustee be liable for any special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

(j)            the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes, unless either (1) a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01(a) or (b) of this Indenture has occurred or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee by the Company or by any Holder of the Notes at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(k)            the Trustee shall not be liable in respect of any payment (as to the correctness of amount, entitlement to receive or any other matters relating to payment) or notice effected by the Company or any Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) or any records maintained by any co-Note Registrar with respect to the Notes;

 

(l)            whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

 

(m)            if any party fails to deliver a notice relating to an event the fact of which, pursuant to this Indenture, requires notice to be sent to the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely on its failure to receive such notice as reason to act as if no such event occurred;

 

(n)            the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee under this Indenture, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, shall also be afforded to the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

 

(o)            subject to this Article 7, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, claim and expense which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 7.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, Etc.    The recitals contained herein and in the Notes (except in the Trustee’s certificate of authentication) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Notes or the proceeds of any Notes authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Section 7.04. Trustee, Paying Agents, Conversion Agents, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar May Own Notes.    The Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, the Custodian, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Paying Agent, Conversion Agent, Custodian, Bid Solicitation Agent or Note Registrar.

 

Section 7.05. Monies and Shares of Common Stock to Be Held in Trust.    All monies and shares of Common Stock received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received. Money and shares of Common Stock held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law or as expressly provided herein. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money or shares of Common Stock received by it hereunder except as may be agreed from time to time by the Company and the Trustee.

 

Section 7.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.    The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall receive such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in any capacity (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as mutually agreed to in writing between the Trustee and the Company, and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances reasonably incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture in any capacity hereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as shall have been caused by its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants and agrees to indemnify the Trustee in any capacity under this Indenture and any other document or transaction entered into in connection herewith and its agents and any authenticating agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, its officers, directors, agents or employees, or such agent or authenticating agent, as the case may be, and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture and the enforcement of this Indenture (including this Section 7.06) or in any other capacity hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person) of liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.06 to compensate or indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall be secured by a senior claim to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except, subject to the effect of Section 6.05, funds held in trust herewith for the benefit of the Holders of particular Notes. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.06 shall not be made expressly subordinate to any other liability or indebtedness of the Company. The obligation of the Company under this Section 7.06 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, final payment of the Notes and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The indemnification provided in this Section 7.06 shall extend to the officers, directors, agents and employees of the Trustee.

 

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Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee and its agents and any authenticating agent incur expenses or render services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(h) or Section 6.01(i) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

 

Section 7.07. [Reserved].

 

Section 7.08. Eligibility of Trustee. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act (as if the Trust Indenture Act were applicable hereto) to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of any supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 7.08, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article 7.

 

Section 7.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee. The Trustee may at any time resign by giving 30 days prior written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the Holders, the resigning Trustee may, upon ten Business Days’ notice to the Company and the Holders, petition any court of competent jurisdiction, at the expense of the Company, for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

 

(a)            In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

 

(i)            the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 7.13 within a reasonable time after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Note or Notes for at least six (6) months;

 

(ii)            the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

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

 

then, in any such case, the Company may by a Board Resolution remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 6.11, any Holder who has been a bona fide holder of a Note or Notes for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction, at the expense of the Company, for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

 

(b)            The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may at any time, with 30 days prior written notice to the Trustee and the Company, remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee that shall be deemed appointed as successor trustee unless within ten days after notice to the Company of such nomination the Company objects thereto. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after removal of the Trustee by the Holders, the Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, upon ten Business Days’ notice to the Company and the Holders, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee.

 

(c)            Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.09 shall become effective upon (i) payment of all fees and expenses owing to the Trustee and (ii) acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.10.

 

Section 7.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee.    Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.09 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the predecessor trustee shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights and powers. Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a senior claim to which the Notes are hereby made subordinate on all money or property held or collected by such trustee as such pursuant to this Indenture, except for funds held in trust for the benefit of Holders of particular Notes, to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.06.

 

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No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 7.10 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.

 

Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section 7.10, each of the Company and the successor trustee, at the written direction and at the expense of the Company shall send or cause to be sent notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder to the Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Note Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 7.11. Succession by Merger, Etc.    Any corporation or other entity into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of this Indenture), shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that in the case of any corporation or other entity succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee such corporation or other entity shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 7.08.

 

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture, any of the Notes shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or authenticating agent appointed by such predecessor trustee, and deliver such Notes so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Notes shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee or an authenticating agent appointed by such successor trustee may authenticate such Notes either in the name of any predecessor trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificates of authentication shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Notes or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of authentication of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Notes in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

 

Section 7.12. Trustee’s Application for Instructions from the Company.    Any application by the Trustee for written instructions from the Company (other than with regard to any action proposed to be taken or omitted to be taken by the Trustee that affects the rights of the Holders of the Notes under this Indenture) may, at the option of the Trustee, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Trustee under this Indenture and the date on and/or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Trustee in accordance with a proposal included in such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than three Business Days after the date any Officer actually receives such application, unless any such Officer shall have consented in writing to any earlier date), unless, prior to taking any such action (or the date of effectiveness in the case of any omission), the Trustee shall have received written instructions in accordance with this Indenture in response to such application specifying the action to be taken or omitted.

 

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Section 7.13. Conflicting Interests of Trustee.     If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of this Indenture.

 

Article 8
Concerning the Holders

 

Section 8.01. Action by Holders.     Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action, the Holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (i) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Holders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (ii) by the record of the Holders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Holders duly called and held, or (iii) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Holders. Whenever the Company or the Trustee solicits the taking of any action by the Holders of the Notes, the Company or the Trustee may, but shall not be required to, fix in advance of such solicitation, a date as the record date for determining Holders entitled to take such action. The record date if one is selected shall be not more than 15 days prior to the date of commencement of solicitation of such action.

 

Section 8.02. Proof of Execution by Holders.     Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and Section 7.02, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Holder or its agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The holding of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register or by a certificate of the Note Registrar.

 

Section 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.     The Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent and any Note Registrar may deem the Person in whose name a Note shall be registered upon the Note Register to be, and may treat it as, the absolute owner of such Note (whether or not such Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon made by any Person other than the Company or any Note Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and (subject to Section 2.03) accrued and unpaid interest on such Note, for conversion of such Note and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Conversion Agent nor any Note Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. The sole registered holder of a Global Note shall be the Depositary or its nominee. All such payments or deliveries so made to any Holder, or upon its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sums or shares of Common Stock so paid or delivered, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for monies payable or shares deliverable upon any such Note. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture or the Notes following an Event of Default, any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note may directly enforce against the Company, without the consent, solicitation, proxy, authorization or any other action of the Depositary or any other Person, such holder’s right to exchange such beneficial interest for a Note in certificated form in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

 

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Section 8.04. Company-Owned Notes Disregarded.    In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Notes have concurred in any direction, consent, waiver or other action under this Indenture, Notes that are owned by the Company, by any Subsidiary thereof or by any Affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof shall be disregarded (from both the numerator and the denominator) and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent, waiver or other action only Notes that a Responsible Officer actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Notes so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 8.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to so act with respect to such Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company, a Subsidiary thereof or any Affiliate of the Company or a Subsidiary thereof. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all Notes, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Notes not listed therein are outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

 

Section 8.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.     At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Note that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Notes the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Note. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Note and of any Notes issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Note or any Note issued in exchange or substitution therefor or upon registration of transfer thereof.

 

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Article 9
[Reserved]

 

Article 10
Supplemental Indentures

 

Section 10.01. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.     Notwithstanding Section 10.02, without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture and the Notes to:

 

(a)            cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in this Indenture or the Notes which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision in this Indenture or the Notes;

 

(b)            provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture or the Notes in accordance with Article 11;

 

(c)            add guarantees with respect to the Notes;

 

(d)            secure the Notes;

 

(e)            increase the Conversion Rate of the Notes;

 

(f)            irrevocably select a Settlement Method or Specified Dollar Amount, or eliminate the Company’s right to choose a particular Settlement Method, on conversion of Notes;

 

(g)            add to the covenants of the Company or Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders or make changes that would provide additional rights to Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;

 

(h)            make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors delivered to the Trustee;

 

(i)            in connection with any Specified Corporate Event, provide that the Notes are convertible into Reference Property, subject to Section 14.02 and Section 14.07, and make certain related changes to the terms of this Indenture and the Notes to the extent expressly required by this Indenture;

 

(j)            evidence and provide for the acceptance of an appointment under this Indenture of a successor Trustee; provided that the successor Trustee is otherwise qualified and eligible to act as such under the terms of this Indenture as set forth in an Officer’s Certificate;

 

(k)            conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes to the “Description of notes” section of the Offering Memorandum; or

 

(l)            provide for the issuance of additional Notes in accordance with Section 2.10(a).

 

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such amendment, supplement or waiver, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any amendment, supplement or waiver that adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any amendment, supplement or waiver to this Indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 10.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Notes at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 10.02.

 

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Section 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.     Except as provided in Section 10.01 and in this Section 10.02, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time amend or supplement this Indenture and the Notes with the consent (evidenced as provided in Article 8) of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (determined in accordance with Article 8 and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes) and any past or existing Default or Event of Default (other than (i) a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal (including any Redemption Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, or accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes, except a payment default resulting from an acceleration that has been rescinded, and (ii) a Default or Event of Default as a result of a failure by the Company to deliver the consideration due upon conversion of the Notes) or compliance with any provision of this Indenture or the Notes may be waived with the consent (evidenced as provided in Article 8) of the Holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding (determined in accordance with Article 8 and including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Notes); provided, however, that, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no such amendment shall:

 

(a)            reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

 

(b)            reduce the rate of or extend the stated time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

(c)            reduce the principal of or extend the Maturity Date of any Note;

 

(d)            reduce the amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the Notes;

 

(e)            impair or adversely affect the right of Holders to convert Notes or otherwise modify the provisions with respect to conversion, or reduce the Conversion Rate (subject to such modifications as are required under this Indenture);

 

(f)            reduce the Redemption Price or the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of any Note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the Holders the Company’s obligation to make such payments, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

 

(g)            make any Note payable in a money, or at a place of payment, other than that stated in the Note;

 

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(h)            change the ranking of the Notes;

 

(i)            impair or affect the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, or the consideration due upon conversion of, such Holder’s Notes, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such Holder’s Notes or in this Indenture; or

 

(j)            make any change in this Article 10 that requires each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions (including in Section 6.09).

 

Upon the written request of the Company, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders as aforesaid and subject to Section 10.05, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such amendment, supplement or waiver unless such amendment, supplement or waiver adversely affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Holders do not need under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture. It shall be sufficient if such Holders approve the substance thereof. After any such amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, the Company shall send to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment, supplement or waiver, unless a Current Report on Form 8-K (or successor form thereto) is filed by the Company describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

Section 10.03. Effect of Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.    Upon the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver of this Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitation of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such amendment or supplement shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 10.04. Notation on Notes.    Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of any amendment, supplement or waiver to this Indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10 may, at the Company’s expense, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such amendment, supplement or waiver. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such amendment, supplement or waiver may, at the Company’s expense, be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee (or an authenticating agent duly appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 17.11) and delivered in exchange for the Notes then outstanding, upon surrender of such Notes then outstanding. Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Note shall not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.

 

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Section 10.05. Evidence of Compliance of Amendment, Supplement or Waiver to Be Furnished to Trustee.    In addition to the documents required by Section 17.06, the Trustee shall receive and may rely on an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any amendment, supplement or waiver to this Indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article 10, is permitted or authorized by this Indenture and such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

 

Article 11
Consolidation, Merger and Sale

 

Section 11.01. Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms.

 

(a)            The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into or otherwise combine with another Person (other than one or more of the Company’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries), or sell, lease or otherwise transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated assets, taken as a whole, to another Person (other than one or more of the Company’s Wholly Owned Subsidiaries), unless:

 

(i)            the Company is the surviving corporation or the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not the Company) (the “Successor Company”) is a corporation or Permitted Limited Liability Company or Permitted Partnership organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Successor Company expressly assumes by supplemental indenture all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

(ii)            the Company delivers an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that all conditions precedent relating to such consolidation, merger or sale of assets have been complied with; and

 

(iii)            immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under this Indenture.

 

(b)            Upon any such consolidation, merger, combination or sale, lease or other transfer or disposition and upon the assumption by the Successor Company, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Notes, the due and punctual delivery and/or payment, as the case may be, of any consideration due upon conversion of the Notes and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture and the Notes to be performed by the Company, such Successor Company shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of and be substituted for, the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, and the Company shall be discharged from its obligations under the Notes and this Indenture, except in the case of a lease of all or substantially all assets. Such Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company any or all of the Notes issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor Company instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Notes that previously shall have been signed and delivered by an Officer of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Notes that such Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Notes so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Notes theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Notes had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such consolidation, merger, combination or sale, transfer or disposition (but not in the case of a lease), upon compliance with this Article 11, the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Notes and from its obligations under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

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Article 12
Immunity of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors

 

Section 12.01. Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations.     No recourse for the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on, or the payment or delivery of consideration due upon conversion of, any Note, nor for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Note, nor because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer or director or Subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any of its successor corporations or other entities, either directly or through the Company or any of its successor corporations or other entities, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Notes. By accepting a Note, each Holder waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the Notes.

 

Article 13
[Reserved]

 

Article 14
Conversion of Notes

 

Section 14.01. Conversion Privilege.

 

(a)            Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Article 14, each Holder of a Note shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert all or any portion (if the portion to be converted is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of such Note:

 

(i)            subject to satisfaction of the conditions described in Section 14.01(b), at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding February 1, 2026 under the circumstances and during the periods set forth in Section 14.01(b); and

 

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(ii)            on or after February 1, 2026, at any time prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date;

 

in each case, at an initial conversion rate of 66.6667 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 14.04 and, if applicable, Section 14.03, the “Conversion Rate”) per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (subject to the settlement provisions of Section 14.02, the “Conversion Obligation”).

 

(b)            (i) Prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding February 1, 2026, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) for conversion at any time during the five Business Day period after any five consecutive Trading Day period (the “Measurement Period”) in which the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, as determined following a request by a Holder of Notes in accordance with the procedures and conditions described in this Section 14.01(b)(i), for each Trading Day of the Measurement Period was less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each such Trading Day, subject to compliance with the following procedures and conditions concerning the Bid Solicitation Agent’s obligation to make a Trading Price determination.

 

(A)            The Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes unless the Company has requested such determination, and the Company shall have no obligation to make such request (or, if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall have no obligation to determine the Trading Price) unless a Holder of at least $2,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Notes requests in writing that the Company makes such a determination and provides the Company with reasonable evidence that the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes would be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day. At such time, the Company shall instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent (if other than the Company) to determine, or if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, the Company shall determine, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes beginning on the Trading Day following the receipt of such evidence and on each successive Trading Day until the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day.

 

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(B)            If the Trading Price condition has been met, the Company shall promptly so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing. If, at any time after the Trading Price condition has been met, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes is greater than or equal to 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on such Trading Day, the Company shall promptly so notify the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) in writing.

 

(C)            If the Company does not, when it is required to, instruct the Bid Solicitation Agent to (or, if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, it does not) obtain bids, or if the Company gives such instruction to the Bid Solicitation Agent and the Bid Solicitation Agent fails to make such determination (or, if the Company is acting as Bid Solicitation Agent, it fails to make such determination), then, in either case, the Trading Price per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes shall be deemed to be less than 98% of the product of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock and the Conversion Rate on each Trading Day of such failure.

 

(ii)            If, prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding February 1, 2026, the Company elects to:

 

(A)            issue to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock any rights, options or warrants (other than pursuant to a stockholder rights plan in connection with the initial adoption by the Company, so long as such rights have not separated from the shares of Common Stock and are not exercisable until the occurrence of a triggering event) entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock, at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance; or

 

(B)            distribute to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock the Company’s assets, securities or rights, options or warrants to purchase securities of the Company, which distribution has a per share value, as reasonably determined by the Board of Directors, exceeding 10% of the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such distribution,

 

then, in either case, the Company shall notify all Holders of the Notes at least 35 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution. Once the Company has given such notice, the Holders may surrender all or any portion of their Notes (that is $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) for conversion at any time until the earlier of (1) the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance or distribution and (2) the Company’s announcement that such issuance or distribution will not take place.

 

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No Holder may convert any of its Notes pursuant to this Section 14.01(b)(ii) if such Holder otherwise participates in such issuance or distribution, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of Common Stock and as a result of holding the Notes, without having to convert its Notes, as if it held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the applicable Conversion Rate, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder.

  

(iii)            If, prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding February 1, 2026:

 

(A)            a transaction or event that constitutes a Fundamental Change occurs;

 

(B)            a transaction or event that constitutes a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs; or

 

(C)            the Company is a party to a consolidation, merger, or other combination, statutory share exchange or sale, lease or other transfer or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated assets, taken as a whole, in each case, pursuant to which the Common Stock would be converted into cash, stock, other securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof),

 

then, in each case, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes (that is $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) for conversion at any time from or after the open of business on the Business Day immediately following the day the Company gives notice of such transaction until the close of business on the 35th Trading Day after the actual effective date of such transaction or, if such transaction also constitutes a Fundamental Change (other than a Fundamental Change for which the Company validly invokes the Adequate Cash Conversion Provisions), until the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

 

The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the effective date of any such transaction as promptly as practicable following the date the Company publicly announces such transaction (and the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Holders prior to such effective date if practicable).

 

If a Holder has already delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note, such Holder may not surrender such Note for conversion until such Holder has validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of a Global Note, has complied with the Applicable Procedures with respect to such a withdrawal) in accordance with the terms of Section 15.03. If a Holder has already delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, such Holder’s right to withdraw such notice and convert the Notes that are subject to repurchase will terminate at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the relevant Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

 

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(iv)            Prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding February 1, 2026, a Holder may surrender all or any portion of its Notes (that is $1,000 in principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) for conversion at any time during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on June 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive Trading Days ending on the last Trading Day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter is greater than or equal to 130% of the Conversion Price on each applicable Trading Day. The Company shall determine whether the Notes are convertible because the Last Reported Sale Price condition has been met and provide written notice to the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee).

 

(v)

 

(A)            If the Company calls any Note for Redemption pursuant to Article 16, the Holder may convert such Note (or a portion thereof) called for Redemption at any time from, and including, the Redemption Notice Date until the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the related Redemption Date, or, if the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price, such later date on which the Company pays or duly provides for the Redemption Price. If the Company has designated a Redemption Date pursuant to Article 16, a Holder that complies with the requirements for conversion described herein shall be deemed to have delivered a notice of its election not to have its Notes so redeemed.

 

(B)            If the Company elects to redeem less than all of the outstanding Notes pursuant to Article 16, and the Holder of any Note (or any owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Note) is reasonably not able to determine, before the close of business on the 26th Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the related Redemption Date (or the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately before the relevant Redemption Date if the Company has specified in the Notice of Redemption that the Company has elected Physical Settlement of any Notes called for Redemption and submitted for conversion on or after the date of issuance of a Notice of Redemption and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the related Redemption Date), whether such Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, is to be redeemed pursuant to such Redemption (and, as a result thereof, convertible in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture), then such Holder or owner, as applicable, shall be entitled to convert such Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, at any time before the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding such Redemption Date, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, in which case such Holder or owner, as applicable, shall be entitled to convert such Note or beneficial interest, as applicable, until the Redemption Price has been paid or duly provided for, and each such conversion shall be deemed to be of a Note called for Redemption for the purposes of this Section 14.01(b)(v), Section 14.03 and Section 16.01.

 

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Section 14.02. Conversion Procedure; Settlement Upon Conversion.

 

(a)            Subject to this Section 14.02, Section 14.03(b) and Section 14.07(a), upon conversion of any Note, the Company shall, at its election, pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the converting Holder, in full satisfaction of its Conversion Obligation, cash (“Cash Settlement”), shares of the Common Stock, together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of delivering any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with Section 14.02(i) (“Physical Settlement”), or a combination of cash and shares of the Common Stock, together with cash, if applicable, in lieu of delivering any fractional share of Common Stock in accordance with Section 14.02(i) (“Combination Settlement”), as set forth in this Section 14.02.

 

(i)            All conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after February 1, 2026, and all conversions of Notes called for Redemption pursuant to Section 16.01 occurring on or after a Redemption Notice Date and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the related Redemption Date, shall be settled using the same Settlement Method (including the same relative proportion of cash and/or shares of the Common Stock). Except for any conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after February 1, 2026, and any conversions of Notes called for Redemption pursuant to Section 16.01 occurring on or after a Redemption Notice Date and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the related Redemption Date, the Company shall use the same Settlement Method (including the same relative proportion of cash and/or shares of the Common Stock) for all conversions with the same Conversion Date, but the Company shall not have any obligation to use the same Settlement Method with respect to conversions with different Conversion Dates.

 

(ii)            If the Company elects a Settlement Method, the Company shall deliver notice to Holders through the Conversion Agent of such Settlement Method the Company has selected no later than the close of business on the Trading Day immediately following the related Conversion Date, or in the case of any conversions for which the relevant Conversion Date occurs on or after February 1, 2026, no later than February 1, 2026, or in the case of any conversion of Notes called for Redemption pursuant to Section 16.01 occurring on or after a Redemption Notice Date and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Redemption Date, in the Notice of Redemption. If the Company does not timely elect a Settlement Method, the Company shall no longer have the right to elect Cash Settlement or Physical Settlement with respect to that Conversion Date and the Company shall be deemed to have elected Combination Settlement in respect of its Conversion Obligation, and the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes shall be equal to $1,000. If the Company has timely elected Combination Settlement in respect of any conversion but does not timely notify the Conversion Agent of the Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, the Specified Dollar Amount shall be deemed to be $1,000. By notice to Holders, the Company may, prior to February 1, 2026, at its option, irrevocably elect to satisfy its Conversion Obligations with respect to the Notes through Combination Settlement with a Specified Dollar Amount per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for all Conversion Dates occurring subsequent to delivery of such notice.

 

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(iii)            The cash, shares of Common Stock or combination of cash and shares of Common Stock payable or deliverable by the Company in respect of any conversion of Notes (the “Settlement Amount”) shall be computed by the Company as follows:

 

(A)            if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Physical Settlement, the Company shall deliver to the converting Holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate on the Conversion Date (plus cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion);

 

(B)            if the Company elects to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Cash Settlement, the Company shall pay to the converting Holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted cash in an amount equal to the sum of the Daily Conversion Values for each of the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Days during the related Observation Period; and

 

(C)            if the Company elects (or is deemed to have elected) to satisfy its Conversion Obligation in respect of such conversion by Combination Settlement, the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, to the converting Holder in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes being converted a Settlement Amount equal to the sum of the Daily Settlement Amounts for each of the 25 consecutive VWAP Trading Days during the related Observation Period (plus cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion).

 

If more than one Note shall be surrendered for conversion at any one time by the same Holder, the Conversion Obligation with respect to such Notes shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered.

 

(iv)            The Daily Settlement Amounts (if applicable) and the Daily Conversion Values (if applicable) shall be determined by the Company promptly following the last VWAP Trading Day of the related Observation Period. Promptly after such determination of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and, if applicable, the amount of cash payable in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock, the Company shall notify the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the Daily Settlement Amounts or the Daily Conversion Values, as the case may be, and, if applicable, the amount of cash payable in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock. The Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall have no responsibility for any such determination.

 

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      (b)             (i)           To convert a beneficial interest in a Global Note (which conversion is irrevocable), the holder of such beneficial interest must:

 

(A)            comply with the Applicable Procedures;

 

(B)             if required, pay funds equal to all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax owed as set forth in Section 14.02(d) and Section 14.02(e); and

 

(C)             if required, pay funds equal to any interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(g); and

 

(ii)           To convert a Certificated Note, the Holder must:

 

(A)            complete, sign (by manual, electronic or facsimile signature) and deliver an irrevocable notice to the Conversion Agent as set forth in the Form of Notice of Conversion (or a facsimile or delivery by electronic mail of a pdf thereof) (a “Notice of Conversion”) and such Note to the Conversion Agent;

 

(B)             if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents;

 

(C)             if required, pay funds equal to all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax owed as set forth in Section 14.02(d) and Section 14.02(e); and

 

(D)            if required, pay funds equal to any interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date to which such Holder is not entitled as set forth in Section 14.02(g).

 

The Trustee (and if different, the Conversion Agent) shall notify the Company of any conversion pursuant to this Article 14 on the Conversion Date for such conversion or, if notice on such date is not feasible given the nature of the conversion, promptly thereafter.

 

If a Holder has already delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note, such Holder may not surrender such Note for conversion until such Holder has validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of a Global Note, has complied with the Applicable Procedures with respect to such a withdrawal) in accordance with the terms of Section 15.03. If a Holder has already delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, such Holder’s right to withdraw such notice and convert the Notes that are subject to repurchase will terminate at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the relevant Fundamental Change Repurchase Date. If the Company has designated a Redemption Date pursuant to Section 16.02, a Holder that complies with the requirements for conversion set forth in this Section 14.02(b) shall be deemed to have delivered a notice of its election not have its Notes so redeemed.

 

(c)            A Note shall be deemed to have been converted immediately prior to the close of business on the date (the “Conversion Date”) that the Holder has complied with the requirements set forth in Section 14.02(b).

 

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Subject to the next paragraph and the provisions of Section 14.03(b) and Section 14.07(a), the Company shall pay or deliver, as the case may be, the Settlement Amount due in respect of the Conversion Obligation no later than:

 

(i)            the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date, if the Company elects Physical Settlement; or

 

(ii)            the second Business Day immediately following the last VWAP Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period, if the Company elects Cash Settlement or if the Company elects or is deemed to elect Combination Settlement.

 

If any shares of Common Stock are due to converting Holders, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued, and deliver to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, certificates or a book-entry transfer through the Depositary, as the case may be, for the full number of shares of Common Stock to which such Holder shall be entitled in satisfaction of the Company’s Conversion Obligation.

 

(d)            In case any Certificated Note shall be surrendered for partial conversion, in $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or upon the written order of the Holder so surrendered a new Note or Notes in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Note, without payment of any service charge by the converting Holder but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge required by law or that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such conversion being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such conversion.

 

(e)            If a Holder submits a Note for conversion, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issuance of any shares of Common Stock upon conversion of such Note, unless the tax is due because the Holder requests such shares to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name, in which case the Holder shall pay that tax. The Conversion Agent may refuse to deliver the certificates representing the shares of Common Stock being issued in a name other than the Holder’s name until the Trustee receives a sum sufficient to pay any tax that is due by such Holder in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(f)            Upon the conversion of an interest in a Global Note, the Trustee, or the Custodian of the Global Note at the direction of the Trustee, shall make a notation in the books and records of the Trustee and Depositary as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of any conversion of Notes effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.

 

(g)           Upon conversion of a Note, the converting Holder shall not receive any separate cash payment representing accrued and unpaid interest, if any, except as set forth in the paragraph below. The Company’s payment or delivery, as the case may be, of the Settlement Amount upon conversion of any Note shall be deemed to satisfy in full its obligation to pay the principal amount of the Note and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date. As a result, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the relevant Conversion Date shall be deemed to be paid in full rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited. Upon a conversion of Notes into a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, accrued and unpaid interest shall be deemed to be paid first out of the cash paid upon such conversion.

 

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Notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, if Notes are converted after the close of business on a Regular Record Date for the payment of interest, but prior to the open of business on the immediately following Interest Payment Date, Holders of such Notes at the close of business on such Regular Record Date shall receive the full amount of interest payable on such Notes on the corresponding Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion. Notes surrendered for conversion during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the open of business on the immediately following Interest Payment Date must be accompanied by funds equal to the amount of interest payable on the Notes so converted on the corresponding Interest Payment Date (regardless of whether the converting Holder was the Holder of record on the corresponding Regular Record Date); provided that no such payment need be made:

 

(i)            if the Notes are surrendered for conversion following the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date;

 

(ii)            if the Notes surrendered for conversion are subject to Redemption by the Company on a Redemption Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately following the corresponding Interest Payment Date;

 

(iii)            if the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately following the corresponding Interest Payment Date; or

 

(iv)            to the extent of any overdue interest, if any overdue interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Note.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, all Holders on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date as described in clause (ii) above, and any Fundamental Change Repurchase Date shall receive and retain the full interest payment due on the Maturity Date or other applicable Interest Payment Date regardless of whether their Notes have been converted following such Regular Record Date.

 

(h)            The Person in whose name any shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion is registered shall become the holder of record of such shares as of the close of business on (i) the relevant Conversion Date if the Company elects Physical Settlement or (ii) the last VWAP Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period if the Company elects or is deemed to elect Combination Settlement. Upon a conversion of Notes, such Person shall no longer be a Holder of such Notes surrendered for conversion; provided that (a) the converting Holder shall have the right to receive the Settlement Amount due upon conversion and (b) in the case of a conversion between a Regular Record Date and the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Holder as of the close of business on such Regular Record Date shall have the right to receive the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date, in accordance with Section 14.02(g).

 

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(i)            The Company shall not issue any fractional share of Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes and shall instead pay cash in lieu of any fractional share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion in an amount based on (i) the Daily VWAP on the relevant Conversion Date if the Company elects Physical Settlement or (ii) the Daily VWAP on the last VWAP Trading Day of the relevant Observation Period if the Company elects or is deemed to elect Combination Settlement. For each Note surrendered for conversion, if the Company has elected (or is deemed to elect) Combination Settlement, the full number of shares that shall be issued upon conversion thereof shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate Daily Settlement Amounts for the relevant Observation Period and, if applicable, any fractional share remaining after such computation shall be paid in cash.

 

(j)            Upon surrender by a Holder of its Notes for conversion, the Company may, at its election (an “Exchange Election”), direct the Conversion Agent to surrender, on or prior to the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date, such Notes to a financial institution designated by the Company (the “Designated Financial Institution”) for exchange in lieu of conversion by the Company. In order to accept any Notes surrendered to the Company for conversion, the Designated Financial Institution must agree to timely deliver, in exchange for such Notes, cash, shares of Common Stock or combination thereof, at the Company’s election, that would otherwise be due upon conversion, all as provided in Section 14.02(a) (the “Conversion Consideration”). If the Company makes an Exchange Election, the Company shall, by the close of business on the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date, notify in writing the Holder surrendering Notes for conversion and the Trustee that the Company has made an Exchange Election and shall notify the Designated Financial Institution of the Settlement Method the Company has elected with respect to such conversion and the relevant deadline for delivery of the relevant Conversion Consideration.

 

If the Designated Financial Institution accepts any such Notes, it will pay and/or deliver, as the case may be, the cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof due upon conversion to the Conversion Agent, and the Conversion Agent shall pay and/or deliver such cash and/or shares of Common Stock to such Holder on the third Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date. Any Notes exchanged by the Designated Financial Institution shall remain outstanding, subject to the Applicable Procedures. If the Designated Financial Institution agrees to accept any Notes for exchange but does not timely deliver the related Conversion Consideration, or if such Designated Financial Institution does not accept the Notes for exchange, the Company shall convert the Notes and deliver the relevant Conversion Consideration as described in Section 14.02.

 

The Company’s designation of a Designated Financial Institution does not require such Designated Financial Institution to accept any Notes. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into a separate agreement with any Designated Financial Institution that would compensate it for any such transaction.

 

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Section 14.03. Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion in Connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption.

  

(a)            (i) If the Effective Date of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs prior to the Maturity Date or (ii) if the Company delivers a Notice of Redemption with respect to any or all of the Notes pursuant to Article 16 and, in either case, a Holder elects to convert its Notes in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption, the Company shall, under the circumstances described in this Section 14.03, increase the Conversion Rate for the Notes so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”), as described in this Section 14.03. A conversion of Notes shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” such Make-Whole Fundamental Change if the relevant Notice of Conversion (or, in the case of a Global Note, the relevant notice of conversion in accordance with the Applicable Procedures) is received by the Conversion Agent during the period from the open of business on the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (or, in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change that would have been a Fundamental Change but for (x) the proviso in clause (b) of the definition thereof or (y) the Adequate Cash Conversion Provisions, the 35th Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change). A conversion of Notes called for Redemption pursuant to Section 16.01 shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” a Notice of Redemption if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the period from the open of business on the Redemption Notice Date to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the related Redemption Date or, if the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price, such later date on which the Company pays the Redemption Price. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall increase the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 14.03 in connection with a Notice of Redemption only with respect to conversions of Notes called (or deemed called, as provided in Section 14.01(b)(v)(B)) for redemption, and not of Notes not called for redemption. Accordingly, if the Company elects to redeem less than all of the outstanding Notes pursuant to Article 16, Holders of Notes not called for Redemption shall not be entitled to an increased Conversion Rate for conversions of such Notes.

 

(b)            Upon surrender of Notes for conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or a Notice of Redemption, the Company shall, at its option, satisfy its Conversion Obligation by Physical Settlement, Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement in accordance with Section 14.02 (after giving effect to any increase in the Conversion Rate required by this Section 14.03); provided, however, that, if the consideration for the Common Stock in any Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change is composed entirely of cash, for any conversion of Notes following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Conversion Obligation shall be calculated based solely on the Stock Price for the transaction and shall be deemed to be an amount of cash per $1,000 principal amount of converted Notes equal to (i) the Conversion Rate (including any increase in the Conversion Rate required by this Section 14.03), multiplied by (ii) such Stock Price. In such event, the Conversion Obligation shall be determined and paid to Holders in cash on the second Business Day following the Conversion Date. The Company shall notify Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the Effective Date of any Make-Whole Fundamental Change and, no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date, issue a press release announcing such Effective Date, disclose the Effective Date in a Current Report on Form 8-K or post the Effective Date on the Company’s website (the “Make-Whole Fundamental Change Company Notice”).

 

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(c)            The number of Additional Shares, if any, by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased shall be determined by reference to the table below, based on (i) (x) in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the date on which the Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs or becomes effective or, (y) in the case of a Redemption, the Redemption Notice Date (the “Effective Date”) and (ii)(x) in the case of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the price paid (or deemed to be paid) per share of the Common Stock in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change, as provided for in Section 14.03(c), or, (y) in the case of a Redemption, the Redemption Reference Price (the “Stock Price”). If the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (b) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Stock Price shall be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the Stock Price shall be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the five Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. The Board of Directors shall make appropriate adjustments to the Stock Price, in its good faith determination, to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date of the event occurs, during such five Trading Day period.

 

(d)            The Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table below shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate is otherwise adjusted. The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal (i) the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares set forth in the table below shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate as set forth in Section 14.04.

 

(e)            The following table sets forth the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased per $1,000 principal amount of Notes pursuant to this Section 14.03 for each Stock Price and Effective Date set forth below:

 

    Stock Price  
Effective Date   $12.50     $14.00     $15.00     $17.00     $19.50     $25.00     $30.00     $35.00     $40.00     $45.00     $50.00     $55.00     $60.00  
April 28, 2020     13.3333       11.2800       9.7340       7.3694       5.3333       2.7860       1.6037       0.9271       0.5225       0.2751       0.1252       0.0402       0.0032  
May 1, 2021     13.3333       11.2800       9.7340       7.3694       5.2533       2.6556       1.4867       0.8354       0.4558       0.2296       0.0970       0.0256       0.0000  
May 1, 2022     13.3333       11.2800       9.7340       7.2071       5.0067       2.4064       1.2900       0.6926       0.3578       0.1671       0.0620       0.0115       0.0000  
May 1, 2023     13.3333       11.2800       9.6000       6.8065       4.5513       2.0208       1.0103       0.5026       0.2345       0.0924       0.0226       0.0002       0.0000  
May 1, 2024     13.3333       11.0064       8.9400       5.9965       3.7431       1.4428       0.6383       0.2760       0.1040       0.0249       0.0002       0.0000       0.0000  
May 1, 2025     13.3333       9.6379       7.3420       4.3053       2.2764       0.6412       0.2220       0.0686       0.0105       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  
May 1, 2026     13.3333       4.7618       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000       0.0000  

 

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The exact Stock Price or Effective Date may not be set forth in the table above, in which case:

 

(i)            if the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices and the earlier and later Effective Dates in the table above, as applicable, based on a 365- or 366-day year, as the case may be;

 

(ii)            if the Stock Price is greater than $60.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate; and

 

(iii)            if the Stock Price is less than $12.50 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table above), no Additional Shares shall be added to the Conversion Rate.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Conversion Rate per $1,000 principal amount of Notes exceed 80.0000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04.

 

(f)            Nothing in this Section 14.03 shall prevent an adjustment to the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 in respect of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

 

Section 14.04. Adjustment of Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted from time to time by the Company if any of the following events occurs, except that the Company shall not make any adjustments to the Conversion Rate if Holders of the Notes participate (other than in the case of a share split or share combination), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock and solely as a result of holding the Notes, in any of the transactions described in this Section 14.04, without having to convert their Notes, as if they held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the Conversion Rate, multiplied by (ii) the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holder.

 

(a)            If the Company exclusively issues shares of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on all, or substantially all, shares of the Common Stock, or if the Company effects a share split or share combination, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the open of business on the effective date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;

 

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CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or effective date, as applicable;

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or effective date, as applicable, before giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination; and

 

OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination.

 

Any adjustment made under this Section 14.04(a) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the open of business on the effective date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 14.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

(b)            If the Company issues to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them, for a period of not more than 45 calendar days after the announcement date of such issuance, to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price per share that is less than the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

 

X = the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to such rights, options or warrants; and

 

Y = the number of shares of Common Stock equal to (i) the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants, divided by (ii) the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of the issuance of such rights, options or warrants.

 

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Any increase made under this Section 14.04(b) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance. To the extent that such rights, options or warrants are not exercised prior to their expiration or shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the exercise or expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to issue such rights, options or warrants, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Ex-Dividend Date for such issuance had not occurred.

 

For purposes of this Section 14.04(b) and Section 14.01(b)(ii)(A), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders of Common Stock to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)            If the Company distributes shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness, other assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire its Capital Stock or other securities, to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, excluding:

 

(i)            dividends, distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 14.04(a) or Section 14.04(b);

 

(ii)            rights issued under a stockholder rights plan (except as set forth in this Section 14.04(c));

 

(iii)            dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 14.04(d);

 

(iv)            any dividends and distributions in connection with a Specified Corporate Event described in Section 14.07; and

 

(v)            Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth in this Section 14.04(c) shall apply

 

(any of such shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, other assets or property, or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock or other securities of the Company, the “Distributed Property”), then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

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where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date;

 

SP0 = the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution; and

 

FMV = the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of the Distributed Property so distributed with respect to each outstanding share of the Common Stock on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution.

 

Any increase made under the portion of this Section 14.04(c) above shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay or make such distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock receive the Distributed Property, the amount and kind of Distributed Property that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Ex-Dividend Date for the distribution.

 

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With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 14.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company, that are, or, when issued, will be, listed or admitted for trading on a U.S. national securities exchange (a “Spin-Off”), the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution;

 

FMV0 = the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of the Common Stock applicable to one share of the Common Stock (determined by reference to the definition of Last Reported Sale Price as set forth in Section 1.01 as if references therein to Common Stock were to such Capital Stock or similar equity interest) over the first 10 consecutive Trading Day period after, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and

 

MP0 = the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the Valuation Period.

 

The increase to the Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph shall occur at the close of business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period; provided that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Physical Settlement is applicable, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the Valuation Period, the references to “10” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Dividend Date of such Spin-Off and the Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate and (y) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement is applicable, for any Trading Day that falls within the relevant Observation Period for such conversion and within the Valuation Period, the references to “10” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Ex-Dividend Date of such Spin-Off and such Trading Day in determining the Conversion Rate as of such Trading Day. In addition, if the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin-Off is after the 10th Trading Day immediately preceding, and including, the end of any Observation Period in respect of a conversion of Notes, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph and this paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced, solely in respect of that conversion, with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for the Spin-Off to, and including, the last Trading Day of such Observation Period. If such Spin-Off does not occur, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to consummate such Spin-Off.

 

For purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and subject in all respect to Section 14.11), rights, options or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of the Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, including Common Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights, options or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (“Trigger Event”):

 

(i)            are deemed to be transferred with such shares of the Common Stock;

 

(ii)            are not exercisable; and

 

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(iii)            are also issued in respect of future issuances of the Common Stock,

 

shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 14.04(c) (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under this Section 14.04(c). If any such right, option or warrant, including any such existing rights, options or warrants distributed prior to the date of this Indenture, are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights, options or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and Ex-Dividend Date with respect to new rights, options or warrants with such rights (in which case the existing rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to terminate and expire on such date without exercise by any of the holders thereof). In addition, in the event of any distribution (or deemed distribution) of rights, options or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the immediately preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(c) was made:

 

(A)            in the case of any such rights, options or warrants that shall all have been redeemed or purchased without exercise by any holders thereof, upon such final redemption or purchase (x) the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options or warrants had not been issued and (y) the Conversion Rate shall then again be readjusted to give effect to such distribution, deemed distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or purchase price received by a holder or holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights, options or warrants (assuming such holder had retained such rights, options or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or purchase, and

 

(B)            in the case of such rights, options or warrants that shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options and warrants had not been issued.

 

For purposes of Section 14.04(a), Section 14.04(b) and this Section 14.04(c), any dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable that also includes one or both of:

 

(i)            a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock to which Section 14.04(a) is applicable (the “Clause A Distribution”); or

 

(ii)            a dividend or distribution of rights, options or warrants to which Section 14.04(b) is applicable (the “Clause B Distribution”),

 

then:

 

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(A)            such dividend or distribution, other than the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution, shall be deemed to be a dividend or distribution to which this Section 14.04(c) is applicable (the “Clause C Distribution”) and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by this Section 14.04(c) with respect to such Clause C Distribution shall then be made; and

 

(B)            the Clause A Distribution and Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to immediately follow the Clause C Distribution and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 14.04(a) and Section 14.04(b) with respect thereto shall then be made, except that, if determined by the Company (I) the “Ex-Dividend Date” of the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution shall be deemed to be the Ex-Dividend Date of the Clause C Distribution and (II) any shares of Common Stock included in the Clause A Distribution or Clause B Distribution shall be deemed not to be “outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date or effective date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(a) or “outstanding immediately prior to the open of business on such Ex-Dividend Date” within the meaning of Section 14.04(b).

 

(d)            If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;

 

SP0 = the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution; and

 

C = the amount in cash per share the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock.

 

Any increase made pursuant to this Section 14.04(d) shall become effective immediately after the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Note shall receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of the Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the open of business on the Ex-Dividend Date for such cash dividend or distribution.

 

(e)            If the Company or any of its Subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender or exchange offer for the Common Stock, to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of the Common Stock exceeds the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer (such date, the “Expiration Date”), the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date;

 

AC = the aggregate value of all cash and any other consideration (as determined by the Board of Directors) paid or payable for shares of Common Stock purchased in such tender or exchange offer;

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the time (the “Expiration Time”) such tender or exchange offer expires (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

 

OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the Expiration Time (after giving effect to the purchase of all shares of Common Stock accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer); and

 

SP1 = the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date.

 

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The increase to the Conversion Rate under this Section 14.04(e) shall occur at the close of business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the date such tender or exchange offer expires; provided that (x) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Physical Settlement is applicable, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date of any tender or exchange offer, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between such Expiration Date of such tender or exchange offer and the Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate and (y) in respect of any conversion of Notes for which Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement is applicable, for any Trading Day that falls within the relevant Observation Period for such conversion and within the 10 Trading Days immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date of any tender or exchange offer, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed between the Expiration Date of such tender or exchange offer and such Trading Day in determining the Conversion Rate as of such Trading Day. In addition, if the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date of any tender or exchange offer is after the 10th Trading Day immediately preceding, and including, the end of any Observation Period in respect of a conversion of Notes, references to “10” or “10th” in the preceding paragraph and this paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced, solely in respect of that conversion, with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date of such tender or exchange offer to, and including, last Trading Day of such Observation Period.

 

In the event that the Company or one of its Subsidiaries is obligated to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to any such tender offer or exchange offer, but the Company or such Subsidiary is permanently prevented by applicable law from effecting any such purchases, or all such purchases are rescinded, then the Conversion Rate shall again be adjusted to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such tender offer or exchange offer had not been made or had been made only in respect of the purchases that have been effected. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Section 14.04(e), the term “tender offer” is used as such term is used in the Exchange Act and the term “exchange offer” means an exchange offer that constitutes a tender offer.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 14.04 or any other provision of this Indenture or the Notes, if a Conversion Rate adjustment becomes effective on any Ex-Dividend Date and a Holder that has converted its Notes on or after such Ex-Dividend Date and on or prior to the related Record Date would be treated as the record holder of the shares of Common Stock as of the related Conversion Date pursuant to Section 14.02(h) based on an adjusted Conversion Rate for such Ex-Dividend Date, then, notwithstanding the Conversion Rate adjustment provisions in this Section 14.04, the Conversion Rate adjustment relating to such Ex-Dividend Date shall not be made for such converting Holder. Instead, such Holder shall be treated as if such Holder were the record owner of the shares of Common Stock on an unadjusted basis and participate in the related dividend, distribution or other event giving rise to such adjustment.

 

(g)            All calculations and other determinations under this Article 14 shall be made by the Company and all adjustments to the Conversion Rate shall be made to the nearest one-ten thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 14 to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to adjust the Conversion Rate unless the adjustment would result in an increase or decrease of at least 1.0% to the Conversion Rate. However, the Company shall carry forward, and take into account in any future adjustment, any adjustments that are less than 1.0% of the Conversion Rate, and make such carried-forward adjustments, regardless of whether the aggregate amount of such adjustments is less than 1.0% (a) on the effective date of any Fundamental Change or the Effective Date of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change, (b) on the Conversion Date for any Notes (in the case of Physical Settlement), (c) on each VWAP Trading Day of any Observation Period (in the case of Cash Settlement or Combination Settlement) and (d) on the Redemption Notice Date.

 

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(h)            In addition to those adjustments required by clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this Section 14.04, and to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of The New York Stock Exchange, the Company from time to time may increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least 20 Business Days if the Board of Directors determines that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest. In addition, to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the applicable rules of The New York Stock Exchange, the Company may also (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase shares of Common Stock in connection with a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock (or rights to acquire shares of Common Stock) or similar event. Whenever the Conversion Rate is increased pursuant to either of the preceding two sentences, the Company shall send to the Holder of each Note at its last address appearing on the Note Register a notice of the increase at least 15 days prior to the date the increased Conversion Rate takes effect, and such notice shall state the increased Conversion Rate and the period during which it will be in effect.

 

(i)            Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall promptly furnish to the Trustee (and the Conversion Agent if not the Trustee) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the Conversion Rate after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received such Officer’s Certificate, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any adjustment of the Conversion Rate and may assume without inquiry that the last Conversion Rate of which it has knowledge is still in effect. Promptly after delivery of such certificate, the Company shall prepare a notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate setting forth the adjusted Conversion Rate and the date on which each adjustment becomes effective and shall send such notice of such adjustment of the Conversion Rate to each Holder at its last address appearing on the Note Register of this Indenture. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of any such adjustment.

 

(j)            For purposes of this Section 14.04, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company so long as the Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock.

 

(k)            The Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate except as stated in this Indenture, including, for the avoidance of doubt, for the issuance of shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock or the right to purchase shares of Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article 14, the Conversion Rate shall not be adjusted:

 

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(i)              upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends or interest payable on the Company’s securities and the investment of additional optional amounts in shares of Common Stock under any plan;

 

(ii)             upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock or options or rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or assumed by the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

 

(iii)            upon the issuance of any shares of the Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in clause (ii) of this subsection and outstanding as of the Issue Date;

 

(iv)            for ordinary course of business stock repurchases that are not tender offers referred to in Section 14.04(e), including structured or derivative transactions or pursuant to a stock repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors;

 

(v)             solely for a change in the par value of the Common Stock; or

 

(vi)            for accrued and unpaid interest, if any.

 

Section 14.05. Adjustments of Prices. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Company to calculate the Last Reported Sale Prices, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values or the Daily Settlement Amounts over a span of multiple days (including an Observation Period and the period for determining the Stock Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or a Notice of Redemption), the Board of Directors shall make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date, Effective Date or expiration date of the event occurs, at any time during the period when the Last Reported Sale Prices, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values or the Daily Settlement Amounts are to be calculated.

 

Section 14.06. Shares to Be Fully Reserved. The Company shall reserve, on or prior to the date of this Indenture, and from time to time as may be necessary, out of its authorized but unissued shares, sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion (assuming that at the time of computation of such number of shares, all such Notes would be converted by a single Holder and that Physical Settlement is applicable, and including the maximum number of Additional Shares that could be included in the Conversion Rate for a conversion in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change or Notice of Redemption).

 

Section 14.07. Effect of Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of the Common Stock.

 

(a)            In the case of:

 

(i)            any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than a change from no par value to par value, a change in par value or a change from par value to no par value, or changes resulting from a subdivision or combination);

 

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(ii)             any consolidation, merger or other combination involving the Company; or

 

(iii)            any sale, lease or other transfer or disposition to a third party of all or substantially all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ consolidated assets, taken as a whole; or

 

(iv)            any statutory share exchange,

 

in each case, as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “Specified Corporate Event” and any such stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof), “Reference Property” and the amount of Reference Property that a holder of one share of the Common Stock immediately prior to such Specified Corporate Event would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Specified Corporate Event, a “Unit of Reference Property”), then the Company, or the successor or purchasing corporation, Permitted Limited Liability Company or Permitted Partnership, as the case may be, will execute with the Trustee, without the consent of the Holders, a supplemental indenture providing that, at and after the effective time of the Specified Corporate Event, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Notes will be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Notes into the kind and amount of Reference Property that a holder of a number of shares of the Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such Specified Corporate Event would have been entitled to receive upon such Specified Corporate Event; provided, however, that at and after the effective time of such Specified Corporate Event:

 

(A)            the Company shall continue to have the right to determine the form of consideration to be paid or delivered, as the case may be, upon conversion of Notes in accordance with Section 14.02; and

 

(B)            (I) any amount payable in cash upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall continue to be payable in cash, (II) any shares of Common Stock that the Company would have been required to deliver upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with Section 14.02 shall instead be deliverable in the Units of Reference Property that a holder of that number of shares of Common Stock would have received in such Specified Corporate Event and (III) the Daily VWAP shall be calculated based on the value of a Unit of Reference Property; provided, however, that if the holders of Common Stock receive only cash in such Specified Corporate Event, then for all conversions that occur after the effective date of such Specified Corporate Event (x) the consideration due upon conversion of each $1,000 principal aggregate amount of Notes shall be solely cash in an amount equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Conversion Date (as may be increased by any Additional Shares pursuant to Section 14.03), multiplied by the price paid per share of Common Stock in such Specified Corporate Event and (y) the Company shall satisfy the Conversion Obligation by paying such cash to the converting Holder on the second Business Day immediately following the Conversion Date.

 

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If the Specified Corporate Event causes the Common Stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), then the Reference Property into which the Notes shall be convertible shall be the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of Common Stock. The Company shall notify, in writing, the Holders, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) of the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration received by the holders of Common Stock as soon as practicable after such determination.

 

Such supplemental indenture described in the second immediately preceding paragraph shall provide for anti-dilution and other adjustments that shall be as nearly equivalent as is possible to the adjustments provided for in this Article 14. If the Reference Property in respect of any such Specified Corporate Event includes shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including any combination thereof) of an entity other than the Company or the successor or purchasing corporation, Permitted Limited Liability Company or Permitted Partnership, as the case may be, in such Specified Corporate Event, then such other entity, if it is a party to such Specified Corporate Event, shall also execute such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders, including the right of Holders to require the Company to repurchase their Notes upon a Fundamental Change in accordance with Article 15, as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider necessary by reason of the foregoing.

 

(b)            In the event the Company shall execute a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 14.07(a), the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate briefly stating the reasons therefor, the kind or amount of cash, securities or other assets (including any combination thereof) that will comprise the Reference Property after any such Specified Corporate Event, any adjustment to be made with respect thereto and that all conditions precedent have been complied with, and shall promptly send notice thereof to all Holders. The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be sent to each Holder, at its address appearing on the Note Register provided for in this Indenture, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture.

 

(c)            If the Notes become convertible into Reference Property, the Company shall notify the Trustee and issue a press release containing the relevant information, disclose the relevant information in a Current Report on Form 8-K or post such information on the Company’s website.

 

(d)            The Company shall not become a party to any Specified Corporate Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 14.07. None of the foregoing provisions shall affect the right of a Holder to convert its Notes into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, as applicable, as set forth in Section 14.01 and Section 14.02 prior to the effective date of such Specified Corporate Event.

 

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(e)            [Reserved].

 

(f)            The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Specified Corporate Events.

 

Section 14.08. Certain Covenants.

 

(a)            The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of Notes shall be duly authorized, fully paid and non-assessable and free from all preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of the Company and, except for any transfer taxes payable by the Company or a Holder, as the case may be, pursuant to Sections 14.02(d) and 14.02(e), free from all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes, liens and charges as the result of any action by the Company.

 

(b)            The Company covenants that if any shares of Common Stock to be provided for the purpose of conversion of Notes hereunder require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under any federal or state law before such shares may be validly issued upon conversion, the Company shall, to the extent then permitted by the rules and interpretations of the Commission, secure such registration or approval, as the case may be.

 

(c)            The Company further covenants that if at any time the Common Stock shall be listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system, the Company shall list and keep listed, so long as the Common Stock shall be so listed on such exchange or automated quotation system, any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes.

 

Section 14.09. Responsibility of Trustee. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate (or any adjustment thereto) or whether any facts exist that may require any adjustment (including any increase) of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock, or of any securities, property or cash that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Note; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to Section 14.07 relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or securities or property (including cash) receivable by Holders upon the conversion of their Notes after any event referred to in such Section 14.07 or to any adjustment to be made with respect thereto, but, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, may accept (without any independent investigation) as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officer’s Certificate (which the Company shall be obligated to furnish to the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event contemplated by Section 14.01(b) has occurred that makes the Notes eligible for conversion or no longer eligible therefor until the Company has delivered to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) the notices referred to in Section 14.01(b) with respect to the commencement or termination of such conversion rights, on which notices the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) may conclusively rely, and the Company agrees to deliver such notices to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) immediately after the occurrence of any such event or at such other times as shall be provided for in Section 14.01(b). The parties hereto agree that all notices to the Trustee or the Conversion Agent under this Article 14 shall be in writing or as otherwise provided herein.

 

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Section 14.10. Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions. In case of any:

 

(a)            action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 14.04 or Section 14.11;

 

(b)            Specified Corporate Event; or

 

(c)            voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

then, in each case (unless notice of such event is otherwise required pursuant to another provision of this Indenture), the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee) and to be sent to each Holder at its address appearing on the Note Register, as promptly as possible but in any event at least 20 days prior to the applicable date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record are to be determined for the purposes of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) the date on which such Specified Corporate Event, or any dissolution, liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective or occur, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such Specified Corporate Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up; provided, however, that if on such date, the Company does not have knowledge of such event or the adjusted Conversion Rate cannot be calculated, the Company shall deliver such notice as promptly as practicable upon obtaining knowledge of such event or information sufficient to make such calculation, as the case may be, and in no event later than the effective date of such adjustment. Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such action by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, Specified Corporate Event, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up.

 

Section 14.11. Stockholder Rights Plans. If the Company has a rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Notes into Common Stock, Holders that convert their Notes shall receive, in addition to any shares of Common Stock received in connection with such conversion, the appropriate number of rights under the rights plan, if any, and any certificate representing the share of Common Stock issued upon such conversion shall bear such legends, if any, in each case as may be provided by the terms of any such rights plan, as the same may be amended from time to time. However, if prior to any conversion, the rights have separated from the shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of the applicable rights plan, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all or substantially all holders of shares of Common Stock, Distributed Property pursuant to Section 14.04(c), subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

 

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Article 15
Repurchase of Notes at Option of Holders

 

Section 15.01. Intentionally Omitted.

 

Section 15.02. Repurchase at Option of Holders Upon a Fundamental Change. (a) If a Fundamental Change occurs at any time prior to the Maturity Date, each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion of the principal amount thereof that is equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, on the date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) specified by the Company that is not less than 20 nor more than 35 calendar days following the date of the Fundamental Change Company Notice (subject to extension to comply with applicable law), at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”), unless the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date falls after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the Interest Payment Date to which such Regular Record Date relates, in which case the Company shall instead pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest to Holders of record as of such Regular Record Date, and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be purchased pursuant to this Article 15.

 

(b)            Repurchases of Notes under this Section 15.02 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

 

(i)             delivery to the Paying Agent by a Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth in Attachment 2 to the Form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, if the Notes are Certificated Notes, or in compliance with the Applicable Procedures for surrendering interests in Global Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in each case on or before the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date; and

 

(ii)            delivery of the Notes, if the Notes are Certificated Notes, to the Paying Agent on or before the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (together with all necessary endorsements for transfer) at the Corporate Trust Office of the Paying Agent, or book-entry transfer of the Notes, if the Notes are Global Notes, in compliance with the Applicable Procedures, in each case such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor.

 

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The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in respect of any Notes to be repurchased shall state:

 

A.            in the case of Certificated Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

 

B.            the portion of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

 

C.            that the Notes are to be repurchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Notes and this Indenture;

 

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice must comply with the Applicable Procedures.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice contemplated by this Section 15.02 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date by delivery of a written notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 15.03.

 

If a Holder has already delivered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect to a Note, such Holder may not surrender such Note for conversion until such Holder has validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of a Global Note, has complied with the Applicable Procedures with respect to such a withdrawal) in accordance with the terms of Section 15.03.

 

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof.

 

(c)            On or before the 20th calendar day after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall provide to all Holders of Notes and the Trustee and the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) a notice (the “Fundamental Change Company Notice”) of the occurrence of the Fundamental Change and of the repurchase right at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof.

 

Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:

 

(i)              the events causing the Fundamental Change;

 

(ii)             the effective date of the Fundamental Change;

 

(iii)            the last date on which a Holder may exercise the repurchase right pursuant to this Article 15;

 

(iv)            the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

 

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(v)             the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

 

(vi)            the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent;

 

(vii)           the Conversion Rate and any adjustments to the Conversion Rate;

 

(viii)          that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture (or, in the case of a Global Note, complies with the Applicable Procedures with respect to such a withdrawal);

 

(ix)            the procedures that Holders must follow to require the Company to repurchase their Notes; and

 

(x)             the CUSIP numbers and the statement required in Section 2.09 hereto.

 

Simultaneously with providing such Fundamental Change Company Notice, the Company shall issue a press release containing such information, disclose the information in a Current Report on Form 8-K or post such information on the Company’s website.

 

At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give such notice in the Company’s name and at the Company’s expense; provided, however, that, in all cases, the text of such Fundamental Change Company Notice shall be prepared by the Company. In such a case, the Company shall deliver such notice to the Trustee at least three Business Days prior to the date that the notice is required to be given to the Holders (unless a shorter notice period shall be agreed to by the Trustee), together with Officer’s Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice.

 

Such notice shall be delivered to the Trustee, to the Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) and to each Holder at its address shown in the Note Register (and to the beneficial owner as required by applicable law) or, in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

 

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 15.02.

 

(d)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Notes may be repurchased by the Company on any date at the option of the Holders upon a Fundamental Change if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes). The Paying Agent will promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Certificated Notes held by it during the acceleration of the Notes (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes), or any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Notes in compliance with the Applicable Procedures shall be deemed to have been cancelled, and, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 15.02, the Company shall not be required to repurchase, or to make an offer to repurchase, Notes upon a Fundamental Change if:

 

(i)            a third party makes the offer in the manner, at the times, and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Indenture applicable to an offer by the Company to repurchase Notes upon a Fundamental Change and such third party purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn upon such offer in the manner and otherwise in compliance with such requirements; or

 

(ii)            pursuant to clause (b) of the definition thereof (or a Fundamental Change pursuant to clause (a) which also results in a Fundamental Change pursuant to clause (b)), if (i) such Fundamental Change results in the Notes becoming convertible (pursuant to the provisions described in Section 14.07) into an amount of cash per Note that is greater than (x) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price (assuming the maximum amount of accrued interest would be payable based on the latest possible Fundamental Change Repurchase Date), plus (y) to the extent that the 35th Trading Day immediately following the effective date of such Fundamental Change is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Business Day immediately following the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the full amount of interest payable per Note on such Interest Payment Date and (ii) the Company provides timely notice of the Holders’ right to convert their Notes based on such Fundamental Change as described in Section 14.01(b)(iii) (the requirements set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 15.02(d), the “Adequate Cash Conversion Provisions”).

 

Section 15.03. Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice. A Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn (in whole or in part) by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 15.03 at any time prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, specifying:

 

(a)            the principal amount of the Notes with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, which portion must be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof,

 

(b)            if Certificated Notes have been issued, the certificate number of the Note in respect of which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted, and

 

(c)            the principal amount, if any, of such Note that remains subject to the original Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, which portion must be in principal amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

provided, however, that if the Notes are Global Notes, the withdrawal notice must comply with the Applicable Procedures.

 

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Section 15.04. Deposit of Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. (a) The Company shall deposit with the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company, or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04) on or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date an amount of money sufficient to repurchase all of the Notes to be repurchased at the appropriate Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Subject to receipt of funds by the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), payment for Notes surrendered for repurchase (and not validly withdrawn prior to the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date) will be made on the later of (i) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date with respect to such Note (provided the Holder has satisfied the conditions in Section 15.02) and (ii) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 15.02, by mailing checks for the amount payable to the Holders of such Notes entitled thereto as they shall appear in the Note Register; provided, however, that payments to the Depositary shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account of the Depositary or its nominee. The Trustee shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

 

(b)            If by 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) holds money sufficient to make payment on all the Notes or portions thereof that are to be repurchased on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or any applicable extension thereof, then, with respect to Notes that have been properly surrendered for repurchase and have not been validly withdrawn:

 

(i)            such Notes shall cease to be outstanding and interest shall cease to accrue on such Notes on such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or any applicable extension thereof (whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes has been made or the Notes have been delivered to the Trustee or Paying Agent); and

 

(ii)            all other rights of the Holders of such Notes will terminate on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (other than (x) the right to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and (y) if the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date falls after a Regular Record Date but on or prior to the related Interest Payment Date, the right of the Holder on such Regular Record Date to receive the accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date).

 

(c)            Upon surrender of a Note that is to be repurchased in part pursuant to Section 15.02, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder a new Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered, without payment of any service charge.

 

Section 15.05. Covenant to Comply with Applicable Laws Upon Repurchase of Notes. In connection with any repurchase offer pursuant to a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice, the Company will, if required:

 

(a)            comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable; and

 

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(b)            file a Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange Act;

 

in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this Article 15 to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in this Article 15. To the extent that any securities laws and regulations conflict with the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the repurchase of Notes, the Company shall be deemed not to be in breach of this Indenture as a result of compliance therewith.

 

Article 16
Redemption

 

Section 16.01. Right of the Company to Redeem the Notes.

 

The Notes shall not be redeemable by the Company prior to the Maturity Date, except as described in this Article 16, and no sinking fund is provided for the Notes.

 

Subject to the terms of this Article 16, on or after May 5, 2023 and prior to February 1, 2026, the Company has the right, at its election, to redeem all, or any portion in a minimum principal amount thereof equal to $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, of the Notes, for cash equal to the Redemption Price on a Redemption Date, upon giving notice as specified in Section 16.02, if the Last Reported Sale Price per share of the Common Stock has been at least 130% of the Conversion Price then in effect for at least 20 Trading Days (whether or not consecutive), including the Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Notice Date, during any 30 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Notice Date.

 

Section 16.02. Notice of Redemption

 

(a)            To call any Notes for Redemption pursuant to Section 16.01, the Company shall fix a date for Redemption (a “Redemption Date”) and the Company shall send or cause to be sent a notice of such Redemption (a “Notice of Redemption”) not less than 30 nor more than 45 Scheduled Trading Days prior to the Redemption Date (provided that if the Company specifies in the Notice of Redemption that the Company elects Physical Settlement of any Notes called for Redemption and submitted for conversion on or after the Redemption Notice Date and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the related Redemption Date, the Company may give not less than 15 nor more than 30 calendar days’ written notice) to each Holder of Notes so to be redeemed at its last address as the same appears on the Note Register; provided, however, that if the Company shall give a Notice of Redemption, it shall also give a written notice of the Redemption Date to the Trustee and the Paying Agent. The Company shall issue a press release through such national newswire service as the Company then uses containing the information set forth in the Notice of Redemption. A Redemption Date must be a Business Day of the Company’s choosing that is no more than 45, nor less than 30, Scheduled Trading Days after the Redemption Notice Date (provided that if the Company specifies in the Notice of Redemption that the Company elects Physical Settlement of any Notes called for Redemption and submitted for conversion on or after Redemption Notice Date and prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the related Redemption Date, the Redemption Date shall be a Business Day of the Company’s choosing that is no more than 30, nor less than 15, calendar days after the Redemption Notice Date).

 

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(b)            A Notice of Redemption, if delivered in the manner provided herein, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given duly, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to deliver such Notice of Redemption or any defect in the Notice of Redemption to the Holder of any Note designated for Redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Note.

 

(c)            Each Notice of Redemption shall specify:

 

(i)              that the Notes have been called for Redemption, briefly describing the Company’s Redemption rights under this Indenture;

 

(ii)             the Redemption Date for such Redemption;

 

(iii)            the Redemption Price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for such Redemption (and the amount, manner and timing of any interest payment payable pursuant to Section 16.01);

 

(iv)            the place or places where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price;

 

(v)             in case any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Note, a new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued;

 

(vi)            that Notes called for Redemption must be delivered to the Paying Agent (in the case of Certificated Notes) or the Applicable Procedures must be complied with (in the case of beneficial interests in Global Notes) for the Holder thereof to be entitled to receive the Redemption Price;

 

(vii)           that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price shall become due and payable upon each Note to be redeemed, and that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price, the interest thereon, if any, shall cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date that is prior to the Redemption Date to receive interest payable pursuant to Section 16.01);

 

(viii)          that Holders may surrender their Notes called for Redemption for conversion at any time on or after the Redemption Notice Date to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date or, if the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price, such later date on which the Company pays or duly provides for the Redemption Price;

 

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(ix)            the procedures a converting Holder must follow to convert its Notes called for Redemption and, if the Company chooses to elect a Settlement Method for any such exchanges, the relevant Settlement Method;

 

(x)             the Conversion Rate and, if applicable, the number of shares of Common Stock added to the Conversion Rate in accordance with Section 14.03; and

 

(xi)            the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if any, assigned to such Notes.

 

A Notice of Redemption shall be irrevocable. In the case of a Redemption, a Holder may convert any or all of its Notes called for Redemption at any time on or after the Redemption Notice Date to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Redemption Date or, if the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price, such later date on which the Company pays or duly provides for the Redemption Price.

 

Section 16.03. Payment of Notes Called for Redemption

 

(a)            If any Notice of Redemption has been given in respect of the Notes in accordance with Section 16.02, the Notes shall become due and payable on the applicable Redemption Date at the place or places stated in the Notice of Redemption and at the applicable Redemption Price. On presentation and surrender of the Notes at the place or places stated in the Notice of Redemption, the Notes shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price

 

(b)            Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company, or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.04) an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all of the Notes to be redeemed on such Redemption Date. Subject to receipt of funds by the Paying Agent, payment for the Notes to be redeemed shall be made on the Redemption Date for such Notes. The Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Redemption Price.

 

Section 16.04. Selection, Conversion and Transfer of Notes to be Redeemed in Part

 

If less than all Notes then outstanding are called for Redemption, then:

 

(a)            the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee as follows: (1) in the case of Global Notes, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures; and (2) in the case of Certificated Notes, by lot or pro rata; and

 

(b)            if only a portion of a Note is subject to Redemption and such Note is converted in part, then the converted portion of such Note will be deemed to be from the portion of such Note that was subject to the Redemption.

 

In the event of any Redemption, the Company shall not be required to (x) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Notes during the 15 calendar day period prior to the relevant Redemption Notice Date or (y) register the transfer of or exchange any Notes so selected for Redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Notes being redeemed in part.

 

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Section 16.05. Restrictions on Redemption.

 

The Company may not redeem any Notes on any date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the Redemption Date (or, if the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price, such later date on which the Company pays the Redemption Price) (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Redemption Price with respect to such Notes).

 

Section 16.06. Increased Conversion Rate Applicable to Notes Called for Redemption Surrendered for Conversion in Connection with a Notice of Redemption.

 

If a Holder of Notes called for Redemption elects to convert its Notes in connection with a Notice of Redemption pursuant to Section 14.01(b)(v) and this Article 16, the Conversion Rate shall be increased by a number of Additional Shares as provided in Section 14.03.

 

Article 17
Miscellaneous Provisions

 

Section 17.01. Provisions Binding on Company’s Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Indenture shall bind its successors as set forth in Article 11.

 

Section 17.02. Official Acts by Successor Entity. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or Officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee or officer of any corporation or other entity that shall at the time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.

 

Section 17.03. Addresses for Notices, Etc. Any notice or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders on the Company shall be in writing (including facsimile and electronic mail in PDF format) and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is furnished by the Company to the Trustee) to EQT Corporation, 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15222, Attention: General Counsel. Any notice, direction, request or demand hereunder to or upon the Trustee shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed to the Corporate Trust Office.

 

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The Trustee, by notice to the Company, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Any notice or communication delivered or to be delivered to a Holder of Certificated Notes shall be mailed to it by first class mail, postage prepaid, at its address as it appears on the Note Register (or sent electronically in PDF format to the e-mail address of such Holder, if any, specified on the Note Register) and shall be sufficiently given to it if so mailed (or sent, in the case of an electronic transmission) within the time prescribed. Any notice or communication delivered or to be delivered to a Holder of Global Notes shall be delivered in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary and shall be sufficiently given to it if so delivered within the time prescribed.

 

Failure to send a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is sent in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice to Holders by mail (or electronically in PDF format), then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Trustee agrees to accept and act upon notice, instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

 

Section 17.04. Governing Law. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE, AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 17.05. Intentionally Omitted.

 

Section 17.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent; Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to Trustee. Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of the signors, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied.

 

94

 

 

Each Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel provided for, by or on behalf of the Company in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with this Indenture (other than the Officer’s Certificates provided for in Section 4.08) shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statement contained in such certificate is based; (iii) a statement that, in the judgment of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed judgment as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the judgment of such Person, such covenant or condition has been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 17.06, if any provision in this Indenture specifically provides that the Trustee shall or may receive an Opinion of Counsel in connection with any action to be taken by the Trustee or the Company hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to such Opinion of Counsel.

 

Section 17.07. Legal Holidays. If any Interest Payment Date, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, Redemption Date, Conversion Date or Maturity Date is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no interest shall accrue in respect of the delay.

 

Section 17.08. No Security Interest Created. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.

 

Section 17.09. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, any authenticating agent, any Note Registrar and their successors hereunder or the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 17.10. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 17.11. Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that shall be authorized to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Notes in connection with the original issuance thereof and transfers and exchanges of Notes hereunder, including under Section 2.04, Section 2.05, Section 2.06, Section 2.07, Section 10.04 and Section 15.04 as fully to all intents and purposes as though the authenticating agent had been expressly authorized by this Indenture and those Sections to authenticate and deliver Notes. For all purposes of this Indenture, the authentication and delivery of Notes by the authenticating agent shall be deemed to be authentication and delivery of such Notes “by the Trustee” and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an authenticating agent shall be deemed to satisfy any requirement hereunder or in the Notes for the Trustee’s certificate of authentication. Such authenticating agent shall at all times be a Person eligible to serve as trustee hereunder pursuant to Section 7.08.

 

95

 

 

Any corporation or other entity into which any authenticating agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or other entity resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any authenticating agent shall be a party, or any corporation or other entity succeeding to the corporate trust business of any authenticating agent, shall be the successor of the authenticating agent hereunder, if such successor corporation or other entity is otherwise eligible under this Section 17.11, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or the authenticating agent or such successor corporation or other entity.

 

Any authenticating agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any authenticating agent by giving written notice of termination to such authenticating agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any authenticating agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor authenticating agent (which may be the Trustee), shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all Holders as the names and addresses of such Holders appear on the Note Register.

 

The Company agrees to pay to the authenticating agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services although the Company may terminate the authenticating agent, if it determines such agent’s fees to be unreasonable.

 

The provisions of Section 7.02, Section 7.03, Section 7.04, Section 7.06, Section 8.03 and this Section 17.11 shall be applicable to any authenticating agent.

 

If an authenticating agent is appointed pursuant to this Section 17.11, the Notes may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

__________________________,
as Authenticating Agent, certifies that this is one of the Notes described
in the within-named Indenture.

 

By: ____________________
Authorized Signatory.

 

Section 17.12. Execution in Counterparts. This 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 Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, electronic or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Indenture or any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

 

96

 

 

Section 17.13. Severability. In the event any provision of this Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then (to the extent permitted by law) the validity, legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired.

 

Section 17.14. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 17.15. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts that are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

Section 17.16. Calculations. Except as otherwise provided herein, the Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Notes or this Indenture. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Stock Price or Trading Price, the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock, the Daily VWAPs, the Daily Conversion Values, the Daily Settlement Amounts, accrued interest payable on the Notes and the Conversion Rate of the Notes. The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, such calculations shall be final and binding on Holders of Notes, the Trustee and the Conversion Agent. The Company shall provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent (if other than the Trustee), and each of the Trustee and Conversion Agent is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of such calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder of Notes upon the written request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Company. In no event shall the Trustee or the Conversion Agent be charged with knowledge of or have any duty to monitor Stock Price or Measurement Period. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall have any responsibility for calculations or determinations of amounts, determining whether events requiring or permitting conversion have occurred, determining whether any adjustment is required to be made with respect to conversion rights and, if so, how much, or for the delivery of shares of Common Stock.

 

Section 17.17. U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as is required to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

97

 

 

Section 17.18. FATCA. In order to enable the Company and the Trustee to comply with its obligation with respect to this Indenture and the Notes under Section 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any Treasury regulations thereunder (“FATCA”) (inclusive of official interpretations of FATCA promulgated by competent authorities), any applicable agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code and/or any applicable intergovernmental agreement entered into in order to implement FATCA, each of the Company and the Trustee each agree (i) to provide to one another such reasonable information that is within its possession and is reasonably requested by the other to assist the other in determining whether it has tax related obligations under FATCA, and (ii) that the Trustee shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with FATCA. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

 

98

 

 

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

 

  EQT CORPORATION
   
  By:  /s/ David M. Khani
    Name:   David M. Khani
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 

 

  The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
   
  By: /s/ Kelly Crosson
    Name:   Kelly Crosson
    Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Indenture]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

 

[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A GLOBAL NOTE]

 

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

 

[INCLUDE FOLLOWING LEGEND IF A RESTRICTED SECURITY:

 

THIS SECURITY AND THE COMMON STOCK, IF ANY, ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THIS SECURITY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND 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 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, AND

 

(2)            AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF EQT CORPORATION (THE “COMPANY”) THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL, PLEDGE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY OR ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST HEREIN PRIOR TO THE DATE THAT IS THE LATER OF (X) ONE YEAR AFTER THE ISSUE DATE HEREOF OR SUCH SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME AS PERMITTED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR ANY SUCCESSOR PROVISION THERETO AND (Y) SUCH LATER DATE, IF ANY, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EXCEPT:

 

(A)            TO THE COMPANY OR ANY SUBSIDIARY THEREOF;

 

(B)            PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY THAT COVERS THE RESALE OF THIS SECURITY OR SUCH COMMON STOCK;

 

(C)            TO A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT; OR

 

Exhibit A-1

 

 

(D)            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)(D) ABOVE, THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE RESERVE 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 EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT.

 

BY ITS ACQUISITION OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN, THE HOLDER HEREOF WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED AND WARRANTED THAT EITHER (1) NO PORTION OF THE ASSETS USED BY SUCH ACQUIRER TO ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) CONSTITUTES THE ASSETS OF ANY (A) “EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF THE U.S. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974 (“ERISA”)) THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA, (B) PLAN, INCLUDING AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) OR PROVISIONS UNDER ANY OTHER FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER LAWS OR REGULATIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO SUCH PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OR ERISA (COLLECTIVELY, “SIMILAR LAWS”) OR (C) ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS ARE CONSIDERED TO INCLUDE THE ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING DESCRIBED IN CLAUSES (A) AND (B), PURSUANT TO ERISA OR OTHERWISE, OR (2) THE ACQUISITION AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY INTEREST HEREIN) BY SUCH HOLDER WILL NOT CONSTITUTE OR RESULT IN (A) A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE OR (B) A SIMILAR VIOLATION UNDER ANY APPLICABLE SIMILAR LAWS.]

 

Exhibit A-2

 

 

EQT CORPORATION
1.75% Convertible Senior Note due 2026

 

No. R-[ ] [Initially]1 $[ ]

 

CUSIP No. [26884LAJ8]2

 

ISIN No.: [US26884LAJ89]

 

EQT Corporation, a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation or other entity under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to [CEDE & CO.]3 [ ]4, or registered assigns, the principal amount [as set forth in the “Schedule of Conversions of Notes” attached hereto]5 [of $[ ]]6 or such other amount as reflected on the books and records of the Trustee and the Depositary, on May 1, 2026 and interest thereon as set forth below.

 

This Note shall bear interest at the rate of 1.75% per year from April 28, 2020 or from the most recent date to which interest had been paid or provided for to, but excluding, the next scheduled Interest Payment Date until May 1, 2026, unless earlier redeemed, converted or repurchased. Accrued interest on this Note shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months and, for a partial month, on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed in a 30-day month. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 1 and November 1, commencing on November 1, 2020, to Holders at the close of business on the preceding April 15 and October 15 (whether or not such day is a Business Day), respectively. Additional Interest will be payable as set forth in Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) and Section 6.03 of the within-mentioned Indenture, and any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Note therein shall be deemed to include Additional Interest if, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to any of such Section 4.06(d), Section 4.06(e) or Section 6.03 and any express mention of the payment of Additional Interest in any provision therein and herein shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions thereof and hereof where such express mention is not made.

 

Any Defaulted Amounts shall accrue interest per annum at the rate borne by the Notes from, and including, the relevant payment date to, but excluding, the date on which such Defaulted Amounts shall have been paid by the Company, at its election in accordance with Section 2.03(c) of the Indenture.

 

 

1 Include if a global note.

2 At such time as the Company delivers to the Trustee the certificate included in Exhibit B to the Indenture, the legend set forth on the immediately preceding page [Insert if a Global Note: (other than the first paragraph thereof)] pursuant to Section 2.05(b) of the Indenture shall be deemed removed and the CUSIP and ISIN numbers for this Note shall be deemed to be 26884LAJ8 and US26884LAJ89, respectively.

3 Include if a global note.

4 Include if a certificated note.

5 Include if a global note.

6 Include if a certificated note.

 

Exhibit A-3

 

 

The Company shall pay the principal of and interest on this Note, so long as such Note is a Global Note, in immediately available funds to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of such Note. As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall pay the principal of any Notes (other than Notes that are Global Notes) upon presentation thereof at the office or agency designated by the Company for that purpose. The Company has initially designated the Trustee as its Paying Agent and Note Registrar in respect of the Notes and its agency in [ ] as a place where Notes may be presented for payment or for registration of transfer.

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

 

This Note, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Note, shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of New York.

 

In the case of any conflict between this Note and the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall control and govern.

 

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been executed by manual, electronic or facsimile signature, by the Trustee or a duly authorized authenticating agent under the Indenture.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

Exhibit A-4

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed.

 

  EQT corporation
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

Exhibit A-5

 

 

Dated:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee,

 

certifies that this is one of the Notes described
in the within-named Indenture.

 

By:_______________________________
Authorized Signatory

 

Exhibit A-1

 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE]

 

EQT corporation
1.75% Convertible Senior Note due 2026

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Notes of the Company, designated as its 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Notes”), limited to the aggregate principal amount of $500,000,000 all issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of April 28, 2020 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. Additional Notes may be issued in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, subject to certain conditions specified in the Indenture. Capitalized terms used in this Note and not defined in this Note shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture. The Notes represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed hereon and the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented hereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect repurchases, redemptions, cancellations, conversions or transfers permitted by the Indenture.

 

In case an Event of Default relating to a bankruptcy (or similar proceeding) shall have occurred, the principal of, and interest on, all Notes shall automatically become immediately due and payable, in the manner and with the effect set forth in the Indenture. In case any other Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of, and interest on, all Notes may be declared, by either the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding, and upon said declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions and certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company will make all payments and deliveries in respect of the Redemption Price on a Redemption Date, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and the principal amount on the Maturity Date, as the case may be, to the Holder who surrenders a Note to a Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of the Note. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Upon conversion of any Note, the Company shall, at its election, pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock.

 

The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee in certain circumstances, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, and in certain other circumstances, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental indentures modifying the terms of the Indenture and the Notes as described therein. It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain exceptions, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Notes waive any past Default or Event of Default under the Indenture and its consequences.

 

Exhibit A-2

 

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the principal (including the Redemption Price and the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, if applicable) of, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and the consideration due upon conversion of, this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in the lawful money or shares of Common Stock, as the case may be, herein prescribed.

 

The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. At the office or agency of the Company referred to on the face hereof, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, Notes may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations, without payment of any service charge but, if required by the Company or Trustee, with payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer or similar tax that may be imposed in connection therewith as a result of the name of the Holder of the new Notes issued upon such exchange of Notes being different from the name of the Holder of the old Notes surrendered for such exchange.

 

Under certain circumstances specified in the Indenture, the Notes will be subject to redemption by the Company at the Redemption Price.

 

Upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Holder has the right, at such Holder’s option exercised in the manner specified in the Indenture, to require the Company to repurchase for cash all of such Holder’s Notes or any portion thereof (in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date at a price equal to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder hereof has the right, at its option, during certain periods and upon the occurrence of certain conditions specified in the Indenture, prior to the close of business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, to convert any Notes or portion thereof that is $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of each and shares of Common Stock, at the Company’s election, at the Conversion Rate specified in the Indenture, as adjusted from time to time as provided in the Indenture.

 

Terms used in this Note and defined in the Indenture are used herein as therein defined.

 

Exhibit A-3

 

 

ABBREVIATIONS

 

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Note, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM = as tenants in common

 

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT = Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

 

CUST = Custodian

 

TEN ENT = as tenants by the entireties

 

JT TEN = joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common

 

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

 

Exhibit A-4

 

 

SCHEDULE A6

 

SCHEDULE OF CONVERSIONS OF NOTES

 

EQT CORPORATION

 

1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026

 

The initial principal amount of this Global Note is ___________ DOLLARS ($[______]). 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
Custodian
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 

 

 

6 Include if a global note.

 

Exhibit A-5

 

 

ATTACHMENT 1

 

[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]

 

To: EQT Corporation

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby exercises the option to convert this Note, or the portion hereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, into cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination of cash and shares of Common Stock, at the Company’s election, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, and directs that any cash payable and any shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable upon such conversion, together with any cash for any fractional share, and any Notes representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered Holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If any shares of Common Stock or any portion of this Note not converted are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes, if any in accordance with Section 14.02(d) and Section 14.02(e) of the Indenture. Any amount required to be paid to the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Note. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

 

In the case of Certificated Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be converted are as set forth below: __________________________

 

Dated:        
       
    Signature(s)  
       
       

 

Signature Guarantee

 

Signature(s) must be guaranteed
by an eligible Guarantor Institution
(banks, stock brokers, savings and
loan associations and credit unions)
with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program
pursuant to Securities and Exchange

 

Attachment 1-1

 

 

Commission Rule 17Ad-15 if shares
of Common Stock are to be issued, or
Notes are to be delivered, other than
to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock if
to be issued, and Notes if to
be delivered, other than to and in the
name of the registered holder:

 

_________________________

(Name)

 

_________________________

(Street Address)

 

_________________________

(City, State and Zip Code)

 

Please print name and address

 

Principal amount to be converted (if less than all): $______,000

 

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

_________________________

Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number

 

Attachment 1-2

 

 

ATTACHMENT 2

 

[FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE]

 

To: EQT Corporation

 

The undersigned registered owner of this Note hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from EQT Corporation (the “Company”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the registered holder hereof in accordance with Section 15.02 of the Indenture referred to in this Note (1) the entire principal amount of this Note, or the portion thereof (that is $1,000 principal amount or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, and (2) if such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date does not fall during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

 

In the case of Certificated Notes, the certificate numbers of the Notes to be repurchased are as set forth below: __________________________

 

Dated:     _____________________

 

________________________________

Signature(s)

 

_________________________

 

Social Security or Other Taxpayer
Identification Number

 

Principal amount to be repurchased (if less than all): $______,000

 

NOTICE: The above signature(s) of the Holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

Attachment 2-1

 

 

ATTACHMENT 3

 

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

 

For value received ____________________________ hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _________________ (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Note, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints _____________________ attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

In connection with any transfer of the within Note occurring prior to the Resale Restriction Termination Date, as defined in the Indenture governing such Note, the undersigned confirms that such Note is being transferred:

 

¨     To EQT Corporation or a Subsidiary thereof; or

 

¨     Pursuant to a registration statement that has become or been declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

¨     Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

 

¨     Pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Attachment 3-1

 

 

Dated: ________________________

 

_____________________________________

 

_____________________________________

Signature(s)

 

_____________________________________

Signature Guarantee

 

Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an
eligible Guarantor Institution (banks, stock
brokers, savings and loan associations and
credit unions) with membership in an approved
signature guarantee medallion program pursuant
to Securities and Exchange Commission
Rule 17Ad-15 if Notes are to be delivered, other
than to and in the name of the registered holder.

 

NOTICE: The signature on the assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Note in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

Attachment 3-2

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF FREE TRANSFERABILITY CERTIFICATE

 

[Date]

 

EQT Corporation

625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
Attention: General Counsel

 

The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee
500 Ross Street, 12th Floor

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15262

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

 

Re: 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026

 

Reference is hereby made to the Indenture, dated as of April 28, 2020 (the “Indenture”), between EQT Corporation and the Trustee. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Indenture.

 

Whereas the Resale Restriction Termination Date with respect to the 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 represented by Global Note CUSIP number 2688LAJ8 and ISIN number US26884LAJ89 (the “Notes”) has occurred, the Company hereby instructs you that:

 

(i) the restrictive legend required by Section 2.05(b) of the Indenture and set forth on the Notes shall be deemed removed from the Notes, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Notes and as provided in the Indenture, without further action on the part of Holders; and

 

(ii) the Company shall instruct DTC to change the CUSIP number and ISIN number for the Notes to the unrestricted CUSIP number (26884LAK5) and unrestricted ISIN number (US26884LAK5), respectively, without further action on the part of Holders.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

 

Exhibit B-1

 

 

 

  EQT CORPORATION
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

Exhibit B-2

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EQT CORPORATION

 

$440,000,000
1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026

 

Purchase Agreement

 

April 23, 2020

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Barclays Capital Inc.

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

As Representatives of the
several Initial Purchasers listed
in Schedule 1 hereto

 

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
383 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10179

 

c/o Barclays Capital Inc.
745 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019

 

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

EQT Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several initial purchasers named in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Initial Purchasers”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), $440,000,000 principal amount of its 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Convertible Securities”) and, at the option of the Initial Purchasers, up to an additional $60,000,000 principal amount of its 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Option Securities”) if and to the extent that the Initial Purchasers shall have determined to exercise the option to purchase such 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 granted to the Initial Purchasers in Section 2 hereof. The Convertible Securities and the Option Securities are herein referred to as the “Notes”. The Company’s common stock, no par value per share, is hereinafter referred to as the “Common Stock”. The Notes will be convertible into cash, shares of Common Stock (the “Underlying Securities”) or a combination of cash and Underlying Securities. The Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture to be dated as of April 28, 2020 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

 

 

 

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Initial Purchasers concerning the purchase and resale of the Notes, as follows:

 

1.                  Offering Memorandum and Transaction Information. The Notes will be sold to the Initial Purchasers without being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), in reliance upon an exemption therefrom. The Company has prepared a preliminary offering memorandum dated April 23, 2020 (the “Preliminary Offering Memorandum”) and will prepare an offering memorandum dated the date hereof (the “Offering Memorandum”) setting forth information concerning the Company and the Notes. Copies of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum have been, and copies of the Offering Memorandum will be, delivered by the Company to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the terms of this purchase agreement (this “Agreement”). The Company hereby confirms that it has authorized the use of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Disclosure Package (as defined below) and the Offering Memorandum in connection with the offering and resale of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers in the manner contemplated by this Agreement. References herein to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer to and include any document incorporated by reference therein and any reference to “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date and incorporated by reference therein.

 

At or prior to the time when sales of the Notes were first made (the “Time of Sale”), the Company had prepared the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, as supplemented and amended by the written communications listed on Annex A hereto (collectively, the “Disclosure Package”).

 

In connection with the offering and sale of the Convertible Securities, the Company is separately entering into capped call transactions with certain of the Initial Purchasers (or affiliates thereof) (the “Capped Call Counterparties”) pursuant to separate capped call confirmations (the “Base Capped Call Confirmations”), each to be dated the date hereof, and in connection with any exercise by the Initial Purchasers of their option to purchase any Option Securities, the Company and the Capped Call Counterparties may enter into additional capped call transactions pursuant to additional capped call confirmations (the “Additional Capped Call Confirmations” and, together with the Base Capped Call Confirmations, the “Capped Call Confirmations”), each to be dated the date on which the Initial Purchasers exercise their option to purchase the Option Securities.

 

2.                  Purchase and Resale of the Notes.

 

(a)               The Company agrees to issue and sell the Convertible Securities to the several Initial Purchasers as provided in this Agreement, and each Initial Purchaser, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Convertible Securities set forth opposite such Initial Purchaser’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price equal to 97.250% of the principal amount thereof (the “Purchase Price”), plus accrued interest, if any, from April 28, 2020 to the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Notes except upon payment for all the Notes to be purchased as provided herein.

 

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(b)               The Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Securities to the several Initial Purchasers as provided in this Agreement, and each Initial Purchaser, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Option Securities at the Purchase Price, plus accrued interest, if any, from April 28, 2020 to the date of payment and delivery.

 

(c)               If any Option Securities are to be purchased, the principal amount of Option Securities to be purchased by each Initial Purchaser shall be the principal amount of Option Securities which bears the same ratio to the aggregate principal amount of Option Securities being purchased as the principal amount of Convertible Securities set forth opposite the name of such Initial Purchaser in Schedule 1 hereto (or such amount increased in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereof) bears to the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Securities being purchased from the Company by the several Initial Purchasers, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate Notes in denominations other than $1,000 as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.

 

(d)               The Initial Purchasers may exercise the option to purchase the Option Securities at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, during the thirteen-day period beginning on, and including, the Closing Date, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate principal amount of Option Securities as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Securities are to be delivered and paid for which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereof). Any such notice, other than a notice delivered prior to the Closing Date requesting delivery on the Closing Date (which shall be given at least one business day prior to the Closing Date), shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

 

(e)               The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers intend to offer the Notes for resale on the terms set forth in the Disclosure Package. Each Initial Purchaser, severally and not jointly, represents, warrants and agrees that:

 

(i)                 it is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act (a “QIB”) and an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a) of Regulation D under the Securities Act (“Regulation D”);

 

(ii)               it has not solicited offers for, or offered or sold, and will not solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Notes in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act; and

 

(iii)              it has not sold the Notes, and will not sell the Notes, as part of the initial offering except to persons whom it reasonably believes to be QIBs in transactions pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”) and in connection with each such sale, it has taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of the Notes is aware that such sale is being made in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

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(f)                Each Initial Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Company and, for purposes of the “no registration” opinions to be delivered to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 7(f) and 7(g), counsel for the Company and counsel for the Initial Purchasers, respectively, may rely upon the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Initial Purchasers, and compliance by the Initial Purchasers with their agreements, contained in paragraph (e) above, and each Initial Purchaser hereby consents to such reliance.

 

(g)               The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Initial Purchasers may offer and sell Notes to or through any affiliate of an Initial Purchaser and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Notes purchased by it to or through any Initial Purchaser.

 

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

 

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

 

3.                  Payment and Delivery.

 

(a)               Payment for and delivery of the Notes will be made at the offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York, 10017, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on April 28, 2020, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the third business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Securities, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Initial Purchasers’ election to purchase such Option Securities. The time and date of such payment for the Convertible Securities is referred to herein as the “Closing Date” and the time and date for such payment for the Option Securities, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as an “Additional Closing Date”.

 

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(b)               Payment for the Notes shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by the Company to the Representatives against delivery in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”), for the account of the several Initial Purchasers, of global notes representing the Notes purchased by the Initial Purchasers (collectively, the “Global Notes”). The Global Notes will be made available for inspection by the Representatives not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

4.                  Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Initial Purchaser that:

 

(a)               Preliminary Offering Memorandum. The Preliminary Offering Memorandum, as of its date, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to any statements in or omissions from the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by an Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Offering Memorandum, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(b)               Disclosure Package. The Disclosure Package, at or prior to the Time of Sale, did not, and at the Closing Date and as of any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to any statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by an Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

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(c)               Additional Written Communications. Other than the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Initial Purchasers in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to (x) any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below) a “Company Additional Written Communication”) other than (i) the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, (ii) the Offering Memorandum, (iii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, including a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex B hereto, which constitute part of the Disclosure Package, and (iv) each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives, in each case used in accordance with Section 5(c) or (y) any general solicitation. Each such Company Additional Written Communication does not conflict with the information contained in the Disclosure Package, and when taken together with the Disclosure Package, did not, and at the Closing Date and as of any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to any statements in or omissions from any Company Additional Written Communication or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by an Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in a Company Additional Written Communication, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(d)               Offering Memorandum. As of the date of the Offering Memorandum and as of the Closing Date and as of any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Offering Memorandum does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to any statements in or omissions from the Offering Memorandum or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by an Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Offering Memorandum, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(e)               Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum or the Disclosure Package and any amendments thereto (i) at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and (ii) when read together with the other information in the Disclosure Package, at the Time of Sale, and when read together with the other information in the Offering Memorandum, at the date of the Offering Memorandum and at the Closing Date, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(f)                Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto; the other financial information pertaining to the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby; and Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) and as required by the Securities Act.

 

(g)               No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package, (i) there has not been any material change in the capital stock or any change in the long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as otherwise disclosed or contemplated in the Disclosure Package; and (ii) except as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than in the ordinary course of business.

 

(h)               Organization. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, with power and authority (corporate or other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business, so as to require such qualification, other than where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(i)                 Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with power and authority (corporate or other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, and has been duly qualified for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, other than where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or equivalent equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully-paid and non-assessable, and (except in the case of foreign subsidiaries or directors’ qualifying shares) are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests and claims.

 

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(j)                 Capitalization. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the offer and sale of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Company’s benefit and compensation plans and the Company’s 2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan), there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(k)               Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the Capped Call Confirmations (collectively, the “Transaction Documents”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated thereby or by the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum has been duly and validly taken.

 

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

 

(m)              The Indenture. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

 

(n)               The Notes. The Notes have been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions; the Notes, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, will rank pari passu with all Notes (as defined in the Indenture) issued and to be issued under the Indenture and all other unsecured debt of the Company which is not expressly subordinated; and the Notes and the Indenture will conform to the description thereof in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

8

 

 

(o)               The Underlying Securities. Upon issuance and delivery of the Notes in accordance with this Agreement and the Indenture, the Notes will be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, into cash, shares of the Underlying Securities, or a combination of cash and Underlying Securities, in accordance with the terms of the Notes; the Underlying Securities reserved for issuance upon conversion of the Notes have been duly authorized and reserved and, when issued upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Underlying Securities will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights; and the Underlying Securities will conform to the description thereof in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(p)               No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation of or in default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them or any of their respective properties is bound, except for violations and defaults which would not, individually and in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation or in default under their respective Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws (or equivalent organizational documents) or any applicable law or statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties; the issue and sale of the Notes (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon conversion thereof) and the performance by the Company of all the provisions of its obligations under the Notes, the Indenture, this Agreement and the Capped Call Confirmations and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except for violations and defaults which would not, individually and in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, nor will any such action result in any violation of the provisions of their respective Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws (or equivalent organizational documents) or any applicable law or statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties.

 

(q)               No Consents. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, filing, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Notes (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon conversion thereof) or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture or the Capped Call Confirmations, other than (i) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, filings, registrations or qualifications that have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force under the Securities Act, (ii) as may be required under state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Notes by the Initial Purchasers in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes or (iii) consents that, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture or the Capped Call Confirmations or perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Capped Call Confirmations.

 

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(r)                Legal Proceedings. Other than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, there are no legal or governmental investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be subject which would individually or in the aggregate reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.

 

(s)                Property. Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum and except to the extent that failure of the following to be true, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have good and indefeasible title to all items of real property and good title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects; and (ii) any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, existing and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

(t)                 Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to (i) the offering and sale of the Notes and application of proceeds therefrom, and (ii) the transactions contemplated by the Capped Call Confirmations, will not be an “investment company” or entity “controlled” by an “investment company”, as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(u)               Taxes. Except to the extent that any such failures or deficiencies would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed and have paid all taxes due other than taxes that are being contested in good faith and with respect to which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and (ii) except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, there is no tax deficiency which has been asserted or threatened in writing against the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(v)               Conduct of Business. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries possesses all licenses, permits, certificates of need, patents, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from all federal, state, local or foreign governments or regulatory agencies or bodies (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate their respective properties and to carry on their respective businesses as conducted as of the date hereof, except where the failure to so possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any actual notice of any proceeding, relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental License, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum; each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws and regulations relating to the conduct of their respective business as conducted as of the date hereof, except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations of the Commission adopted pursuant thereto as such rules and regulations currently apply to the Company and its subsidiaries, except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(w)             Environmental Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and environmental safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum or where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) are not aware of any administrative or judicial action being contemplated by governmental authorities with respect to the Company or its subsidiaries relating to Environmental Laws, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum or where such action would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are subject to any consent decree or compliance or administrative order issued pursuant to, or are the subject of any pending investigation or litigation under, applicable Environmental Laws except for such actions, decrees, orders or investigations which are described in the Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum or do not and are not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to a governmental proceeding, or will become a party to a governmental proceeding that is known by the Company to be contemplated, arising under any Environmental Law which the Company reasonably believes involves monetary sanctions, exclusive of interests and costs, of $100,000 or more.

 

(x)               Environmental Costs. In the ordinary course of business, the Company reviews the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties); and, on the basis of such review, the Company has concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(y)               No Labor Disputes. There are no existing or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which are, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(z)               Employee Benefits. Except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum and except as would not reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees of the Company and its affiliates has been established and maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). No prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption. For each such plan which is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no failure by any such plan to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA) has occurred, whether or not waived, and the fair market value of the assets of each such plan (excluding for these purposes accrued but unpaid contributions) exceeded the present value of all benefits accrued under such plan determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions, except as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(aa)            No Unlawful Payment. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, and maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

 

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

 

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(cc)            No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Notes hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as initial purchaser, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.  For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

 

(dd)           Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries have established and maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); and (i) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or will file or submit under the Exchange Act, as applicable, is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made and (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established to the extent required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

(ee)            Accounting Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.  The Company and its subsidiaries’ internal accounting controls are effective and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is aware of any material weakness in their internal accounting controls.

 

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(ff)              XBRL. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference into the Offering Memorandum fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(gg)           Cybersecurity; Data Protection. The Company’s and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are, in the Company’s reasonable belief, adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted. To the Company’s knowledge, the IT systems are free and clear of all bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personally identifiable information and sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses, and to the Company’s knowledge, there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability, and there are no incidents under internal review or investigation relating to the same, except for those that would reasonably be expected to be able to remedied without material cost or liability. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

 

(hh)           Rule 144A Eligibility. On the Closing Date, and any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Notes will not be of the same class as securities listed on a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in an automated inter-dealer quotation system; and each of the Disclosure Package, as of or prior to the time when sales of the Notes were first made, and the Offering Memorandum, as of its date, contains or will contain all the information that, if requested by a prospective purchaser of the Notes, would be required to be provided to such prospective purchaser pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(ii)              No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D) has, directly or through any agent (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to which no representation is made), sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined in the Securities Act), that is or will be integrated with the sale of the Notes in a manner that would require registration of the Notes under the Securities Act.

 

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(jj)              No General Solicitation. None of the Company or any of its respective affiliates or any other person acting on their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers, as to which no representation is made) has solicited offers for, or offered or sold, the Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D without the prior written consent of the Representatives or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

(kk)            No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Notes in violation of the Exchange Act or other applicable law, it being understood and agreed that any action of the Initial Purchasers or their affiliates or any person acting on their behalf shall not constitute an action by the Company.

 

(ll)              Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

(mm)         Capped Call Confirmations. The Capped Call Confirmations have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and the Capped Call Confirmations will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

5.                  Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Initial Purchaser that:

 

(a)               Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver to the Initial Purchasers as many copies of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, any of the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication and the Offering Memorandum (including all amendments and supplements thereto) as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(b)               Offering Memorandum, Amendments or Supplements. Before finalizing the Offering Memorandum or making or distributing any amendment or supplement to any of the Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum and prior to the completion of the initial offering of the Notes, before filing with the Commission any document that will be incorporated by reference therein, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers a copy of the proposed Offering Memorandum or such amendment or supplement or document to be incorporated by reference therein for review, and will not distribute any such proposed Offering Memorandum, amendment or supplement or file any such document with the Commission to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

(c)               Additional Written Communications. Before making, using, authorizing, approving or referring to any Issuer Written Communication, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Initial Purchasers a copy of such written communication for review and will not make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any such written communication to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

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(d)               Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) of the issuance by any governmental or regulatory authority of any order preventing or suspending the use of any of the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or the Offering Memorandum or, to the extent that it has knowledge thereof, the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose; (ii) of the occurrence or development of any event at any time prior to the completion of the initial offering of the Notes as a result of which any of the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or the Offering Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when such Disclosure Package, Issuer Written Communication or the Offering Memorandum is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (iii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Notes for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or, to the extent that it has knowledge thereof, the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any of the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Written Communication or the Offering Memorandum or suspending any such qualification of the Notes and, if any such order is issued, will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as soon as reasonably practicable the withdrawal thereof.

 

(e)               Ongoing Compliance of the Offering Memorandum and Disclosure Package. (1) If at any time prior to the completion of the initial offering of the Notes (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Offering Memorandum as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Offering Memorandum is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Initial Purchasers thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (b) above, furnish to the Initial Purchasers such amendments or supplements to the Offering Memorandum (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Offering Memorandum as so amended or supplemented (or including such document to be incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Offering Memorandum is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Offering Memorandum will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which any of the Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement any of the Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Initial Purchasers thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (b) above, furnish to the Initial Purchasers such amendments or supplements to any of the Disclosure Package (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in any of the Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading.

 

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(f)                Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will reasonably cooperate with the Representatives to qualify the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the offering and resale of the Notes; provided, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

 

(g)               Lock-Up. For a period of 45 days after the date of this Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce the intention to do any of the foregoing, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, except for (i) the offer and sale of the Notes as contemplated by this Agreement and any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes, (ii) issuance of Common Stock upon (v) exercise of options, (w) settlement of performance share units, (x) vesting of restricted shares, (y) vesting of shares issued at the election of a participant or as a matching contribution under employee 401(k) plans, (z) the vesting of deferred stock units, and (aa) settlement of phantom units and (bb) elections under employee stock purchase programs, in each case, granted under the Company’s benefit and compensation plans as in effect on the date of this Agreement and described in the Offering Memorandum, provided that any Common Stock received upon such exercise, settlement or vesting by any director or officer listed in Annex D hereto shall be subject to the Lock-Up Agreement described in Section 7(m), (iii) the issuance of Common Stock, restricted stock, stock options, performance share units, phantom units, or other stock performance awards under the Company’s benefit and compensation plans as in effect on the date of this Agreement and described in the Offering Memorandum or under the EQT Corporation 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as described in the offering memorandum, provided that any such awards do not specifically, by their terms, vest during the Lock-Up Period, (iv) the offer and sale of shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Company’s 2009 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement and described in the Offering Memorandum and (v) the entrance into, and performance of any obligations under, the Capped Call Confirmations.

 

(h)               Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes as described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.

 

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(i)                 No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, in connection with the offering of the Notes, and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Notes.

 

(j)                 Underlying Securities. The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of pre-emptive rights, shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy all obligations to issue the Underlying Securities upon conversion of the Notes. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Underlying Securities to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”).

 

(k)                Supplying Information. While the Notes remain outstanding and are “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Company will, during any period in which the Company is not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, furnish within a commercially reasonable period of time to holders of the Notes and prospective purchasers of the Notes designated by such holders, in each case upon request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

(l)                 DTC. The Company will assist the Initial Purchasers in arranging for the Global Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the Depositary.

 

(m)               No Resales by the Company. During the period from the Closing Date until one year after the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, if applicable, the Company will not, and will not permit any of its respective affiliates (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) to, resell any of the Notes that have been acquired by any of them, except for Notes purchased by the Company or any of its affiliates and resold in a transaction registered under the Securities Act.

 

(n)                No Integration. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D) will, directly or through any agent (other than the Initial Purchasers or any person acting on their behalf, as to which no representation is made), sell, offer for sale, solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of, any security (as defined in the Securities Act), that is or will be integrated with the sale of the Notes in a manner that would require registration of the Notes under the Securities Act.

 

(o)                No General Solicitation. None of the Company or any of its affiliates or any other person acting on its or their behalf (other than the Initial Purchasers or any person acting on their behalf, as to which no covenant is given) will solicit offers for, or offer or sell, the Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D without the prior written consent of the Representatives or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

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6.                  Certain Agreements of the Initial Purchasers. Each Initial Purchaser hereby represents and agrees that it has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any written communication that constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes other than (i) the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum, (ii) a written communication that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum, (iii) any written communication listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 5(c) above (including any electronic road show) or 4(o) above, (iv) any written communication prepared by such Initial Purchaser and approved by the Company in advance in writing or (v) any written communication relating to or that contains the terms of the Notes and/or other information that was included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum. Each Initial Purchaser hereby represents and agrees that it has not solicited, and will not solicit, offers for, or offer or sell, the Notes by means of any form of general solicitation or general advertising within the meaning of Rule 502(c) of Regulation D or in any manner involving a public offering within the meaning of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

 

7.                  Conditions of Initial Purchasers’ Obligations. The obligation of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase Convertible Securities on the Closing Date or the Option Securities on any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein are subject to the performance by the Company of its respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

 

(a)               Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(b)               No Downgrade. Subsequent to the Execution Time, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Notes or any other debt securities or preferred stock issued by the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act); and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any debt securities or preferred stock issued by the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

 

(c)               No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the Execution Time, no event or condition of a type described in Section 4(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto or any document filed with the Commission after the date hereof and incorporated by reference therein) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

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(d)               Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of an executive officer of the Company who has specific knowledge of the Company’s financial matters and is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officer has carefully reviewed the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum and, to the knowledge of such officer, the representations set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4 hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a) through (c) above.

 

(e)               Comfort Letters; CAO Certificate. (i) On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to initial purchasers in private offerings with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(ii)              On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, of its chief accounting officer with respect to certain financial data contained in the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

 

(f)                Opinions of Counsel for the Company. Each of Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, as counsel for the Company and at the request of the Company, and the General Counsel of the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives, their written opinions dated the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Initial Purchaser, substantially in the forms attached as Annex C hereto.

 

(g)               Opinion of Counsel for the Initial Purchasers. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(h)               No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Notes, and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Notes.

 

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(i)                 Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company, EQT Capital Corporation, EQT Investments Holdings, LLC, EQT Production Company and EQT Gathering LLC in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication, from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

 

(j)                 The Depositary. The Notes shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through the Depositary, Clearstream Banking and the Euroclear System.

 

(k)               Reserve Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Ryder Scott Company, L.P. shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers a reserve report confirmation letter, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in such letters to initial purchasers with respect to the reserve and other operational information of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Disclosure Package and the Offering Memorandum.

 

(l)                 Exchange Listing. As of the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Exchange shall have not objected to the listing of the Underlying Securities.

 

(m)             Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and executive officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(n)               Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(o)             Capped Call Confirmations. The Company shall have executed and delivered the Capped Call Confirmations, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, the Capped Call Confirmations shall be in full force and effect, and the Company shall not be in breach or default thereunder.

 

All opinions, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if there are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers.

 

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8.                  Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)               Indemnification of the Initial Purchasers. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Company Additional Written Communication, the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (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, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Company Additional Written Communication, the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only information furnished by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(b)               Indemnification of the Company. Each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Initial Purchaser furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through the Representatives expressly for use in the Company Additional Written Communication, the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the following information in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum: the information contained in the fourth paragraph, the fourth and fifth sentences of the ninth paragraph and the tenth paragraph under the caption “Plan of distribution.”

 

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(c)               Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 8. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 8 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Initial Purchaser, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Initial Purchaser shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

9.                  Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above (the “Execution Time”).

 

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

 

11.              Defaulting Initial Purchaser.

 

(a)               If, on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, any Initial Purchaser defaults on its obligation to purchase the Notes that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Notes by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Initial Purchaser, the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers do not arrange for the purchase of such Notes, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers to purchase such Notes on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Notes of a defaulting Initial Purchaser, either the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the applicable Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Initial Purchasers may be necessary in the Disclosure Package, the Offering Memorandum or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Disclosure Package or the Offering Memorandum that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Initial Purchaser” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 11, purchases Notes that a defaulting Initial Purchaser agreed but failed to purchase.

 

(b)               If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Notes of a defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers by the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Notes that remains unpurchased on the Closing Date or any such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Notes to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Initial Purchaser to purchase the principal amount of Notes that such Initial Purchaser agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Initial Purchaser’s pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Notes that such Initial Purchaser agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Notes of such defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers for which such arrangements have not been made.

 

(c)               If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Notes of a defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers by the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Notes that remains unpurchased on the Closing Date or any such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Notes, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to such Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Initial Purchasers to purchase Notes on such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Initial Purchasers. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 12 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 8 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

 

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(d)               Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Initial Purchaser of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Initial Purchaser for damages caused by its default.

 

12.                Payment of Expenses. (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder and under the Capped Call Confirmations, including, without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Notes and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum, the Disclosure Package, any Company Written Communication and the Offering Memorandum, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the documents relating to this offering; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Notes under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Survey (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Initial Purchasers); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Notes; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with the approval of the Notes for book-entry transfer by DTC; (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses related to the listing of the Underlying Securities on the Exchange.

 

(b)               If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Notes for delivery to the Initial Purchasers on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, or (iii) the Initial Purchasers decline to purchase the Notes for any reason permitted under this Agreement on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company agrees to reimburse the Initial Purchasers for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Initial Purchasers in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby. Otherwise, the Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel.

 

13.                Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates, officers and directors of each Initial Purchaser referred to in Section 8 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Notes from any Initial Purchaser shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

 

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14.                Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Initial Purchasers contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Initial Purchasers pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Notes and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Initial Purchasers.

 

15.                Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; for the avoidance of doubt, “subsidiary” does not include Equitrans Midstream Corporation or its subsidiaries.

 

16.               Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Initial Purchasers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Initial Purchasers to properly identify their respective clients.

 

17.                Miscellaneous.

 

(a)               Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Initial Purchasers hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Initial Purchasers, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Initial Purchasers.

 

(b)               Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Initial Purchasers shall be given to the Representatives, c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk (Fax: (212) 622-8358); c/o Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration (Fax: 646-834-8133); and c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010-3629, Attention: IBCM-Legal (Fax: (212) 325-4296). Notices to the Company shall be given to EQT Corporation, EQT Plaza, 625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 (Fax: 412-553-5970); Attention: William E. Jordan, Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

 

(c)               Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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(d)               Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)               Entire Agreement and Counterparts. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law (e.g., www.docusign.com)) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be legally valid, effective and enforceable for all purposes.

 

(f)                Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

 

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

 

(h)               Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

18.                Recognition of U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

(a)               In the event that any Initial Purchaser that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Initial Purchaser of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

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(b)               In the event that any Initial Purchaser that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Initial Purchaser becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Initial Purchaser are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

As used in this Section 18:

 

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

 

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

 

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b).

 

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

 

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

 

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

 

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  EQT CORPORATION
   
  By: /s/ David M. Khani
    Name: David M. Khani
    Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Accepted: As of the date first written above  
   
For themselves and on behalf of the  
several Initial Purchasers listed  
in Schedule 1 hereto.  
   
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC  
   
By /s/ Michael Johnson  
  Authorized Signatory  
   
Barclays Capital Inc.  
   
By /s/ Paul Robinson  
  Authorized Signatory  
   
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC  
   
By /s/ Derek Deas  
  Authorized Signatory  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

April [  ], 2020

 

From: [Dealer Name]1

[          ]

[          ]

[          ]

 

To: EQT Corporation

625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

 

Re: [Base]2 [Additional]3 Call Option Transaction

 

The purpose of this communication (this “Confirmation”) is to set forth the terms and conditions of the above-referenced transaction entered into on the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”) between [   ] (“Dealer”)[, through its agent [   ] (the “Agent”),] and EQT Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (“Counterparty”). This communication constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below.

 

1. This Confirmation is subject to, and incorporates, the definitions and provisions of the 2006 ISDA Definitions (the “2006 Definitions”) and the definitions and provisions of the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”, and together with the 2006 Definitions, the “Definitions”), in each case as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”). In the event of any inconsistency between the 2006 Definitions and the Equity Definitions, the Equity Definitions will govern and in the event of any inconsistency between terms defined in the Equity Definitions and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern.

 

This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall be subject to an agreement (the “Agreement”) in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an agreement in such form on the Trade Date (but without any Schedule except for (i) the election of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law (without reference to choice of law doctrine), [(ii) the election of an executed guarantee of [__________] (“Guarantor”) dated as of the Trade Date in substantially the form attached hereto as Schedule I as a Credit Support Document, (iii) the election of Guarantor as Credit Support Provider in relation to Dealer]4 and (iv)] [and (ii)] the election that the “Cross Default” provisions of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement shall apply to Dealer, (a) with a “Threshold Amount” of 3% of the shareholders’ equity of [Dealer] [[   ] (“Dealer Parent”)]5 on the Trade Date, (b) “Specified Indebtedness” having the meaning set forth in Section 14 of the Agreement, except that it shall not include any obligation in respect of deposits received in the ordinary course of Dealer's banking business, (c) the phrase “, or becoming capable at such time of being declared,” shall be deleted from clause (1) of such Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement, and (d) the following sentence shall be added to the end of Section 5(a)(vi) of the Agreement: “Notwithstanding the foregoing, a default under subsection (2) hereof shall not constitute an Event of Default if (i) the default was caused solely by error or omission of an administrative or operational nature; (ii) funds were available to enable the relevant party to make payment when due; and (iii) the payment is made within two Local Business Days of such party’s receipt of written notice of its failure to pay.”).

 

All provisions contained in, or incorporated by reference to, the Agreement will govern this Confirmation except as expressly modified herein. In the event of any inconsistency between this Confirmation and either the Definitions or the Agreement, this Confirmation shall govern.

 

The Transaction hereunder shall be the sole Transaction under the Agreement. If there exists any ISDA Master Agreement between Dealer and Counterparty or any confirmation or other agreement between Dealer and Counterparty pursuant to which an ISDA Master Agreement is deemed to exist between Dealer and Counterparty, then notwithstanding anything to the contrary in such ISDA Master Agreement, such confirmation or agreement or any other agreement to which Dealer and Counterparty are parties, the Transaction shall not be considered a Transaction under, or otherwise governed by, such existing or deemed ISDA Master Agreement.

 

 

1 Include name of Dealer and Dealer’s Agent, if applicable

2 Include for Base Capped Call Transaction.

3 Include for Additional Capped Call Transaction.

4 Requested if Dealer is not the highest rated entity in group, typically from Parent.

5 Include name of Dealer’s ultimate parent, if applicable.

 

 

 

 

2. The Transaction constitutes a Share Option Transaction for purposes of the Equity Definitions. The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

General Terms:

 

Trade Date: April [  ], 2020
Effective Date: April 28, 2020, or such other date as agreed by the parties in writing.
Components: The Transaction will be divided into individual Components, each with the terms set forth in this Confirmation, and, in particular, with the Number of Options and Expiration Date set forth in Annex A to this Confirmation. The exercise, valuation and settlement of the Transaction will be effected separately for each Component as if each Component were a separate Transaction under the Agreement.
Option Style: “European”, as described under “Procedures for Exercise” below.
Option Type: Call
Seller: Dealer
Buyer: Counterparty
Shares: Common Stock of Counterparty, no par value (Ticker Symbol: “EQT”).
Number of Options: For each Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.
Option Entitlement: One Share per Option
Strike Price: USD 15.00
Cap Price: USD 18.75; provided that in no event shall the Cap Price be reduced to an amount less than the Strike Price in connection with any adjustment by the Calculation Agent under this Confirmation.
Number of Shares: As of any date, a number of Shares equal to the product of (i) the Number of Options and (ii) the Option Entitlement.
Premium: USD [          ]; Dealer and Counterparty hereby agree that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Agreement, following the payment of the Premium, in the event that (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement that is within Counterparty’s control) occurs or is designated with respect to any Transaction and, as a result, Counterparty owes to Dealer the amount calculated under Section 6(d) and Section 6(e) or otherwise under the Agreement (calculated as if the Transactions terminated on such Early Termination Date were the sole Transactions under the Agreement) or (b) Counterparty owes to Dealer, pursuant to Sections 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or otherwise under the Equity Definitions, an amount calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.
Premium Payment Date: The Effective Date

 

 

 

 

Exchange: The New York Stock Exchange
Related Exchange: All Exchanges; provided that Section 1.26 of the Equity Definitions shall be amended to add the words “United States” before the word “exchange” in the tenth line of such Section.
Procedures for Exercise:  
Expiration Time: The Valuation Time
Expiration Date: For any Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Valid Day, the next following Scheduled Valid Day that is not already an Expiration Date for another Component); provided that if that date is a Disrupted Day, the Expiration Date for such Component shall be the first succeeding Scheduled Valid Day that is not a Disrupted Day and is not or is not deemed to be an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component of the Transaction hereunder; and provided further that in no event shall the Expiration Date be postponed to a date later than the Final Termination Date and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions, if the Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day, the Relevant Price for such Expiration Date shall be the prevailing market value per Share determined by the Calculation Agent in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on any Expiration Date, the Calculation Agent may determine in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner that such Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the Calculation Agent shall make commercially reasonable adjustments to the Number of Options for the relevant Component for which such day shall be the Expiration Date, shall designate the Scheduled Valid Day determined in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence as the Expiration Date for the remaining Options for such Component and may determine the Relevant Price based on transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of such Market Disruption Event on such day. Any Scheduled Valid Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal close of trading shall be deemed not to be a Scheduled Valid Day; if a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Scheduled Valid Day is scheduled following the date hereof, then such Scheduled Valid Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date occurring on an Expiration Date.
Final Termination Date: August 21, 2026
Automatic Exercise: Applicable; and means that the Number of Options for the relevant Component will be deemed to be automatically exercised at the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date for such Component if at such time such Component is In-the-Money, as determined by the Calculation Agent, unless Buyer notifies Seller (in writing) prior to the Expiration Time on such Expiration Date that it does not wish Automatic Exercise to occur with respect to such Component, in which case Automatic Exercise will not apply with respect to such Component. “In-the-Money” means, in respect of any Component, that the Relevant Price on the Expiration Date for such Component is greater than the Strike Price for such Component.

 

 

 

 

Valuation Time: At the close of trading of the regular trading session on the Exchange; provided that if the principal trading session is extended, the Calculation Agent shall determine the Valuation Time in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner.
Valuation Date: For any Component, the Expiration Date therefor.
Market Disruption Event:

Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be,” in clause (ii) thereof.

 

Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

Settlement Terms:  
Settlement Method Election:

Applicable; provided that (a) Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing the term “Physical Settlement” with the term “Net Share Settlement”, (b) Counterparty must make a single irrevocable election for all Components and (c) such Settlement Method Election would be effective only if Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer in writing on the date of such Settlement Method Election that (i) Counterparty is not in possession of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, and (ii) if Counterparty is electing Cash Settlement, such election is being made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Counterparty acknowledges its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Sections 9 and 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder in respect of such election.

Electing Party: Counterparty
Settlement Method Election Date: The second Scheduled Valid Day prior to the scheduled Expiration Date for the Component with the earliest scheduled Expiration Date.
Default Settlement Method: Net Share Settlement
Net Share Settlement:

With respect to any Component, if Net Share Settlement is applicable to the Options exercised or deemed exercised hereunder, Dealer will deliver to Counterparty, on the relevant Settlement Date for such Component, a number of Shares (the “Net Share Settlement Amount”) equal to (i) the Daily Option Value on the Expiration Date of such Component divided by (ii) the Relevant Price on such Expiration Date.

 

Dealer will deliver cash in lieu of any fractional Shares to be delivered with respect to any Net Share Settlement Share Amount valued at the Relevant Price for the Expiration Date of such Component.

Cash Settlement: With respect to any Component, if Cash Settlement is applicable to the Options exercised or deemed exercised hereunder, in lieu of Section 8.1 of the Equity Definitions, Dealer will pay to Counterparty, on the relevant Settlement Date for each such Option, an amount of cash (the “Cash Settlement Amount”) equal to the Daily Option Value on the Expiration Date of such Component.

 

 

 

 

Delivery Obligation: For any Settlement Date, the Net Share Settlement Amount or the Cash Settlement Amount payable or deliverable on such Settlement Date.
Daily Option Value: For any Component, an amount equal to (i) the Number of Options in such Component, multiplied by (ii) (A) the lesser of the Relevant Price on the Expiration Date of such Component and the Cap Price, minus (B) the Strike Price on such Expiration Day; provided that if the calculation contained in clause (ii) above results in a negative number, the Daily Option Value for such Component shall be deemed to be zero. In no event will the Daily Option Value be less than zero.
Valid Day: A day on which (i) there is no Market Disruption Event and (ii) trading in the Shares generally occurs on the Exchange. If the Shares are not listed, quoted or traded on any U.S. securities exchange or any other market, “Valid Day” means a Business Day.
Scheduled Valid Day: A day that is scheduled to be a Valid Day on the Exchange. If the Shares are not listed, quoted or traded on any U.S. securities exchange or any other market, “Scheduled Valid Day” means a Business Day.
Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close or be closed in the State of New York.
Relevant Price: On any Valid Day, the per Share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “EQT <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) (the “VWAP”) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Valid Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable at such time, the market value of one Share on such Valid Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner using, if practicable, a volume-weighted average method substantially similar to the method for determining the VWAP). The Relevant Price will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.
Settlement Date: For all Components of the Transaction, the date one Settlement Cycle immediately following the Expiration Date for the Component with the latest scheduled Expiration Date.
Settlement Currency: USD
Other Applicable Provisions: The provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9 and 9.11 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable, except that all references in such provisions to “Physically-settled” shall be read as references to “Net Share Settlement.”
Representation and Agreement: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Equity Definitions (including, but not limited to, Section 9.11 thereof), the parties acknowledge that (i) any Shares delivered to Counterparty shall be, upon delivery, subject to restrictions and limitations arising from Counterparty's status as issuer of the Shares under applicable securities laws, (ii) Dealer may deliver any Shares required to be delivered hereunder in certificated form in lieu of delivery through the Clearance System and (iii) any Shares delivered to Counterparty may be “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)).

 

 

 

 

Adjustments:  
Method of Adjustment: Calculation Agent Adjustment; provided that the parties agree that (x) open market Share repurchases at prevailing market price and (y) Share repurchases through a dealer pursuant to accelerated share repurchases, forward contracts or similar transactions to repurchase the Shares that are entered into at prevailing market prices and in accordance with customary market terms for transactions of such type (including, without limitation, any discount to average VWAP prices) shall not be considered Potential Adjustment Events; provided, further, that, the entry into any such accelerated share repurchase transaction, forward contract or similar transaction described in the immediately preceding proviso shall constitute a Potential Adjustment Event to the extent that, after giving effect to such transaction, the aggregate number of Shares repurchased during the term of the Transaction pursuant to all such transactions described in the immediately preceding proviso would exceed 20% of the number of Shares outstanding as of the Trade Date, as determined by Calculation Agent in a commercially reasonable manner.
Extraordinary Events:  
New Shares: In the definition of New Shares in Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions, the text in clause (i) thereof shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with “publicly quoted, traded or listed on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Market or The Nasdaq Global Select Market (or their respective successors) and of an entity or person organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia”.
Merger Events: Applicable
Consequences of Merger Events:  
(a)   Share-for-Share: Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
(b)   Share-for-Other: Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination)
(c)   Share-for-Combined: Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that the Calculation Agent may elect Component Adjustment for all or part of the Transaction
Tender Offer: Applicable; provided that the definition of “Tender Offer” in Section 12.1 of the Equity Definitions will be amended by replacing the phrase “greater than 10% and less than 100% of the outstanding voting shares of the Counterparty” in the third and fourth line thereof with “(a) greater than 15% and less than 100% of the outstanding Shares of the Counterparty in the event that such Tender Offer is being made by any entity or person other than the Counterparty or any subsidiary thereof or (b) greater than 20% and less than 100% of the outstanding Shares of the Counterparty in the event that such Tender Offer is being made by the Counterparty or any subsidiary thereof”.
Consequences of Tender Offers:  
(a)   Share-for-Share: Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
(b)   Share-for-Other:  Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment
(c)   Share-for-Combined: Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment

 

 

 

 

Consequences of Announcement Events: Upon an Announcement Event (as defined below), the Calculation Agent, in a commercially reasonable manner, shall determine what consequences, if any, apply in accordance with Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment as set forth in Section 12.3(d) of the Equity Definitions; provided that, in respect of an Announcement Event, (x) references to “Tender Offer” shall be replaced by references to “Announcement Event” and references to “Tender Offer Date” shall be replaced by references to “date of such Announcement Event”, (y) the phrase “exercise, settlement, payment or any other terms of the Transaction (including, without limitation, the spread)” shall be replaced with the phrase “Cap Price (provided that in no event shall the Cap Price be less than the Strike Price)” and the words “whether within a commercially reasonable period of time (as determined by the Calculation Agent) prior to or after the Announcement Event” shall be inserted prior to the word “which” in the seventh line, and (z) for the avoidance of doubt, the Calculation Agent shall, in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, determine whether the relevant Announcement Event has had a material economic effect on the Transaction and, if so, shall adjust, in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, the Cap Price accordingly to take into account such economic effect on one or more occasions on or after the date of the Announcement Event up to, and including, any Component, any Expiration Date, any Early Termination Date and/or any other date of cancellation, it being understood that any adjustment in respect of an Announcement Event shall take into account any earlier adjustment relating to the same Announcement Event and shall not be duplicative with any other adjustment or cancellation valuation made pursuant to this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions or the Agreement; provided that in no event shall the Cap Price be adjusted to be less than the Strike Price.  An Announcement Event shall be an “Extraordinary Event” for purposes of the Equity Definitions, to which Article 12 of the Equity Definitions is applicable; provided further that following the Calculation Agent having made an adjustment, determined in a commercially reasonable manner, to the terms of any Component upon any Announcement Event, then the Calculation Agent shall make an adjustment to the terms of such Component upon any announcement (whether by Counterparty or a Valid Third Party Entity) regarding the same event that gave rise to the original Announcement Event regarding the abandonment of any such event to the extent necessary to reflect the economic effect of such subsequent announcement on the Transaction.
Announcement Event: (i) The public announcement (whether by Counterparty or a Valid Third Party Entity) of any Merger Event or Tender Offer, or the announcement by Counterparty of any intention to enter into a Merger Event or Tender Offer, (ii) the public announcement by Counterparty of an intention by Counterparty to solicit or enter into, or to explore strategic alternatives or other similar undertaking that may include, a Merger Event or Tender Offer, (iii) a public announcement (whether by Counterparty or a Valid Third Party Entity) of any potential acquisition by Counterparty and/or its subsidiaries where the consideration exceeds 35% of the market capitalization of the Counterparty as of the date of such announcement, or (iv) any subsequent public announcement (whether by Counterparty or a Valid Third Party Entity) of a change to a transaction or intention that is the subject of an announcement of the type described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this sentence (including, without limitation, a new announcement relating to such a transaction or intention or the announcement of a withdrawal from, or the abandonment or discontinuation of, such a transaction or intention); provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the occurrence of an Announcement Event with respect to any transaction or intention shall not preclude the occurrence of a later Announcement Event with respect to such transaction or intention.

 

 

 

 

Valid Third Party Entity: In respect of any transaction, any third party that has a bona fide intent to enter into or consummate such transaction (it being understood and agreed that in determining whether such third party has such a bona fide intent, the Calculation Agent may take into consideration the effect of the relevant announcement by such third party on the Shares and/or options relating to the Shares).
Notice of Merger Consideration and Consequences: Upon the occurrence of a Merger Event that causes the Shares to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), Counterparty shall reasonably promptly (but in any event prior to the relevant merger date) notify the Calculation Agent of (i) the type and amount of consideration that a holder of Shares would have been entitled to in the case of reclassifications, consolidations, mergers, sales or transfers of assets or other transactions that cause Shares to be converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration and (ii) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration to be received by the holders of Shares that affirmatively make such an election.
Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting: Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination); provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it will also constitute a Delisting if the Shares are not immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The Nasdaq Global Select Market or The Nasdaq Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed, re-traded or re-quoted on any such exchange or quotation system, such exchange or quotation system shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.
Additional Disruption Events:  
(a) Change in Law: Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) by adding the phrase “and/or Hedge Position” after the word “Shares” in clause (X) thereof and (iii) by immediately following the word “Transaction” in clause (X) thereof, adding the phrase “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date”.
(b) Failure to Deliver: Applicable
(c) Insolvency Filing: Applicable
(d) Hedging Disruption: Applicable
(e) Increased Cost of Hedging: Not Applicable
Hedging Party: Dealer

 

 

 

 

Determining Party: For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer; all calculations and determinations made by the Determining Party shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner; provided that, upon receipt of written request from Counterparty, the Determining Party shall promptly provide Counterparty with a written explanation describing in reasonable detail any calculation, adjustment or determination made by it (including any quotations, market data or information from internal or external sources used in making such calculation, adjustment or determination, as the case may be, but without disclosing Determining Party’s proprietary models or other information that may be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information), and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such written explanation within five (5) Exchange Business Days from the receipt of such request.
Non-Reliance: Applicable
Agreements and Acknowledgments Regarding Hedging Activities: Applicable
Hedging Adjustment: For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Dealer, Determining Party or Calculation Agent is permitted to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent or Determining Party or Dealer, as the case may be, shall make such adjustment in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, and with reference to the effect of such event on Dealer assuming that Dealer maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position.
Additional Acknowledgments: Applicable

 

3. Calculation Agent: Dealer; provided that following the occurrence of an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the sole Defaulting Party, if the Calculation Agent fails to timely make any calculation, adjustment or determination required to be made by the Calculation Agent hereunder or to perform any obligation of the Calculation Agent hereunder and such failure continues for five (5) Exchange Business Days following notice to the Calculation Agent by Counterparty of such failure, Counterparty shall have the right to designate a nationally recognized third-party dealer in over-the-counter corporate equity derivatives to act, during the period commencing on the date such Event of Default occurred and ending on the Early Termination Date with respect to such Event of Default, as the Calculation Agent.

 

All calculations and determinations made by the Calculation Agent shall be made in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner and, if such calculations or determinations are made by reference to the effect on Dealer, assuming the Dealer maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position with respect to the Transaction; provided that, upon receipt of written request from Counterparty, the Calculation Agent shall promptly provide Counterparty with a written explanation describing in reasonable detail any calculation, adjustment or determination made by it (including any quotations, market data or information from internal or external sources used in making such calculation, adjustment or determination, as the case may be, but without disclosing Dealer's proprietary models or other information that may be proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations to not disclose such information), and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide such written explanation within five (5) Exchange Business Days from the receipt of such request.

 

 

 

 

4. Account Details:

 

Dealer Payment Instructions:

 

Bank: [            ]

ABA No: [            ]

Acct No: [            ]

Beneficiary: [            ]

 

Counterparty Payment Instructions: To be advised

 

5. Offices:

 

The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is:

 

[           ]

 

The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is:

 

Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party.

 

6. Notices: For purposes of this Confirmation:

 

(a) Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:

 

EQT Corporation

625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

Attention:          Treasurer

Telephone:          (412) 553-7869

E-mail:                    DGreenblatt@eqt.com

 

With a copy to:

Attention:          Contract Administration

Telephone:          (412) 395-2635

E-mail:                    Contracts@eqt.com

 

(b) Address for notices or communications to Dealer:

 

[           ]

[           ]

[           ]

[           ]

Attn: [           ]

Telephone No.: [           ]

 

Email: [           ]

 

7. Representations, Warranties and Agreements:

 

(a) In addition to the representations and warranties in the Agreement and those contained elsewhere herein, Counterparty represents and warrants to and for the benefit of, and agrees with, Dealer as follows:

 

(i) On the Trade Date (A) none of Counterparty and its officers and directors is aware of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading .

 

(ii) On the Trade Date, (A) the Shares or securities that are convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, are not, and shall not be, subject to a “restricted period,” as such term is defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”), and (B) Counterparty shall not engage in any “distribution,” as such term is defined in Regulation M, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exceptions set forth in Rules 101(b)(10) and 102(b)(7) of Regulation M, until the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the Trade Date, engage in any such distribution.

 

 

 

 

(iii) On the Trade Date, neither Counterparty nor any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act) shall directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, by means of any cash-settled or other derivative instrument) purchase, offer to purchase, place any bid or limit order that would effect a purchase of, or commence any tender offer relating to, any Shares (or an equivalent interest, including a unit of beneficial interest in a trust or limited partnership or a depository share) or any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Shares, except through Dealer.

 

(iv) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that neither Dealer nor any of its affiliates is making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC 815-40, Derivatives and HedgingContracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements).

 

(v) Without limiting the generality of Section 3(a)(iii) of the Agreement, the Transaction will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

 

(vi) Prior to the Trade Date, Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer a resolution of Counterparty's board of directors authorizing the Transaction.

 

(vii) Counterparty is not entering into this Confirmation to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or to manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

(ix) On and immediately after each of the Trade Date and the Premium Payment Date, (A) the total assets of Counterparty would be less than the sum of its total liabilities (as determined pursuant to Section 1551 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law) plus the amount that would be needed, if Counterparty were to be dissolved on the Trade Date or Premium Payment Date, as applicable, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of any shareholders of Counterparty whose preferential rights are superior to those of Counterparty’s common stockholders, (B) the capital of Counterparty is adequate to conduct the business of Counterparty, and Counterparty’s entry into the Transaction and any substantially similar transaction entered into on the date hereof with an other dealer will not impair its capital, (C) Counterparty has the ability to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of its business and does not intend to, or does not believe that it will, incur debt beyond its ability to pay as such debts become due in the usual course of its business, (D) Counterparty is not “insolvent” (as such term is defined under Section 101(32) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”)) and (E) Counterparty would be able to purchase the Number of Shares under the Transaction, and the number of shares under each substantially similar transaction entered into on the date hereof with an other dealer, in each case in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of Counterparty’s incorporation (including the requirements of Sections 1551 and 1552 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law).

 

(x) To Counterparty’s knowledge, no U.S. state or local law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares; provided that no such representation shall be made by Counterparty with respect to any rules and regulations applicable to Dealer (including FINRA) arising from Dealer’s status as a regulated entity under applicable law.

 

(xi) Counterparty (A) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (B) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing, (C) has total assets of at least $50 million as of the date hereof.

 

 

 

 

(b) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and represents that it is an “eligible contract participant” as defined in Section 1a(18) of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, and is entering into the Transaction as principal (and not as agent or in any other capacity, fiduciary or otherwise) and not for the benefit of any third party.

 

(c) Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act, by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof. Accordingly, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment and its investments in and liabilities in respect of the Transaction, which it understands are not readily marketable, are not disproportionate to its net worth, and it is able to bear any loss in connection with the Transaction, including the loss of its entire investment in the Transaction, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account and without a view to the distribution or resale thereof, (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws, and (v) its financial condition is such that it has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Transaction and no need to dispose of any portion thereof to satisfy any existing or contemplated undertaking or indebtedness and is capable of assessing the merits of and understanding (on its own behalf or through independent professional advice), and understands and accepts, the terms, conditions and risks of the Transaction.

 

(d) Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees and acknowledges that Dealer is a “financial institution,” “swap participant” and “financial participant” within the meaning of Sections 101(22), 101(53C) and 101(22A) of the Bankruptcy Code. The parties hereto further agree and acknowledge (A) that this Confirmation is (i) a “securities contract,” as such term is defined in Section 741(7) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “settlement payment” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (ii) a “swap agreement,” as such term is defined in Section 101(53B) of the Bankruptcy Code, with respect to which each payment and delivery hereunder or in connection herewith is a “termination value,” “payment amount” or “other transfer obligation” within the meaning of Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code and a “transfer” within the meaning of Section 546 of the Bankruptcy Code, and (B) that Dealer is entitled to the protections afforded by, among other sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 362(b)(27), 362(o), 546(e), 546(g), 546(j), 548(d)(2), 555, 560 and 561 of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(e) As a condition to the effectiveness of the Transaction, Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer an opinion of counsel, dated as of the Effective Date, in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex B.

 

(f) Counterparty understands that notwithstanding any other relationship between Counterparty and Dealer and its affiliates, in connection with the Transaction and any other over-the-counter derivative transactions between Counterparty and Dealer or its affiliates, Dealer or its affiliates is acting as principal and is not a fiduciary or advisor in respect of any such transaction, including any entry, exercise, amendment, unwind or termination thereof.

 

(g) Each party acknowledges and agrees to be bound by the Conduct Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. applicable to transactions in options, and further agrees not to violate the position and exercise limits set forth therein.

 

(h) Counterparty represents and warrants that it has received, read and understands the OTC Options Risk Disclosure Statement and a copy of the most recent disclosure pamphlet prepared by The Options Clearing Corporation entitled “Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options”.

 

 

 

 

(i) Counterparty acknowledges that the Transaction may constitute a purchase of its equity securities or a capital distribution. Counterparty further acknowledges that, pursuant to the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), Counterparty will be required to agree to certain time-bound restrictions on its ability to purchase its equity securities or make capital distributions if it receives loans, loan guarantees or direct loans (as that term is defined in the CARES Act) under section 4003(b) of the CARES Act. Counterparty further acknowledges that it may be required to agree to certain time-bound restrictions on its ability to purchase its equity securities or make capital distributions if it receives loans, loan guarantees or direct loans (as that term is defined in the CARES Act) under programs or facilities established by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the U.S. Department of Treasury for the purpose of providing liquidity to the financial system, and may be required to agree to similar restrictions under programs or facilities established in the future. Accordingly, Counterparty represents and warrants that it has not applied, and shall not until after the first date on which no portion of this Transaction remains outstanding following any final exercise and settlement, cancellation or early termination of this Transaction, apply, for a loan, loan guarantee, direct loan (as that term is defined in the CARES Act) or other investment, or to receive any financial assistance or relief (howsoever defined) under any program or facility (collectively “Financial Assistance”) that (a) is established under applicable law (whether in existence as of the Trade Date or subsequently enacted, adopted or amended), including without limitation the CARES Act and the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, and (b) (i) requires under applicable law (or any regulation, guidance, interpretation or other pronouncement of a governmental authority with jurisdiction for such program or facility) as a condition of such Financial Assistance, that the Counterparty agree, attest, certify or warrant that it has not, as of the date specified in such condition, repurchased, or will not repurchase, any equity security of Counterparty, and that it has not, as of the date specified in the condition, made a capital distribution or will make a capital distribution, or (ii) where the terms of this Transaction would cause Counterparty under any circumstances to fail to satisfy any condition for application for or receipt or retention of the Financial Assistance (collectively “Restricted Financial Assistance”); provided, that Counterparty may apply for Restricted Financial Assistance if (x) Counterparty delivers to Dealer either (a) a written opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Dealer to the effect that the terms of this Transaction would not cause Counterparty to fail to satisfy any condition for application for or receipt or retention of such Restricted Financial Assistance based on the terms of the program or facility as of the date of such opinion or (b) evidence of a waiver from a governmental authority with jurisdiction for such program or facility with respect to this Transaction (either by specific reference to this Transaction or by general reference to transactions with the attributes of this Transaction in all relevant respects) on the basis of which Dealer consents to Counterparty’s application for such Restricted Financial Assistance (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

8. Other Provisions:

 

(a) Right to Extend. Dealer may divide any Component into additional Components and designate the Expiration Date and the Number of Options for each such Component if Dealer determines, in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, that such further division is necessary or advisable to preserve Dealer’s commercially reasonable hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions or to enable Dealer to effect transactions with respect to Shares in connection with its commercially reasonable hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be compliant and consistent with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures (provided that such requirements, policies and procedures relate to regulatory issues and are, generally applicable in similar situations and are applied in a consistent manner to similar transactions); provided that in no event shall any Expiration Date for any Component be postponed to a date later than the Final Termination Date.

 

(b) Additional Termination Events. Promptly (but in any event within ten Scheduled Trading Days) following any repurchase or conversion of any of the Counterparty’s 1.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Convertible Notes”) issued pursuant to the Counterparty’s indenture (the “Indenture”) to be dated April 28, 2020 between the Counterparty and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, Counterparty may notify Dealer in writing of such repurchase or conversion and the number of Convertible Notes so repurchased or converted (any such notice, a “Repurchase Notice” and any such event, a “Repurchase Event”) [; provided that any “Repurchase Notice” delivered to Dealer pursuant to the Base Capped Call Transaction Confirmation letter agreement dated April [__], 2020 between Dealer and Counterparty (the “Base Call Option Confirmation”) shall be deemed to be a Repurchase Notification pursuant to this Confirmation and the terms of such Repurchase Notice shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Confirmation]6. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, the receipt by Dealer from Counterparty of (x) any Repurchase Notice, within the applicable time period set forth in the preceding sentence, and (y) a written representation and warranty by Counterparty that, as of the date of such Repurchase Notice, Counterparty is not in possession of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph. Upon receipt of any such Repurchase Notice and the related written representation and warranty, Dealer shall promptly designate an Exchange Business Day following receipt of such Repurchase Notice as an Early Termination Date with respect to the portion of this Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Repurchase Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) [(x)] the number of Shares underlying the Convertible Notes applicable to the Transaction that is specified in such Repurchase Notice (determined, for the avoidance of doubt, without giving effect to any increase in the Conversion Rate (as defined in the Indenture) as a result of Section 14.03 or 14.04(h) of the Indenture) [minus (y) the number of Repurchase Options (as defined in the Base Call Option Confirmation), if any, that relate to such Convertible Notes (and for purposes of determining whether any Options under this Confirmation or under the Base Call Option Transaction Confirmation will be among the Repurchase Options hereunder or under, and as defined in, the Base Call Option Transaction Confirmation, the Convertible Notes specified in such Repurchase Notice shall be allocated first to the Base Call Option Transaction Confirmation until all Options thereunder are exercised or terminated)]7 and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Repurchase Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to this Transaction and a Number of Options equal to the number of Repurchase Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction.

 

 

6 Include in the Additional Call Option Transaction confirmation only.

7 Include in the Additional Call Option Transaction confirmation only.

 

 

 

 

(c) Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction or (b) the Transaction is cancelled or terminated upon the occurrence of an Extraordinary Event (except as a result of (i) a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event in which the consideration to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash, (ii) a Merger Event or Tender Offer that is within Counterparty's control, or (iii) an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party, which Event of Default or Termination Event resulted from an event or events within the Counterparty's control), and if Dealer would owe any amount to Counterparty pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) and 6(e) of the Agreement or any Cancellation Amount pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions (any such amount, a “Payment Obligation”), then Dealer shall satisfy the Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below) unless (a) Counterparty gives irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Merger Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date (in the case of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting), Early Termination Date or date of cancellation, as applicable, of its election that the Share Termination Alternative shall not apply, (b) as of the date of such election, Counterparty represents that is not in possession of any material non-public information regarding Counterparty or the Shares, and that such election is being made in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the federal securities laws, and (c) Dealer agrees, in its sole discretion, to such election, in which case the provisions of Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, or the provisions of Section 6(d)(ii) and 6(e) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply.

 

 

Share Termination Alternative: If applicable, Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty the Share Termination Delivery Property on, or within a commercially reasonable period of time after, the date when the relevant Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) and 6(e) of the Agreement, as applicable, in satisfaction of such Payment Obligation in the manner reasonably requested by Counterparty free of payment.
Share Termination Delivery Property: A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.
Share Termination Unit Price: The value of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Dealer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that in determining the Share Termination Delivery Unit Price the Calculation Agent may consider the market price of the Share Termination Delivery Units and/or the purchase price paid in connection with the commercially reasonable purchase of Share Termination Delivery Property.
Share Termination Delivery Unit: One Share or, if the Shares have changed into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property as the result of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event (any such cash or other property, the “Exchange Property”), a unit consisting of the type and amount of such Exchange Property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

 

 

 

Failure to Deliver: Applicable
Other Applicable Provisions: If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9 and 9.11 (as modified above) of the Equity Definitions and the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Representation and Agreement” in Section 2 will be applicable, except that all references in such provisions to “Physically-settled” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Settled” and all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units”. “Share Termination Settled” in relation to the Transaction means that the Share Termination Alternative is applicable to the Transaction.

(d) Disposition of Hedge Shares. Counterparty hereby agrees that if, in the good faith reasonable judgment of Dealer, based on the advice of legal counsel, the Shares acquired by Dealer for the purpose of hedging its obligations pursuant to the Transaction (the “Hedge Shares”) cannot be sold in the U.S. public market by Dealer without registration under the Securities Act, Counterparty shall, at its election: (i) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a registered offering, use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available to Dealer an effective registration statement under the Securities Act to cover the resale of such Hedge Shares and (A) enter into an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Dealer, substantially in the form of an underwriting agreement for a registered offering for companies of a similar size in a similar industry, (B) provide accountant's “comfort” letters in customary form for registered offerings of equity securities for companies of a similar size in a similar industry, (C) provide disclosure opinions of nationally recognized outside counsel to Counterparty in customary form for registered offerings of equity securities for companies of a similar size in a similar industry, (D) provide other customary opinions, certificates and closing documents customary in form for registered offerings of equity securities for companies of a similar size in a similar industry and (E) afford Dealer a reasonable opportunity to conduct a “due diligence” investigation with respect to Counterparty customary in scope for underwritten offerings of equity securities for companies of a similar size in a similar industry; provided, however, that if Counterparty elects clause (i) above but Dealer, in its commercially reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with access to due diligence materials, the results of its due diligence investigation, or the procedures and documentation for the registered offering referred to above, then clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this Section 8(d) shall apply at the election of Counterparty; (ii) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a private placement, enter into a private placement agreement substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities of companies of a similar size in a similar industry, in form and substance commercially reasonably satisfactory to Dealer using best efforts to include customary representations, covenants, blue sky and other governmental filings and/or registrations, indemnities to Dealer, due diligence rights (for Dealer or any designated buyer of the Hedge Shares from Dealer), opinions and certificates and such other documentation as is customary for private placements agreements of equity securities of companies of a similar size in a similar industry, as is reasonably acceptable to Dealer (in which case, the Calculation Agent shall make any adjustments to the terms of the Transaction that are necessary, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment, to compensate Dealer for any customary liquidity discount from the public market price of the Shares incurred on the sale of Hedge Shares in a private placement); or (iii) purchase the Hedge Shares from Dealer at the Relevant Price on such Exchange Business Days, and in the amounts, requested by Dealer.

 

 

 

 

(e) Repurchase Notices. Counterparty shall, at least one Scheduled Valid Day prior to any day on which Counterparty intends to effect any repurchase of Shares, give Dealer written notice of such repurchase (a “Repurchase Notice”) on such day if, following such repurchase, the Notice Percentage would reasonably be expected to be (i) greater than 6.99% and (ii) greater by 0.5% than the Notice Percentage included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice (or, in the case of the first such Repurchase Notice, greater than the Notice Percentage as of the date hereof). The “Notice Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the aggregate Number of Shares for all Components hereunder, plus the aggregate number of Shares underlying any other call options sold by Dealer to Counterparty, and the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. In the event that Counterparty fails to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this Section 8(e) then Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer, its affiliates and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons (Dealer and each such person being an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses (including losses relating to the Dealer’s commercially reasonable hedging activities as a consequence of becoming, or of the risk of becoming, a Section 16 “insider”, including without limitation, any forbearance from hedging activities or cessation of hedging activities and any losses in connection therewith with respect to the Transaction), claims, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under applicable securities laws, including without limitation, Section 16 of the Exchange Act or under any U.S. state or federal law, regulation or regulatory order, in each case relating to or arising out of such failure. If for any reason the foregoing indemnification is unavailable to any Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold harmless any Indemnified Party, then Counterparty shall contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, to the amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability. In addition, Counterparty will reimburse any Indemnified Party for all reasonable expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) as they are incurred (after notice to Counterparty) in connection with the investigation of, preparation for or defense or settlement of any pending or threatened claim or any action, suit or proceeding arising therefrom, whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto and whether or not such claim, action, suit or proceeding is initiated or brought by or on behalf of Counterparty, in each case relating to or arising out of such failure. This indemnity shall survive the completion of the Transaction contemplated by this Confirmation and any assignment and delegation of the Transaction made pursuant to this Confirmation or the Agreement shall inure to the benefit of any permitted assignee of Dealer. Counterparty will not be liable under this indemnity provision to the extent any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is found in a final judgment by a court to have resulted from Dealer’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

(f) Transfer and Assignment. Either party may transfer or assign any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction with the prior written consent of the non-transferring party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that Dealer may transfer or assign without any consent of Counterparty its rights and obligations hereunder, in whole or in part, to (A) any affiliate of Dealer whose obligations would be guaranteed by [Dealer] [Dealer Parent]8 or (B) any person (including any affiliate of Dealer whose obligations are not guaranteed in the manner described in clause (A)) or any person whose obligations would be guaranteed by a person (a “Designated Transferee”), in either case under this clause (B), with a rating for its long-term, unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness at least equivalent to Dealer's (or its guarantor's), provided however that, in the case of this clause (B), in no event shall the credit rating of the Designated Transferee or of its guarantor (whichever is higher) be lower than A3 from Moody's Investor Service, Inc. or its successor or A- from Standard and Poor's Rating Group, Inc. or its successor and in the case of clause (A) or (B) any transfer or assignment effected by Dealer shall not result in a deemed exchange from Counterparty’s perspective within the meaning of Section 1001 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); provided further that (i) Dealer will notify Counterparty in writing prior to any proposed transfer or assignment to a Designated Transferee, (ii) Counterparty shall not, as a result of such transfer or assignment, (x) receive from the transferee or assignee on any payment or delivery date any payment or delivery less than an amount that Counterparty would have been entitled to receive from Dealer in the absence of such transfer or assignment or (y) be required to pay the transferee or assignee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than an amount that Counterparty would have been required to pay Dealer in the absence of such transfer or assignment, and (iii) the transferee or assignee shall provide Counterparty with a complete and accurate U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8 (as applicable) prior to becoming a party to the Transaction. If at any time at which (1) the Equity Percentage exceeds 8.0% or (2) Dealer, Dealer Group (as defined below) or any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer or Dealer Group (Dealer, Dealer Group or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under Chapter 25 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law or other federal, state or local law, rule, regulation or regulatory order or organizational documents or contracts of Counterparty applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Restrictions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership in excess of a number of Shares equal to (x) the number of Shares that would give rise to reporting, registration, filing or notification obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval by a state or federal regulator) of a Dealer Person under Applicable Restrictions and with respect to which such requirements have not been met or the relevant approval has not been received minus (y) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding on the date of determination (either such condition described in clause (1) or (2), an “Excess Ownership Position”), if Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, is unable to effect a transfer or assignment to a third party in accordance with the requirements set forth above after its commercially reasonable efforts on pricing and terms and within a time period reasonably acceptable to Dealer such that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists, Dealer may designate any Scheduled Valid Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion (the “Terminated Portion”) of the Transaction, such that an Excess Ownership Position no longer exists following such partial termination. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment or delivery shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and Section 8(c) of this Confirmation as if (i) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Terminated Portion of the Transaction, (ii) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination, (iii) such portion of the Transaction were the only Terminated Transaction and (iv) Dealer were the party entitled to designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement and to determine the amount payable pursuant to Section 6(e) of the Agreement. The “Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates subject to aggregation with Dealer for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act and all persons who may form a “group” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act) with Dealer (collectively, “Dealer Group”) “beneficially own” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) without duplication on such day and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day.

 

 

8 Include as applicable.

 

 

 

 

In the case of a transfer or assignment by Counterparty of its rights and obligations hereunder and under the Agreement, in whole or in part (any such Options so transferred or assigned, the “Transfer Options”), to any party, withholding of such consent by Dealer shall not be considered unreasonable if such transfer or assignment does not meet the reasonable conditions that Dealer may impose including, but not limited, to the following conditions:

 

(A) With respect to any Transfer Options, Counterparty shall not be released from its notice and indemnification obligations pursuant to Section 8(e) or any obligations under Section 2 (regarding Extraordinary Events) or 8(d) of this Confirmation;

 

(B) Any Transfer Options shall only be transferred or assigned to a third party that is a U.S. person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code);

 

(C) Such transfer or assignment shall be effected on terms, including any reasonable undertakings by such third party (including, but not limited to, undertakings with respect to compliance with applicable securities laws in a manner that, in the reasonable judgment of Dealer, will not expose Dealer to material risks under applicable securities laws) and execution of any documentation and delivery of customary legal opinions with respect to securities laws and other matters by such third party and Counterparty as are reasonably requested and reasonably satisfactory to Dealer;

 

(D) Dealer will not, as a result of such transfer and assignment, be required to pay the transferee on any payment date an amount under Section 2(d)(i)(4) of the Agreement greater than an amount that Dealer would have been required to pay to Counterparty in the absence of such transfer and assignment;

 

(E) An Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event will not occur as a result of such transfer and assignment;

 

(F) Without limiting the generality of clause (B), Counterparty shall have caused the transferee to make such Payee Tax Representations and to provide such tax documentation as may be reasonably requested by Dealer to permit Dealer to determine that results described in clauses (D) and (E) will not occur upon or after such transfer and assignment; and

 

(G) Counterparty shall be responsible for all reasonable costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred by Dealer in connection with such transfer or assignment.

 

(g) Staggered Settlement. If Dealer determines reasonably and in good faith based on the reasonable advice of counsel that the number of Shares required to be delivered to Counterparty hereunder on any Settlement Date would result in an Excess Ownership Position, then Dealer may, by notice to Counterparty prior to such Settlement Date (a “Nominal Settlement Date”), elect to deliver any Shares due to be delivered on two or more dates (each, a “Staggered Settlement Date”) or at two or more times on the Nominal Settlement Date as follows:

 

(i) in such notice, Dealer will specify to Counterparty the related Staggered Settlement Dates (each of which will be on or prior to the 20th Exchange Business Day after such Nominal Settlement Date) or delivery times and how it will allocate the Shares it is required to deliver under “Delivery Obligation” (above) among the Staggered Settlement Dates or delivery times; and

 

 

 

 

(ii) the aggregate number of Shares that Dealer will deliver to Counterparty hereunder on all such Staggered Settlement Dates and delivery times will equal the number of Shares that Dealer would otherwise be required to deliver on such Nominal Settlement Date; provided that in no event shall any Staggered Settlement Date be a date later than the Final Termination Date.

 

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

 

(i) No Netting and Set-off. The provisions of Sections 2(c) and 6(f) of the Agreement shall not apply to the Transaction. Each party waives any and all rights it may have to set-off delivery or payment obligations it owes to the other party under the Transaction against any delivery or payment obligations owed to it by the other party, whether arising under the Agreement, under any other agreement between parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise.

 

(j) Equity Rights. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to it rights with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common stockholders in the event of Counterparty's bankruptcy. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that the preceding sentence shall not apply at any time other than during Counterparty's bankruptcy to any claim arising as a result of a breach by Counterparty of any of its obligations under this Confirmation or the Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge that the obligations of Counterparty under this Confirmation are not secured by any collateral that would otherwise secure the obligations of Counterparty herein under or pursuant to any other agreement.

 

(k) Early Unwind. In the event the sale of the [Convertible Securities][Additional Securities] (as defined in the Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2020, among J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representatives of the several initial purchasers party thereto, and Counterparty (the “Purchase Agreement”)) is not consummated pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any reason by the close of business in New York on April 28, 2020 (or such later date as agreed upon by the parties which in no event shall be later than the second Scheduled Valid Day following April 28, 2020) (such date or such later date as agreed upon being the “Accelerated Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate on the Accelerated Unwind Date and (i) the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Counterparty under the Transaction shall be cancelled and terminated and (ii) each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of the other party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Accelerated Unwind Date.

 

(l) Illegality. The parties agree that, for the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of Section 5(b)(i) of the Agreement, “any applicable law” shall include the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and any similar law or regulation, without regard to Section 739 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 or any similar legal certainty provision in any legislation enacted, or rule or regulation promulgated, on or after the Trade Date, and the consequences specified in the Agreement, including without limitation, the consequences specified in Section 6 of the Agreement, shall apply to any Illegality arising from any such act, rule or regulation.

 

(m) Amendments to Equity Definitions and the Agreement. The following amendments shall be made to the Equity Definitions:

 

(i) solely for purposes of applying the Equity Definitions and for purposes of this Confirmation, any reference in the Equity Definitions to a Strike Price shall be deemed to be a reference to either of the Strike Price or the Cap Price, or both, as appropriate;

 

 

 

 

(ii) for the purpose of any adjustment under Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions, the first sentence of Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions, prior to clause (A) thereof, is hereby amended to read as follows: “(c) If “Calculation Agent Adjustment” is specified as the Method of Adjustment in the related Confirmation of a Share Option Transaction, then following the announcement or occurrence of any Potential Adjustment Event, the Calculation Agent will determine whether such Potential Adjustment Event has, in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Calculation Agent, a material economic effect on the theoretical value of the relevant Shares or options on the Shares (provided that such event is not based on (x) an observable market, other than the market for Counterparty’s own stock or (y) an observable index, other than an index calculated measured solely by reference to Counterparty’s own operations) and, if so, will (i) make appropriate adjustment(s), if any, determined in a commercially reasonable manner, to any one or more of:” and, the portion of such sentence immediately preceding clause (ii) thereof is hereby amended by deleting the words “diluting or concentrative” and the words “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing such latter phrase with the words “(provided that, solely in the case of Sections 11.2(e)(i), (ii)(A) and (iv), no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares but, for the avoidance of doubt, solely in the case of Sections 11.2(e)(ii)(B) through (D), (iii), (v), (vi) and (vii) adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)”;

 

(iii) Section 11.2(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) deleting the words “in the determination of the Calculation Agent, a diluting or concentrative effect” and replacing these words with “in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Calculation Agent, a material economic effect”; and (2) adding at the end thereof “; provided that such event is not based on (i) an observable market, other than the market for Counterpart’s own stock or (ii) an observable index, other than an index calculated measured solely by reference to Counterparty’s own operations”;

 

(iv) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended and restated as follows: “any other corporate event of the Issuer that in the commercially reasonable judgment of the Calculation Agent has a material economic effect on the theoretical value of the Shares or options of the Shares; provided that such corporate event of the Issuer is not based on (a) an observable market, other than the market for Counterparty’s own stock or (b) an observable index, other than an index calculated measured solely by reference to Counterparty’s own operations”;

 

(v) Section 12.7(b) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “(and in any event within five Exchange Business Days) by the parties after” appearing after the words “agreed promptly” and replacing with the words “by the parties on or prior to”;

 

(vi) Section 12.9(b)(i) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by replacing “either party may elect” with “Dealer may elect or, if Counterparty represents to Dealer in writing at the time of such election that (i) it is not aware of any material nonpublic information with respect to Counterparty or the Shares and (ii) it is not making such election as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, Counterparty may elect”; and

 

(vii) Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the words “or Potential Event of Default” in clause (1) of such Section and deleting the word “and” immediately before subsection (3) and deleting clause “(3)” in its entirety.

 

(n) Governing Law. THE AGREEMENT, THIS CONFIRMATION AND ALL MATTERS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THE AGREEMENT AND THIS CONFIRMATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW DOCTRINE, OTHER THAN TITLE 14 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT, THIS CONFIRMATION OR ANY TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(o) Adjustments. For the avoidance of doubt, whenever the Calculation Agent or Determining Party is called upon to make an adjustment pursuant to the terms of this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions to take into account the effect of an event, the Calculation Agent or Determining Party shall make such adjustment by reference to the effect of such event on the Hedging Party, assuming that the Hedging Party maintains a commercially reasonable hedge position.

 

 

 

 

(p) Delivery or Receipt of Cash. For the avoidance of doubt, other than payment of the Premium by Counterparty, nothing in this Confirmation shall be interpreted as requiring Counterparty to cash settle the Transaction, except in circumstances where cash settlement is within Counterparty’s control (including, without limitation, where Counterparty elects to deliver or receive cash) or in those circumstances in which holders of Shares would also receive cash.

 

(q) Waiver of Jury Trial; Exclusive Jurisdiction.

 

(i) EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT, THIS CONFIRMATION OR ANY TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(ii) Section 13(b) of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:

 

“Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits for itself and its property in any suit, legal action or proceeding relating to this Confirmation or the Agreement, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof (each, “Proceedings”), to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, sitting in New York County, the courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York and appellate courts from any thereof. Nothing in this Confirmation or the Agreement precludes either party from bringing Proceedings in any other jurisdiction if (A) the courts of the State of New York or the United States of America for the Southern District of New York lack jurisdiction over the parties or the subject matter of the Proceedings or decline to accept the Proceedings on the grounds of lacking such jurisdiction; (B) the Proceedings are commenced by a party for the purpose of enforcing against the other party’s property, assets or estate any decision or judgment rendered by any court in which Proceedings may be brought as provided hereunder; (C) the Proceedings are commenced to appeal any such court’s decision or judgment to any higher court with competent appellate jurisdiction over that court’s decisions or judgments if that higher court is located outside the State of New York or Borough of Manhattan, such as a federal court of appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court; or (D) any suit, action or proceeding has been commenced in another jurisdiction by or against the other party or against its property, assets or estate and, in order to exercise or protect its rights, interests or remedies under this Confirmation or the Agreement, the party (1) joins, files a claim, or takes any other action, in any such suit, action or proceeding, or (2) otherwise commences any Proceeding in that other jurisdiction as the result of that other suit, action or proceeding having commenced in that other jurisdiction.”

 

(r) Amendment. This Confirmation and the Agreement may not be modified, amended or supplemented, except in a written instrument signed by Counterparty and Dealer.

 

(s) Counterparts. This Confirmation may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

(t) Tax Matters.

 

(i) Payee Representations.

 

For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement, Counterparty makes the following representation to Dealer:

 

Counterparty is a corporation, a U.S. person (as that term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code and used in Section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations) and an exempt recipient under Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations, each for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement, Dealer makes the following representations to Counterparty:

 

[Dealer is a U.S. person (as that term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) and used in Section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations) and an exempt recipient under Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations for U.S. federal income tax purposes.]

 

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

 

 

 

 

(ii) In respect of each Transaction it enters into through an office or discretionary agent in the United States, each payment received or to be received by it under such Transaction will be effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States.

 

(iii) In respect to all Transactions other than those described in (ii) above, no such payment received or to be received by it in connection with such Transaction will be effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States.]9

 

(ii) Tax Documentation. For the purpose of Sections 4(a)(i) and (ii) of the Agreement, Counterparty agrees to deliver to Dealer one duly executed and completed United States Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or successor thereto) and Dealer agrees to deliver to Counterparty, as applicable, a U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 or Form W-9 (or successor thereto). Such forms or documents shall be delivered upon (i) execution of this Confirmation, (ii) Counterparty or Dealer, as applicable, learning that any such tax form previously provided by it has become obsolete or incorrect, and (iii) reasonable request of the other party.

 

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

 

(v) [U.S. QFC Stay Rules.]10 The parties agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof both parties have adhered to the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation, and for such purposes this Confirmation shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the same status as Regulated Entity and/or Adhering Party as applicable to it under the Protocol; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation and each party shall be deemed to have the status of “Covered Entity” or “Counterparty Entity” (or other similar term) as applicable to it under the Bilateral Agreement; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation, and for such purposes this Confirmation shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” Dealer shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Counterparty shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of this Confirmation, both parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this paragraph. In the event of any inconsistencies between this Confirmation and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “this Confirmation” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other.

 

 

9 Include appropriate Payee Representation for Dealer.

10 Include appropriate Resolution Stay provisions for Dealer.

 

 

 

 

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

 

(w) [Role of Agent]. Insert Dealer Agent or communications with employee provisions, if applicable.

 

(x) [Dealer Boilerplate]. Insert additional Dealer specific terms, if applicable.

 

 

 

 

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing this Confirmation and returning it to Dealer.

 

  Yours faithfully,
   
  [                     ]
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
   
  [                     ],
    acting solely as Agent in connection with the Transaction
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

  Agreed and Accepted By:  
   
  EQT CORPORATION  
   
By    
  Name:  
  Title: