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: December 6, 2010

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Commission File Number: 1-7928

 

Delaware   94-1381833

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1000 Alfred Nobel Dr.

Hercules, California 94547

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(510) 724-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 6, 2010, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (the “Company”) offered $425 million aggregate principal amount of its new series of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2020 in an underwritten public offering. The offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 6, 2010. The offering closed on December 9, 2010. The notes are governed by the terms of an Indenture dated as of December 9, 2010 (the “Base Indenture”), filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, as amended and supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 9, 2010, filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee.

The notes are subject to redemption at the Company’s option at any time in whole or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of: (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed; and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of the notes to be redeemed, discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as such term is defined in the Indenture) plus 35 basis points, plus , in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the notes and the Indenture.

The net proceeds to the Company from the offering of the notes were approximately $419.3 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated transaction expenses payable by the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the offering, together with cash on hand, to redeem all $225.0 million of its outstanding 7.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 and all $200.0 million of its outstanding 6.125% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014.

In connection with the offering of the notes, the Company entered into an Underwriting Agreement dated December 6, 2010 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto.

In connection with the filing of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company is filing an opinion of its special counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP, regarding the validity of the securities being registered, as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.

The descriptions in this Current Report of the notes and the Indenture are not intended to be complete descriptions of those instruments, and the descriptions are qualified in their entirety by the full text of the documents which are attached as exhibits to, and incorporated by reference in, this Current Report.


 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed with the Form 8-K:

 

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated December 6, 2010, by and among Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010, by and between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee.
  4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010, by and between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee.
  4.3    Form of 4.875% Senior Note due 2020.
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
23.1    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).


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.

 

  BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
Date: December 9, 2010   By:  

/ S /    C HRISTINE A. T SINGOS        

    Christine A. Tsingos
    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated December 6, 2010, by and among Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010, by and between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee.
  4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010, by and between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee.
  4.3    Form of 4.875% Senior Note due 2020.
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
23.1    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

$425,000,000

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

4.875% Senior Notes due 2020

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

December 6, 2010

C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC

G OLDMAN , S ACHS  & C O .,

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,

      Eleven Madison Avenue,

      New York, N.Y. 10010

Dear Sirs:

1. Introductory . Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), agrees with the Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “ Underwriters ”) to issue and sell to the Underwriters $425,000,000 principal amount of its 4.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “ Offered Securities ”) to be issued under an indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (the “ Base Indenture ”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee (the “ Trustee”) , as supplemented by a supplemental indenture to be dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and the Trustee (together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”). Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are collectively referred to herein as the “ Underwriters ”).

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

(a) Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms . The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-170981), including a related prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the Offered Securities under the Act, which registration statement has become effective. “ Registration Statement ” at any particular time means such registration statement in the form then filed with the Commission, including any amendment thereto, any document incorporated by reference therein and all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to such registration statement, that in any case has not been superseded or modified. “ Registration Statement ” without reference to a time means the Registration Statement as of the Effective Time. For purposes of this definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430B.


For purposes of this Agreement:

430B Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(e) or retroactively deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(f).

430C Information ” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430C.

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

Applicable Time ” means 3:30pm (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.

Closing Date ” has the meaning defined in Section 3 hereof.

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Effective Time ” of the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities means the time of the first contract of sale for the Offered Securities.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Final Prospectus ” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other 430B Information and other final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act.

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

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Offered Securities in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

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

Rules and Regulations ” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Securities Laws ” means, collectively, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“ Sarbanes-Oxley ”), the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of “issuers” (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“ Exchange Rules ”).

Statutory Prospectus ” with reference to any particular time means the prospectus relating to the Offered Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including all 430B Information and all 430C Information

 

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with respect to the Registration Statement. For purposes of the foregoing definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus only as of the actual time that form of prospectus (including a prospectus supplement) is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and not retroactively.

Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” is to the indicated rule under the Act.

(b) Compliance with Securities Act Requirements . (i) (A) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, (B) at the time of each amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus), (C) at the Effective Time relating to the Offered Securities and (D) on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) (A) on its date, (B) at the time of filing the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and (C) on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act on Form T-1 or (ii) statements in or omissions from any such document based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Underwriters specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(c) Automatic Shelf Registration Statement . (i)  Well Known Seasoned Issuer Status . (A) At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus), and (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Offered Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, the Company was a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405.

(ii) Effectiveness of Automatic Shelf Registration Statement . The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, that initially became effective within three years of the date of this Agreement. If immediately prior to the Renewal Deadline (as hereinafter defined), any of the Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf

 

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registration statement relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Underwriters. If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Underwriters, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Offered Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be. “ Renewal Deadline ” means the third anniversary of the initial effective time of the Registration Statement.

(iii) Eligibility to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Form . The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form. If at any time when Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Underwriters, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Underwriters, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iv) promptly notify the Underwriters of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

(d) Ineligible Issuer Status . (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Offered Securities and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

(e) General Disclosure Package . As of the Applicable Time, neither (i) the General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time and the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated December 6, 2010, including the base prospectus, dated December 6, 2010 (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus distributed to investors generally), and the other information, if any, stated in Schedule B to this Agreement, all considered together (collectively, the “ General Disclosure Package ”), nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from

 

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any Statutory Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Underwriters specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Underwriters as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would 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, (i) the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Underwriters and (ii) the Company has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(g) No Material Adverse Change . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the General Disclosure Package, there has not been any change in the capital stock or 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 general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package.

(h) Title to Property . The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the General Disclosure Package or such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”); and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(i) Good standing of the Company . The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; the Company has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except in such instances where failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

(j) Capital stock . All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for directors’ qualifying shares) are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, except with respect to the subsidiaries set forth on Schedule C hereto, and, except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, are owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

(i) Offered Securities . The Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed, authenticated and issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity); and the Offered Securities will be in substantially the form contemplated by the Indenture.

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

(l) Execution and Delivery of Indenture . The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee), will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

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(m) No Violation . None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities) will violate or result in a violation of Section 7 of the Exchange Act, or any regulation promulgated thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulations T, U, and X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

(n) Absence of Manipulation . Prior to the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has taken any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which might have been expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities.

(o) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction . The issue and sale of the Offered Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Offered Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, 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, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or (iii) result in any violation of the provisions of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) only, for such conflicts, breaches, violations or defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Offered Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company under the Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters.

(p) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except for any such violation or default as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(q) Accurate Disclosure . The statements set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Description of Notes” and “Description of Debt Securities,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Offered Securities and other documents, including, without limitation, the Indenture, referred to therein, and under the captions “Description of Certain Indebtedness” and “Underwriting”, insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate and complete in all material respects.

(r) Accurate Disclosure relating to Tax . The statements set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the statutes and regulations referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.

(s) Litigation . Other than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.

(t) Internal Controls and Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act . Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and the Company’s Board of Directors are in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and all applicable Exchange Rules. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company maintains a system of internal control, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting, an internal audit function, and legal and regulatory compliance controls, that complies with the Securities Laws and is sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain accountability for 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 the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is aware of (i) any material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting or (ii) any change in internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(u) Investment Company Act . The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities, will not be required to be registered as an “investment company”, as such term is defined in the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

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(v) Cuba . Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates does business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes.

(w) Accountants . Each of Deloitte & Touche LLP and Ernst & Young LLP, who have delivered their reports with respect to certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (which reports are included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package), are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.

(x) Financial Statements . The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package (including without limitation the notes and schedules thereto, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package) present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis. The Company’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in the General Disclosure Package have been calculated in compliance with item 503(d) of Regulation S-K.

(y) Possession of Licenses and Permits . Each of the Company and its subsidiaries possesses and is in compliance with such permits, licenses, franchises, approvals and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (the “ Permits ”) as are necessary to own its respective properties and to conduct its business in the manner described in the General Disclosure Package, except where failure to so possess or be in compliance, as applicable, would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, any governmental or regulatory authorities to revoke or terminate any such Permits, except for such revocations or terminations as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) Environmental Laws . Other than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of or has liability (accrued, contingent, absolute, determinable or otherwise) (collectively, “ Liability ”) pursuant to any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance or code or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof (including, without limitation, any judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment) relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), wildlife, natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, solid or hazardous wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, petroleum or petroleum

 

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products or wastes (including, without limitation, crude oil or any fraction thereof) (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, release, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (B) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to Environmental Laws against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or against any person or entity whose Liability under Environmental Laws the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed by agreement or by operation of law and (C) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for compliance, clean-up, investigation, remediation or reclamation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or entity or governmental authority against or affecting, or otherwise expected to result in Liability to, the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or Environmental Laws.

(aa) Compliance with Certain Laws . Except for the matters currently under investigation by the Company’s Audit Committee and generally described in the Risk Factor entitled “The ongoing investigation by our Audit Committee and by government agencies of possible violations by us of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar laws could have a material adverse effect on our business” set forth in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010 included in the General Disclosure Package, each of the Company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and any of their respective officers, directors, supervisors, managers, agents, or employees has not materially violated, its participation in the offering will not violate, and has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure material compliance with, each of the following laws: (a) all applicable anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to, any applicable law, rule, or regulation of any locality, including but not limited to, any law, rule, or regulation promulgated to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any other law, rule or regulation of similar purpose and scope, (b) all applicable anti-money laundering laws, including but not limited to, any applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title 18 U.S. Code section 1956 and 1957 or (c) all applicable laws and regulations imposing U.S. economic sanctions measures, including, but not limited to, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, the United Nations Participation Act, and the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act, all as amended, and any Executive Order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, including the regulations of the United States Treasury Department set forth under 31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to

 

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any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(bb) Filings . There is no contract or other document to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party required to be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 or any subsequent Exchange Act filings prior to the date hereof that has not been so filed as required.

(cc) Statistical and Market-Related Data . The market, industry and statistical data contained in the General Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be accurate and reliable in all material respects.

(dd) Incorporated documents . The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K most recently filed with the Commission and all subsequent reports (collectively, the “ Exchange Act Reports ”) that have been filed by the Company with the Commission or sent to shareholders pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder.

3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities . On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of 98.793% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from December 9, 2010 to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) the respective principal amounts of Offered Securities set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.

The Company will deliver the Offered Securities to or as instructed by the Underwriters for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Underwriters against payment of the purchase price by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Underwriters drawn to the order of the Company at the office of Shearman & Sterling LLP, 525 Market Street, Suite 1500, San Francisco, California, at 7:00 A.M., New York time, on December 9, 2010, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Underwriters and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the “ Closing Date ”. For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The Offered Securities so to be delivered or evidence of their issuance will be made available for checking at the above office of Shearman & Sterling LLP at least 24 hours prior to the Closing Date.

4. Offering by Underwriters . It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

 

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5. Certain Agreements of the Company . The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

(a) Filing of Prospectuses. The Company has filed or will file each Statutory Prospectus (including the Final Prospectus) with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with applicable provisions of Rule 424(b). The Company has filed or will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission to the extent required by Rule 433.

(b) Filing of Amendments; Response to Commission Requests . The Company will promptly advise the Underwriters of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus at any time and will offer the Underwriters a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such amendment or supplement; and the Company will also advise the Underwriters promptly of (i) the filing of any such amendment or supplement, (ii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to the Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus or for any additional information, (iii) the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, and (iv) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and the dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Underwriters, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Underwriters’ consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.

(d) Rule 158. As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months, after the date of this Agreement, the Company will make generally available (which may be satisfied by filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”)) to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the date of this Agreement and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

 

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(e) Furnishing of Prospectuses . The Company will furnish to the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Underwriters reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

(f) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company will take such action as the Underwriters may reasonably request to qualify the Offered Securities for sale and the determination of their eligibility for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution, provided that in connection therewith, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would otherwise be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation.

(g) Reporting Requirements . For so long as the Offered Securities remain outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Company as the Underwriters may reasonably request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“ EDGAR ”), it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.

(h) Payment of Expenses . The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to, (i) any filing fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale pursuant to and in accordance with Section 5(f) hereof; (ii) any fees charged by investment rating agencies for the rating of the Offered Securities; (iii) costs and expenses related to the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the Offered Securities (including filing fees and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such review); (iv) costs and expenses relating to investor presentations or any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities including, without limitation, any travel expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company; (v) fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Offered Securities under the Act; (vi) costs and expenses related to preparing the Offered Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Offered Securities; and (viii) expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters and for expenses incurred for

 

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preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors. It is being understood, however, that, except as provided in this Agreement, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Offered Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(i) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received in connection with this offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the General Disclosure Package.

(j) Absence of Manipulation . The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

(k) Restriction on Sale of Securities. The Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to United States dollar-denominated debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a maturity of more than one year from the date of issue, or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters for a period beginning on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the Closing Date.

(l) Filing Fees . The Company agrees to pay the required Commission filing fees related to the Offered Securities within the time required by, and in accordance with, Rules 456(b)(l) and 457(r).

6. Free Writing Prospectuses . (a)  Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Underwriters, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Underwriters, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Underwriters is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company represents that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

(b) Term Sheets . The Company will prepare a final term sheet relating to the Offered Securities, containing only information that describes the final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise in a form consented to by the Underwriters, and will file such final term sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) following the date such final terms have been established for the offering of the Offered Securities. Any such final term sheet shall be

 

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deemed to be an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement. The Company also consents to the use by any Underwriter of a free writing prospectus that contains only (i)(x) information describing the preliminary terms of the Offered Securities or their offering or (y) information that describes the final terms of the Offered Securities or their offering and that is included in the final term sheet of the Company contemplated in the first sentence of this Section 6(b) or (ii) other information that is not “issuer information,” as defined in Rule 433, it being understood that any such free writing prospectus referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above shall not be deemed to be an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement.

7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters . The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Securities on the Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein (as though made on the Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letters . The Underwriters shall have received customary comfort letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof and the Closing Date, of (i) Deloitte & Touche LLP and (ii) Ernst & Young LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(b) Filing of Prospectus. The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) hereof. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission.

(c) No Material Adverse Change . Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, in the judgment of the Underwriters, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review with possible negative implications its rating of any debt securities of the Company or any announcement by such organization that the Company has been placed on negative outlook; (iii) any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriters, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) any suspension of trading of any

 

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securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. federal or New York authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment, or clearance services in the United States or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Underwriters, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for Company . The Underwriters shall have received opinions and negative assurance letter, dated the Closing Date, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibits A-1 , A-2 and B , respectively, and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(e) Opinion of General Counsel for Company. The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Sanford S. Wadler, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C , and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(f) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The Underwriters shall have received from Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(g) Officer’s Certificate . The Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of the Closing Date, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date, and as to such other matters as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(h) Officer’s Certificate . The Underwriters shall have received on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date a certificate, dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, from the Company, signed by the principal financial officer of the Company, with respect to certain numerical information set forth in the General Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

The Company will furnish the Underwriters with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Underwriters reasonably request. The Underwriters may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of the Closing Date or otherwise.

 

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8. Indemnification and Contribution . (a)  Indemnification of Underwriters . The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers, partners, members, directors and its affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case including any losses, claims, damages or liabilities arising out of or based upon the Company’s failure to perform its obligations under Section 5(a) and (e)  of this Agreement, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Underwriters specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) below.

(b) Indemnification of Company . Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement or the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Underwriters specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal

 

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or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the names of the Underwriters set forth on the cover page of the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated December 6, 2010, and the Final Prospectus; and the third paragraph, the second sentence of the fourth paragraph, the second sentence of the fifth paragraph, and the eighth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” in the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated December 6, 2010 and the Final Prospectus.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party in writing will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under Section 8(a) or (b)  above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under Section 8(a) or (b)  above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under Section 8(a) or (b)  above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 8(a) or (b)  above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in Section 8(a) or (b)  above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits

 

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received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this Section 8(d) . Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(d) , no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total discounts, fees and commissions received by such Underwriter exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this Section 8(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d) .

9. Default of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on the Closing Date and the aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date, the Underwriters may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by the Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on the Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total principal amount of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on the Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Underwriters and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 10 . As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 9 . Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations . The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will

 

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remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, and the respective obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8 hereof shall remain in effect.

11. Notices . All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to the Underwriters, c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD, or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at the address of the Company set forth in the Final Prospectus, Attention: General Counsel; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8 will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter.

12. Successors . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 , and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

13. Representation of Underwriters . The Underwriters will act for the several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Underwriters jointly will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

14. Counterparts . 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.

15. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) No Other Relationship . The Underwriters have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of Offered Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Final Prospectus, irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or are advising the Company on other matters;

(b) Arms’ Length Negotiations . The price of the Offered Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Underwriters and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

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(c) Absence of Obligation to Disclose . The Company has been advised that the Underwriters and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) Waiver . The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Underwriters for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Underwriters shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

16. Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any action or proceeding arising in connection with or as a result of either your engagement or any matter referred to in this Agreement is hereby waived by the parties hereto.

The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

17. Patriot Act Compliance. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

21


If the foregoing is in accordance with the Underwriters’ understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

 

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
By  

    /s/ Sanford S. Wadler

      Name:   Sanford S. Wadler
      Title:   Vice President and General Counsel

 

22


 

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.
C REDIT S UISSE S ECURITIES (USA) LLC
By:  

/s/ Mark Page

  Name:   Mark Page
  Title:   Managing Director
G OLDMAN , S ACHS & C O .
By:  

/s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.

      (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

 

23


SCHEDULE A

 

         Underwriter    Principal
Amount of
Offered Securities
 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

   $ 212,500,000   

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

   $ 212,500,000   
        

Total

   $ 425,000,000   
        


SCHEDULE B

 

1. General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses (included in the General Disclosure Package)

“General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” includes each of the following documents:

1. Final term sheet, dated December 6, 2010.

 

2. Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package

The following information is also included in the General Disclosure Package:

None.


SCHEDULE C

 

   

Fortune Diagnostics LTD

 

   

DiaMed Holding AG and each of its subsidiaries

Exhibit 4.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of December 9, 2010

 

 

Wilmington Trust FSB

Trustee

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

     1   

Section 1.1.

   Definitions.      1   

Section 1.2.

   Other Definitions.      4   

Section 1.3.

   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.      5   

Section 1.4.

   Rules of Construction.      5   
ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES      6   

Section 2.1.

   Issuable in Series.      6   

Section 2.2.

   Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.      6   

Section 2.3.

   Execution and Authentication.      8   

Section 2.4.

   Registrar and Paying Agent.      9   

Section 2.5.

   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.      10   

Section 2.6.

   Securityholder Lists.      10   

Section 2.7.

   Transfer and Exchange.      10   

Section 2.8.

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.      11   

Section 2.9.

   Outstanding Securities.      12   

Section 2.10.

   Treasury Securities.      12   

Section 2.11.

   Temporary Securities.      12   

Section 2.12.

   Cancellation.      13   

Section 2.13.

   Defaulted Interest.      13   

Section 2.14.

   Global Securities.      13   

Section 2.15.

   CUSIP Numbers.      14   
ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION      14   

Section 3.1.

   Notice to Trustee.      14   

Section 3.2.

   Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.      15   

Section 3.3.

   Notice of Redemption.      15   

Section 3.4.

   Effect of Notice of Redemption.      16   

Section 3.5.

   Deposit of Redemption Price.      16   

Section 3.6.

   Securities Redeemed in Part.      16   
ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS      16   

Section 4.1.

   Payment of Principal and Interest.      16   

Section 4.2.

   SEC Reports.      16   

Section 4.3.

   Compliance Certificate.      17   

Section 4.4.

   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.      17   

Section 4.5.

   Corporate Existence.      17   
ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS      17   

Section 5.1.

   When Company May Merge, Etc.      17   

Section 5.2.

   Successor Corporation Substituted.      18   
ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES      18   

Section 6.1.

   Events of Default.      18   

Section 6.2.

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.      19   

Section 6.3.

   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.      20   

Section 6.4.

   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.      21   

Section 6.5.

   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.      21   

 

i


Section 6.6.

   Application of Money Collected.      22   

Section 6.7.

   Limitation on Suits.      22   

Section 6.8.

   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.      23   

Section 6.9.

   Restoration of Rights and Remedies.      23   

Section 6.10.

   Rights and Remedies Cumulative.      23   

Section 6.11.

   Delay or Omission Not Waiver.      23   

Section 6.12.

   Control by Holders.      24   

Section 6.13.

   Waiver of Past Defaults.      24   

Section 6.14.

   Undertaking for Costs.      24   
ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE      25   

Section 7.1.

   Duties of Trustee.      25   

Section 7.2.

   Rights of Trustee.      26   

Section 7.3.

   Individual Rights of Trustee.      27   

Section 7.4.

   Trustee’s Disclaimer.      27   

Section 7.5.

   Notice of Defaults.      27   

Section 7.6.

   Reports by Trustee to Holders.      27   

Section 7.7.

   Compensation and Indemnity.      28   

Section 7.8.

   Replacement of Trustee.      28   

Section 7.9.

   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.      29   

Section 7.10.

   Eligibility; Disqualification.      29   

Section 7.11.

   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.      30   
ARTICLE VIII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE      30   

Section 8.1.

   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.      30   

Section 8.2.

   Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.      31   

Section 8.3.

   Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.      31   

Section 8.4.

   Covenant Defeasance.      33   

Section 8.5.

   Repayment to Company.      34   

Section 8.6.

   Reinstatement.      34   
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS      35   

Section 9.1.

   Without Consent of Holders.      35   

Section 9.2.

   With Consent of Holders.      35   

Section 9.3.

   Limitations.      36   

Section 9.4.

   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.      36   

Section 9.5.

   Revocation and Effect of Consents.      36   

Section 9.6.

   Notation on or Exchange of Securities.      37   

Section 9.7.

   Trustee Protected.      37   
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS      37   

Section 10.1.

   Trust Indenture Act Controls.      37   

Section 10.2.

   Notices.      37   

Section 10.3.

   Communication by Holders with Other Holders.      38   

Section 10.4.

   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.      38   

Section 10.5.

   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.      38   

Section 10.6.

   Rules by Trustee and Agents.      39   

Section 10.7.

   Legal Holidays.      39   

Section 10.8.

   No Recourse Against Others.      39   

Section 10.9.

   Counterparts.      39   

 

ii


Section 10.10.

   Governing Laws.      39   

Section 10.11.

   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.      40   

Section 10.12.

   Successors.      40   

Section 10.13.

   Severability.      40   

Section 10.14.

   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.      40   

Section 10.15.

   Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.      40   

Section 10.16.

   Judgment Currency.      41   
ARTICLE XI. SINKING FUNDS      41   

Section 11.1.

   Applicability of Article.      41   

Section 11.2.

   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.      42   

Section 11.3.

   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.      42   

 

iii


B IO -R AD L ABORATORIES , I NC .

Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and

Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010

 

§ 310(a)(1)     7.10
(a)(2)     7.10
(a)(3)     Not Applicable
(a)(4)     Not Applicable
(a)(5)     7.10
(b)     7.10
§ 311(a)     7.11
(b)     7.11
(c)     Not Applicable
§ 312(a)     2.6
(b)     10.3
(c)     10.3
§ 313(a)     7.6
(b)(1)     7.6
(b)(2)     7.6
(c)(1)     7.6
(d)     7.6
§ 314(a)     4.2, 10.5
(b)     Not Applicable
(c)(1)     10.4
(c)(2)     10.4
(c)(3)     Not Applicable
(d)     Not Applicable
(e)     10.5
(f)     Not Applicable
§ 315(a)     7.1
(b)     7.5
(c)     7.1
(d)     7.1
(e)     6.14
§ 316(a)     2.10
(a)(1)(A)     6.12
(a)(1)(B)     6.13
(b)     6.8
§ 317(a)(1)     6.3
(a)(2)     6.4
(b)     2.5
§ 318(a)     10.1

 

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

 

iv


Indenture dated as of December 9, 2010 between Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Company ”), and Wilmington Trust FSB (“ Trustee ”).

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

Section 1.1. Definitions .

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

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

Agent ” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent.

Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.

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

Business Day ” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

Capital Stock ” means: (1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock; (2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such person; and (3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited).

Company ” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.


Company Order ” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

Company Request ” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.

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

Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.

Discount Security ” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

Dollars ” and “ $ ” means the currency of The United States of America.

ECU ” means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.

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

Foreign Currency ” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.

Foreign Government Obligations ” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

GAAP ” means accounting principles generally accepted in The United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect as of the date of this Indenture.

 

2


Global Security ” or “ Global Securities ” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.

Holder ” or “ Securityholder ” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.

Indenture ” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

interest ” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

Maturity ,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

Officer ” means the Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.

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

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

principal ” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.

Responsible Officer ” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities ” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

3


Series ” or “ Series of Securities ” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.

Stated Maturity ” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or interest is due and payable.

Subsidiary ” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.

TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided , however , that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.

Trustee ” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument 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, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.

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

Section 1.2.  Other Definitions .

 

TERM

   DEFINED IN
SECTION
 
“Bankruptcy Law”      6.1     
“Custodian”      6.1     
“Event of Default”      6.1     
“Journal”      10.15   
“Judgment Currency”      10.16   
“Legal Holiday”      10.7     
“mandatory sinking fund payment”      11.1     
“Market Exchange Rate”      10.15   
“New York Banking Day”      10.16   
“optional sinking fund payment”      11.1     
“Paying Agent”      2.4     
“Registrar”      2.4     
“Required Currency”      10.16   
“Service Agent”      2.4     
“successor person”      5.1     

 

4


Section 1.3.  Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .

Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

Commission ” means the SEC.

indenture securities ” means the Securities.

indenture security holder ” means a Securityholder.

indenture to be qualified ” means this Indenture.

indenture trustee ” or “ institutional trustee ” means the Trustee.

obligor ” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.

All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.

Section 1.4.  Rules of Construction .

Unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;

(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;

(c) “ or ” is not exclusive;

(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and

 

5


(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

ARTICLE II.

THE SECURITIES

Section 2.1.  Issuable in Series .

The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

Section 2.2.  Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities .

At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.23) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate:

2.2.1. the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);

2.2.2. the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;

2.2.3. any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);

2.2.4. the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;

2.2.5. the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;

 

6


2.2.6. the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;

2.2.7. if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

2.2.8. the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

2.2.9. the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;

2.2.10. if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;

2.2.11. the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;

2.2.12. if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;

2.2.13. the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, including, but not limited to, the ECU, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency other than the ECU, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;

2.2.14. the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;

2.2.15. if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;

2.2.16. the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;

 

7


2.2.17. the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;

2.2.18. any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;

2.2.19. any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;

2.2.20. any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series);

2.2.21. any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;

2.2.22. the provisions, if any, relating to conversion of any Securities of such Series, including if applicable, the conversion price, the conversion period, provisions as to whether conversion will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion if such Series of Securities are redeemed; and

2.2.23. whether the Securities of such Series will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if applicable, a description of the subordination terms thereof.

All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above.

Section 2.3.  Execution and Authentication .

Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.

If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate.

 

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The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.

Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4 (other than in connection with the initial issuance of Securities hereunder).

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

Section 2.4.  Registrar and Paying Agent .

The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“ Paying Agent ”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“ Registrar ”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served (“ Service Agent ”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional service agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional service agent. The term “ Registrar ” includes any co-registrar; the term “ Paying Agent ” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “ Service Agent ” includes any additional service agent.

The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.

Section 2.5.  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .

The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.

Section 2.6.  Securityholder Lists .

The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.

Section 2.7.  Transfer and Exchange .

Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the

 

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Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).

Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.

Section 2.8.  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Section 2.9.  Outstanding Securities .

The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

The Company may purchase or otherwise acquire the Securities, whether by open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.

Section 2.10.  Treasury Securities .

In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

Section 2.11.  Temporary Securities .

Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.

 

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Section 2.12.  Cancellation .

The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.13.  Defaulted Interest .

If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.

Section 2.14.  Global Securities .

2.14.1.  Terms of Securities . A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.

2.14.2.  Transfer and Exchange . Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.

Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.

 

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2.14.3.  Legend . Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, 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 A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.”

2.14.4.  Acts of Holders . The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.

2.14.5.  Payments . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.

2.14.6.  Consents, Declaration and Directions . Except as provided in Section 2.14.5, the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.

Section 2.15.  CUSIP Numbers .

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

ARTICLE III.

REDEMPTION

Section 3.1.  Notice to Trustee .

The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of

 

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Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 30 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).

Section 3.2.  Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in any manner that the Trustee deems fair and appropriate. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.

Section 3.3.  Notice of Redemption .

Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.

The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:

(a) the redemption date;

(b) the redemption price;

(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;

(d) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

(e) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(f) the CUSIP number, if any; and

(g) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.

 

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At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.

Section 3.4.  Effect of Notice of Redemption .

Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. A notice of redemption may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

Section 3.5.  Deposit of Redemption Price .

On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

Section 3.6.  Securities Redeemed in Part .

Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

ARTICLE IV.

COVENANTS

Section 4.1.  Payment of Principal and Interest .

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, on or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the applicable payment date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of each Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

Section 4.2.  SEC Reports .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a).

 

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Section 4.3.  Compliance Certificate .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his/her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge).

The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 4.4.  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws .

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will 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, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 4.5.  Corporate Existence .

Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.

ARTICLE V.

SUCCESSORS

Section 5.1.  When Company May Merge, Etc .

The Company may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “ successor person ”) unless:

(a) the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture;

 

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(b) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing under this Indenture; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.

Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officers’ Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.

Section 5.2.  Successor Corporation Substituted .

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided , however , that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE VI.

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

Section 6.1.  Events of Default .

Event of Default ,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or

(b) default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or

 

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(c) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

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

(i) commences a voluntary case,

(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,

(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,

(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or

(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or

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

(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,

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

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.18.

The term “ Bankruptcy Law ” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “ Custodian ” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

Section 6.2.  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal

 

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amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.

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

Section 6.3.  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .

The Company covenants that if

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

(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,

then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such

 

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Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

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

Section 6.4.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

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

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities 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.

Section 6.5.  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the

 

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production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such 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 Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 6.6.  Application of Money Collected .

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

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and

Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities 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 Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

Third: To the Company.

Section 6.7.  Limitation on Suits .

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

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

(b) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request;

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

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series;

 

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

Section 6.8.  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest .

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section 6.9.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 6.10.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.11.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

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Section 6.12.  Control by Holders .

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

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

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Section 6.13.  Waiver of Past Defaults .

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.14.  Undertaking for Costs .

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his 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, suffered 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, 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; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, 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 outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).

 

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ARTICLE VII.

TRUSTEE

Section 7.1.  Duties of Trustee .

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

(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.

(ii) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however , in the case of any such Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.

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

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

(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power.

 

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(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, 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 is not reasonably assured to it.

(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.

Section 7.2.  Rights of Trustee .

(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.

(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder without negligence and in good faith and in reliance thereon.

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

 

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

(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.

Section 7.3.  Individual Rights of Trustee .

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.4.  Trustee’s Disclaimer .

The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.

Section 7.5.  Notice of Defaults .

If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Security of any Series or in the making of any sinking fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.

Section 7.6.  Reports by Trustee to Holders .

Within 60 days after November 15 in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such November 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.

 

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Section 7.7.  Compensation and Indemnity .

The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.

The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any loss, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.

The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.

To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.

The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.

Section 7.8.  Replacement of Trustee .

A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.

The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:

(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

 

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(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;

(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or

(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.

If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.

Section 7.9.  Successor Trustee by Merger, etc .

If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.

Section 7.10.  Eligibility; Disqualification .

This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).

 

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Section 7.11.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.

ARTICLE VIII.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

Section 8.1.  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

(a) either

(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

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

(1) have become due and payable, or

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

(3) have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or

(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;

and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

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

 

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

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.

Section 8.2.  Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification .

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4.

(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.

(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.

Section 8.3.  Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series .

Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.20, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:

(a) the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;

 

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(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and

(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;

provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(d) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(f) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;

(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain

 

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or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

(i) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

Section 8.4.  Covenant Defeasance .

Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.20 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.20 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(a) With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;

 

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(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;

(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.

Section 8.5.  Repayment to Company .

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.

Section 8.6.  Reinstatement .

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money deposited with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.1; provided , however , that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS

Section 9.1.  Without Consent of Holders .

The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Holder:

(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

(b) to comply with Article V;

(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;

(d) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder;

(e) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;

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

(g) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.

Section 9.2.  With Consent of Holders .

The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

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Section 9.3.  Limitations .

Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:

(a) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

(b) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;

(c) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;

(d) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

(e) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

(f) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;

(g) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or

(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is made at the Company’s option.

Section 9.4.  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .

Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.5.  Revocation and Effect of Consents .

Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.

 

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Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.

Section 9.6.  Notation on or Exchange of Securities .

The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.

Section 9.7.  Trustee Protected .

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.

ARTICLE X.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 10.1.  Trust Indenture Act Controls .

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.

Section 10.2.  Notices .

Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:

if to the Company:

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

1000 Alfred Nobel Drive

Hercules, California 95447

Attention: General Counsel

Telephone: (510) 724-7000

 

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if to the Trustee:

Wilmington Trust FSB

246 Goose Lane, Suite 105

Guilford, Connecticut 06437

Attention: Joseph P. O’Donnell

Telephone: (203) 453-4130

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

Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.

If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.

Section 10.3.  Communication by Holders with Other Holders .

Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).

Section 10.4.  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .

Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture (other than in connection with the initial issuance of Securities hereunder), the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

Section 10.5.  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .

Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:

(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;

 

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(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

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

(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 10.6.  Rules by Trustee and Agents .

The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.

Section 10.7.  Legal Holidays .

Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “ Legal Holiday ” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

Section 10.8.  No Recourse Against Others .

A director, officer, employee or stockholder (past or present), as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

Section 10.9.  Counterparts .

This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

Section 10.10.  Governing Laws .

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING ANY CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE OR THE SECURITIES, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF ANY LAW OTHER THAN THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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Section 10.11.  No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .

This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 10.12.  Successors .

All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.

Section 10.13.  Severability .

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

Section 10.14.  Table of Contents, Headings, Etc .

The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, 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 10.15.  Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU .

Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.15, “ Market Exchange Rate ” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided , however , in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the “ Journal ”). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or

 

40


in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.

Section 10.16.  Judgment Currency .

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “ Required Currency ”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “ Judgment Currency ”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “ New York Banking Day ” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

ARTICLE XI.

SINKING FUNDS

Section 11.1.  Applicability of Article .

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “ mandatory sinking fund payment ” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “ optional sinking fund payment .” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.

Section 11.2.  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.

Section 11.3.  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .

Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.

 

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Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.

 

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

 

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
By:  

  /s/ Norman Schwartz

Name:     Norman Schwartz
Its:     President and Chief Executive Officer
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
By:  

  /s/ Sanford S. Wadler

Name:     Sanford S. Wadler
Its:     Vice President and General Counsel

Wilmington Trust FSB,

as Trustee

By:  

  /s/ Joseph P. O’Donnell

Name:     Joseph P. O’Donnell
Its:     Vice President

Exhibit 4.2

EXECUTION VERSION

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.

as Issuer

and

WILMINGTON TRUST FSB

as Trustee

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of December 9, 2010

to the Indenture dated as of December 9, 2010

4.875% Senior Notes due 2020


EXECUTION VERSION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
ARTICLE 1   
APPLICATION OF FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE   
Section 1.01.    Application of First Supplemental Indenture      2   
ARTICLE 2   
DEFINITIONS   
Section 2.01.    Certain Terms Defined in the Indenture      2   
Section 2.02.    Definitions      2   

ARTICLE 3

FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

  

  

Section 3.01.    Form and Dating      8   
Section 3.02.    Transfer and Exchange      9   
Section 3.03.    Terms of the Notes      13   
Section 3.04.    Optional Redemption      15   
Section 3.05.    Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event      16   

ARTICLE 4

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

  

  

Section 4.01.    Limitations on Liens      17   
Section 4.02.    Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions      18   
Section 4.03.    Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets      18   

ARTICLE 5

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

  

  

Section 5.01.    Events of Default      19   

ARTICLE 6

MISCELLANEOUS

  

  

Section 6.01.    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      21   
Section 6.02.    New York Law to Govern      21   
Section 6.03.    Counterparts      22   
Section 6.04.    Separability Clause      22   
Section 6.05.    Ratification      22   
Section 6.06.    Effectiveness      22   
Section 6.07.    The Trustee      22   
EXHIBIT A-1 – Form of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2020      A-1   

 

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EXECUTION VERSION

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ First Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of December 9, 2010, between BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS , the Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (the “ Base Indenture ”, and together with the First Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of Securities to be issued in one or mores series as provided in the Indenture;

WHEREAS , Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture provides, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture, without the consent of any Holders of Securities, to establish the form and terms of any Security, as permitted by Section 2.2 of the Base Indenture, and to provide for the issuance of the Securities, as permitted by Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture, and to set forth the terms thereof;

WHEREAS , the Company desires to execute this First Supplemental Indenture pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture to establish the form, and pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance, of a series of its senior notes designated as its 4.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “ Notes ”), in an initial aggregate principal amount of $425,000,000. The Notes is a series of Securities as referred to in Section 2.1 of the Base Indenture.

WHEREAS , the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to Section 10.4 of the Base Indenture to the effect that the execution and delivery of the First Supplemental Indenture is authorized or permitted under the Base Indenture and that all conditions precedent provided for in the Base Indenture to the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture to be complied with by the Company have been complied with;

WHEREAS , the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture;

WHEREAS , all things necessary have been done by the Company to make this First Supplemental Indenture, when executed and delivered by the Company, a valid and legally binding instrument; and

WHEREAS , all things necessary have been done by the Company to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture, the valid obligations of the Company;


NOW, THEREFORE:

In consideration of the premises stated herein and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective Holders from time to time of the Notes as follows:

ARTICLE 1

APPLICATION OF FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Section 1.01. Application of First Supplemental Indenture . Notwithstanding any other provision of this First Supplemental Indenture, all provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes and any such provisions shall not be deemed to apply to any other Notes issued under the Base Indenture and shall not be deemed to amend, modify or supplement the Base Indenture for any purpose other than with respect to the Notes. Unless otherwise expressly specified, references in this First Supplemental Indenture to specific Article numbers or Section numbers refer to Articles and Sections contained in this First Supplemental Indenture as they amend or supplement the Base Indenture, and not the Base Indenture or any other document. All Initial Notes and Additional Notes, if any, will be treated as a single class for all purposes of this Indenture, including waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.

ARTICLE 2

DEFINITIONS

Section 2.01. Certain Terms Defined in the Indenture . For purposes of this First Supplemental Indenture, all capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Base Indenture, as amended hereby.

Section 2.02. Definitions . For the benefit of the Holders of the Notes, Section 1.1 of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new definitions:

Additional Notes ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c) hereto.

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

Below Investment Grade Rating Event ” means the Notes are rated below Investment Grade Rating by at least two of the three Rating Agencies on any date during the period commencing upon the first public notice by the Company of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies).

Capital Lease Obligation ” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

 

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

(1) direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) as a result of which any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Excluded Persons) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares; provided, however , that a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control if the Company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and the holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction; (3) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any “person” or “group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or any “person” or “group” consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s Voting Stock or the Voting Stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the Voting Stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person immediately after giving effect to such transaction; (4) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Company’s board of directors are not Continuing Directors; or (5) the adoption of a plan relating to the Company’s liquidation or dissolution.

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

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes to be redeemed.

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (a) the arithmetic average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, (b) if fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained, the arithmetic average of all of those quotations or (c) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is obtained, such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation.

 

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Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means the aggregate amount of the assets (less applicable reserves and other intangible assets) of the Company and its subsidiaries after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities (excluding any indebtedness for money borrowed having a maturity of less than 12 months from the date of the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet) of Company and its subsidiaries and (b) all goodwill, trade names, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and any other like intangibles of the Company and its subsidiaries, all as set forth on the Company’s most recent consolidated balance sheet and computed in accordance with GAAP.

Continuing Directors ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the board of directors of the Company who (1) was a member of the board of directors of the Company on the date hereof; or (2) was nominated for election or elected to the board of directors of the Company with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors of the Company at the time of such nomination or election (either by specific vote or by approval of the Company’s proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director, without objection to such nomination).

Credit Agreement ” means the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 21, 2010, by and among the Company, the lenders referred to therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as a lender and administrative agent, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Union Bank of California, N.A., as co-syndication agents, and Bank of America, N.A. and HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as co-documentation agents, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time (regardless of whether such amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing is with the same financial institutions or otherwise), including, without limitation, any agreement (a) extending or shortening the indebtedness incurred thereunder or contemplated thereby; (b) adding or deleting borrowers or guarantors thereunder; (c) increasing the amount of indebtedness incurred thereunder; or (d) otherwise altering the terms and conditions thereof.

Definitive Note ” means a certificated Note registered in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 3.02 hereof, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto except that such Note will not bear the Global Note Legend.

Depositary ” means, with respect to the Notes, the Depository Trust Company and any successor thereto.

Excluded Persons ” means (1) David Schwartz, Alice Schwartz, Norman D. Schwartz and Steven Schwartz, (2) any spouse, immediate family member, relative or lineal descendant of any person described in clause (1), (3) any trust in which any one or more of the persons described in clause (1) or (2) holds all of the beneficial interests, and (4) any affiliate of the persons described in clause (1) or (2).

Fitch ” means Fitch, Inc. and its successors.

 

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Funded Debt ” means the Company’s indebtedness or the indebtedness of a subsidiary of the Company owning property maturing by its terms more than one year after its creation and indebtedness classified as long-term debt under GAAP and in each case ranking at least pari passu with the Notes.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect on the date of this Indenture.

Global Note ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Notes in global form issued to the Depositary or its nominee, substantially in the form of Exhibit A .

Global Note Legend ” means the legend set forth in Section 3.02(f), which is required to be placed on all Global Notes issued under this First Supplemental Indenture.

Hedging Obligations ” means, with respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person under:

(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements, interest rate collar agreements and other agreements or arrangements with respect to interest rates;

(2) commodity swap agreements, commodity option agreements, forward contracts and other agreements or arrangements with respect to commodity prices; and

(3) foreign exchange contracts, currency swap agreements and other agreements or arrangements with respect to foreign currency exchange rates.

indebtedness ” means, with respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) in respect of borrowed money;

(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);

(3) in respect of banker’s acceptances;

(4) in respect of Capital Lease Obligations;

(5) in respect of the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or services, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

(6) representing net Hedging Obligations.

In addition, the term “indebtedness” includes (x) all indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the specified Person (whether or not such indebtedness is

 

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assumed by the specified Person), provided that the amount of such indebtedness will be the lesser of (A) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (B) the amount of such indebtedness, and (y) to the extent not otherwise included, the guarantee by the specified Person of any indebtedness of any other Person.

Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

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

Initial Notes ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03(c) hereto.

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

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating by Moody’s equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent under a successor rating category of Moody’s), a rating by S&P equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P) or a rating by Fitch equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent under any successor rating category of Fitch).

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law, including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

Notes ” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Participant ” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision of a government or governmental agency.

Principal Amount ” means the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Initial Notes and Additional Notes.

Rating Agencies ” means (1) Moody’s, S&P and Fitch; and (2) if any or all of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s board of directors) as a replacement agency for any of Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, or all of them, as the case may be.

 

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

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

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and their respective successors, or if at any time any of the above is not a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, any other nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company that is a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, as well as two other nationally recognized investment banking firms selected by the Company that are primary U.S. Government securities dealers.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

Remaining Scheduled Payments ” means, with respect to any Note to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date for such redemption; provided, however , that, if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such Redemption Date.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means any arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company of any property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such subsidiary to such Person, excluding (1) temporary leases for a term, including renewals at the option of the lessee, of not more than three years, (2) leases between the Company and a subsidiary of the Company or between the Company’s subsidiaries and (3) leases of a property executed by the time of, or within 12 months after the latest of, the acquisition, the completion of construction or improvement, or the commencement of commercial operation of the property.

Security Register ” shall mean the register kept by the Registrar with respect to the transfer and exchange of the Notes.

 

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Significant Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary that would be a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X, promulgated pursuant to the Exchange Act.

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

Treasury Rate ” means, for any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity, computed as of the second Business Day immediately preceding that Redemption Date, of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

Trustee ” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

Value ” means, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, an amount equal to the present value of the lease payments with respect to the term of the lease remaining on the date as of which the amount is being determined, without regard to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease, discounted at the weighted average interest rate on the debt securities of all series which are outstanding under this Indenture on the effective date of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, compounded semi-annually.

Voting Stock ” means capital stock of any class or kind the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of the Company, even if the right to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.

ARTICLE 3

FORM AND TERMS OF THE NOTES

Section 3.01. Form and Dating . The Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rules or usage. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication. The Notes and any beneficial interest in the Notes shall be in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The terms and notations contained in the Notes shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Indenture, and the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

(a) Global Note . The Notes shall be issued initially as Global Notes, which shall be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the Depositary’s nominee, duly executed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture.

 

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(b) Book-Entry Provisions . This Section 3.01(b) shall apply only to the Global Notes deposited with the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture, authenticate, and hold each Global Note as custodian for the Depositary.

Section 3.02. Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Notes . A Global Note may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Notes will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Notes if:

(1) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that (A) it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary or (B) it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; or

(2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Notes (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Notes and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee.

Upon the occurrence of either of the preceding events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Notes will be issued in such names and in any approved denominations as the Depositary will instruct the Trustee. Global Notes also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in the Base Indenture. Every Note authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Note or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 3.02 or the Base Indenture, will be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and will be, a Global Note. A Global Note may not be exchanged for another Note other than as provided in this Section 3.02(a); however, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be transferred and exchanged as provided in Sections 3.02(b), (c) or (g) hereof.

(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Notes . The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes also will require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:

(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Note . Beneficial interests in any Global Note may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note. No written orders or instructions will be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 3.02(b)(1).

 

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(2) All Other Transfers and Exchanges of Beneficial Interests in Global Notes . In connection with all transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests that are not subject to Section 3.02(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:

(A) (i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Note in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and

(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase.

Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Notes contained in this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee will adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Note(s) pursuant to Section 3.02(g) hereof.

(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests for Definitive Notes .

If any holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Note or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 3.02(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee will cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Note to be reduced accordingly pursuant to Section 3.02(g) hereof, and the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Note in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Note issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this Section 3.02(c) will be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee will deliver such Definitive Notes to the Persons in whose names such Notes are so registered.

(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Beneficial Interests .

A Holder of a Definitive Note may exchange such Note for a beneficial interest in a Global Note or transfer such Definitive Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Note at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Note and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Notes.

If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Note to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to the previous paragraph at a time when a Global Note has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of the Company’s order, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Global Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Notes so transferred.

 

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A Holder of Definitive Notes may transfer such Notes to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Note.

(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Notes for Definitive Notes . Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Notes and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.02(e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Notes. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder will present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Notes duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by his attorney, duly authorized in writing. In addition, the requesting Holder will provide any additional certifications, documents and information, as applicable, required pursuant to the following provisions of this Section 3.02(e).

(f) Legends . The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Notes issued under this First Supplemental Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture.

“THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.02 OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.02(a) OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE BASE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE

 

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REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”

(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Notes . At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Note have been exchanged for Definitive Notes or a particular Global Note has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Note will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.12 of the Base Indenture. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Note is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note or for Definitive Notes, the principal amount of Notes represented by such Global Note will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Note, such other Global Note will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Note by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges .

(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes upon the Company’s order or at the Registrar’s request.

(2) No service charge will be made to a holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Note or to a Holder of a Definitive Note for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 3.02 hereof and Sections 2.11, 3.6 and 9.6 of the Base Indenture).

(3) The Registrar will not be required to register the transfer of or exchange any Note selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part.

(4) All Global Notes and Definitive Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Notes or Definitive Notes will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this First Supplemental Indenture, as the Global Notes or Definitive Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

(5) The Company will not be required:

(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Notes during a period of 15 days before the day of any selection of Notes for redemption under Section 3.2 of the Base Indenture and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;

 

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(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Note being redeemed in part; or

(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Note between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date.

(6) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Note, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Notes and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company will be affected by notice to the contrary.

(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Notes and Definitive Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3 of the Base Indenture.

(8) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 3.02 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.

(9) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this First Supplemental Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any 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 First Supplemental Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

(10) Neither the Trustee nor any Agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

Section 3.03. Terms of the Notes . The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Base Indenture:

(a) Title . The Notes shall constitute a series of Notes having the title “4.875% Senior Notes due 2020”.

(b) Price . The Notes shall be issued at a public offering price of 99.443% of the principal amount thereof, other than any offering discounts pursuant to the initial offering and resale of the Notes.

(c) Principal Amount . The aggregate principal amount of the Notes (the “ Initial Notes ”) that may be initially authenticated and delivered under the Indenture shall be

 

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$425,000,000. The Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, issue additional Notes (in any such case “ Additional Notes ”), having the same ranking and the same interest rate, Maturity and other terms as the Initial Notes (except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such Additional Notes, or, in some cases, the first Interest Payment Date following the issue of such Additional Notes). Any Additional Notes and the Initial Notes shall each constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes, unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate principal amount of each of the Additional Notes shall be unlimited.

(d) Maturity Date . The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on December 15, 2020.

(e) Interest Rate . The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 4.875% per annum; the date from which interest shall accrue on the Notes shall be December 9, 2010, or the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or provided for; the Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2011; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, will be paid, in immediately available funds, to the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the record date for such interest, which shall be the June 1 or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

(f) Payment . The Trustee shall be the initial Paying Agent and Registrar. Payment of the principal and interest shall be at the corporate office of the Trustee; provided, however , that each installment of interest and principal on the Notes may, at the Company’s option, be paid by check to the Holders at the Holder’s address in the Security Register. The Notes shall initially be issued as Global Notes. Payments with respect to Notes represented by one or more Global Notes shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by the Depositary. Payments with respect to Notes represented by one or more Definitive Notes held by a Holder of at least U.S.$1,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes shall be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 10 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee or Paying Agent may accept in its discretion).

(g) Redemption . The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company prior to the maturity date, as provided in Section 3.04.

(h) No Sinking Fund . The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

(i) Currency . The currency of denomination of the Notes is United States Dollars. Payment of principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the Notes shall be made in United States Dollars.

 

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Section 3.04. Optional Redemption .

(a) The provisions of Article III of the Base Indenture, as amended by the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to the Notes.

(b) The Notes shall be redeemable, in each case, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the Company’s option. Upon redemption of the Notes, the Company shall pay a Redemption Price equal to the greater of:

(i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, and

(ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments of the Notes to be redeemed, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 35 basis points,

plus , in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date shall be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Indenture.

(c) On and after the Redemption Date for the Notes, interest shall cease to accrue on the Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any. On or before the Redemption Date for the Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or a Paying Agent, funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Notes to be redeemed on the Redemption Date, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes shall be redeemed in accordance with Section 3.2 of the Base Indenture.

(d) Notice of any redemption shall be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed; provided, however , that the Company shall notify the Trustee of the Redemption Date at least 15 days prior to the date of the giving of such notice (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee). Such notice shall be provided in accordance with Section 3.3 of the Base Indenture. If the Redemption Price cannot be determined at the time such notice is to be given, the actual Redemption Price, calculated as described above in clause (b), shall be set forth in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company delivered to the Trustee no later than two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as provided in the Indenture, the Notes called for redemption shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Redemption Date, and from and after such Redemption Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Notes shall cease to bear interest. Installments of interest on the Notes to be redeemed that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable on the Interest Payment Date in accordance with the Indenture.

 

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Section 3.05. Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event .

(a) If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs with respect to the Notes, unless the Company shall have exercised its right to redeem the Notes in full, as set forth in Section 3.04 of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Company shall make an offer (the “ Change of Control Offer ”) to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase any and all (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess of $2,000) of such Holder’s Notes at a repurchase price set forth in this Section 3.05(a). In the Change of Control Offer, the Company shall be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be repurchased up to, but not including, the date of repurchase (the “ Change of Control Payment ”). With respect to the Notes, within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, the Company shall mail a notice to Holders of Notes with a copy to the Trustee describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”).

(b) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officers’ Certificate stating (1) the aggregate Principal Amount of Notes or portions of Notes being repurchased, (2) that all conditions precedent contained herein to make a Change of Control Offer have been complied with and (3) that the Change of Control Offer has been made in compliance with the Indenture.

The Company shall publicly announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as possible after the date of purchase.

(c) The Company shall comply in all respects with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of this Section 3.05, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section 3.05 by virtue of any such conflict.

 

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ARTICLE 4

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

The following additional covenants shall apply with respect to the Notes so long as any of the Notes remain outstanding:

Section 4.01. Limitations on Liens . The Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other than Permitted Liens) on any property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure any indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries or any indebtedness of any other Person, unless the Company or such subsidiary also secure the Notes on an equal and ratable basis with such other indebtedness so secured (or, in the case of indebtedness subordinated to the Notes, prior or senior thereto, with the same relative priority as the Notes will have with respect to such subordinated indebtedness) for so long as such other indebtedness shall be so secured, except the foregoing restriction shall not apply to the following “ Permitted Liens ”:

(a) Liens existing on the date when the Company first issues the Notes pursuant to this Indenture;

(b) Liens securing indebtedness under the Credit Agreement;

(c) Liens on property owned or leased by a Person existing at the time such Person is merged with or into or consolidated with the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person merged into or consolidated with the Company or such subsidiary;

(d) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to any property other than the property so acquired by the Company or such subsidiary;

(e) Liens to secure indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of or within 12 months after the acquisition of any property or the completion of the construction, alteration, repair or improvement of any property, as the case may be, for the purpose of financing all or a part of the purchase price or cost thereof and Liens to the extent they secure indebtedness in excess of such purchase price or cost and for the payment of which recourse may be had only against such property;

(f) Liens in favor of or required by contracts with governmental entities;

(g) Liens securing indebtedness of a subsidiary owing to the Company or to one or more of the subsidiaries of the Company;

(h) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any Lien referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above, inclusive, so long as (1) the principal amount of the indebtedness secured thereby does not

 

17


exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of the extension, renewal or replacement (except that, where an additional principal amount of indebtedness is incurred to provide funds for the completion of a specific project, the additional principal amount, and any related financing costs, may be secured by the Lien as well) and (2) the extension, renewal or replacement Lien is limited to the same property subject to the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (and improvements on the property); and

(i) any Lien that would not otherwise be permitted by clauses (a) through (h) above, inclusive, securing indebtedness which, together with:

(1) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all other indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries owning property which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions, and

(2) the aggregate Value of existing Sale and Leaseback Transactions which would be subject to the foregoing restrictions absent this clause,

does not exceed the greater of (i) $300.0 million and (ii) 15% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Section 4.02. Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions . The Company will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction unless:

(a) the Company or such subsidiary could incur indebtedness, in a principal amount at least equal to the Value of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, secured by a Lien on the property to be leased (without equally and ratably securing the Notes) because such Lien would be of a character that no violation of Section 4.01 would result; or

(b) the Company applies, during the 270 days following the effective date of the Sale and Leaseback Transaction, an amount equal to the Value of the Sale and Leaseback Transaction to the voluntary retirement of Funded Debt or to the acquisition of property.

Section 4.03. Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets . The Company will not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property and assets (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to, any Person, or permit any Person to merge with or into the Company, unless:

(a) the Company shall be the continuing Person, or the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or that acquired or leased such property and assets (the “ Surviving Person ”) shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Notes;

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

 

18


(c) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel, in each case stating that such transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Section 4.03 and that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to such transaction have been complied with.

The Surviving Person will succeed to, and except in the case of a lease, be substituted for, the Company under this Indenture and the Notes.

ARTICLE 5

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

Section 5.01. Events of Default .

Event of Default ”, wherever used herein with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events (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):

(a) default in the payment of the principal or any premium on any Note when due (whether at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise);

(b) default for 30 days in the payment of interest on any Note when due;

(c) failure by the Company to comply with the provisions described under Section 3.05 above;

(d) failure by the Company to observe or perform any term of the Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement in respect of which such non-compliance would otherwise be an Event of Default) for a period of 60 days after the Company receives a written notice of default stating that the Company is in breach. The notice must be sent by either the Trustee or Holders of 25% of the principal amount of the Notes;

(e) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness of the Company (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company), whether such indebtedness or guarantee now exists or is created after the issue date of the Notes, if that default:

(1) is caused by a failure to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise, and after giving effect to applicable grace periods) of such indebtedness (a “ Payment Default ”); or

(2) results in the acceleration of such indebtedness prior to its scheduled maturity,

and, in each case, the amount of any such indebtedness, together with the amount of any other indebtedness under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so

 

19


accelerated, aggregates $50.0 million or more; provided , however , that, if the default under the mortgage, indenture or instrument is cured by the Company, or waived by the Holders of the indebtedness, in each case as permitted by the governing mortgage, indenture or instrument, then the Event of Default caused by such default will be deemed likewise to be cured or waived;

(f) failure by the Company to pay or discharge any final judgment or order (to the extent any such judgment or order is not paid or covered by insurance provided by a reputable carrier that has the ability to perform and has acknowledged coverage in writing) aggregating in excess of $10.0 million which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;

(g) the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of:

(1) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(2) a decree or order adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) because of such insolvency and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(3) a final and non-appealable order appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary), or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary);

(h) the commencement by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of a voluntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of a voluntary proceeding seeking to be adjudicated insolvent or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) because of

 

20


such insolvency or relief under any applicable law relating to the insolvency, or the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or similar official of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) or the making by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company (or any subsidiaries of the Company that together would constitute a Significant Subsidiary) in furtherance of any such action; or

(i) any other Event of Default provided as contemplated by Section 6.1 of the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes.

ARTICLE 6

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.01. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act . If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the TIA which is required under such Act or deemed to be a part of and govern this First Supplemental Indenture, such required or deemed provision shall control. If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the TIA which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this First Supplemental Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

Section 6.02. New York Law to Govern . THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW OR ANY SUCCESSOR TO SUCH STATUTE). THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY AGREE TO SUBMIT TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR STATE COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OR THE NOTES. THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE IS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE TIA THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE PART OF THE INDENTURE AND SHALL, TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE, BE GOVERNED BY SUCH PROVISIONS.

THE TRUSTEE AND THE COMPANY HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF THE TRUSTEE OR THE COMPANY RELATING THERETO. THE COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT IT HAS RECEIVED FULL AND SUFFICIENT CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROVISION AND THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE TRUSTEE AND THE HOLDERS ENTERING INTO THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE.

 

21


Section 6.03. Counterparts . This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 6.04. Separability Clause . In case any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 6.05. Ratification . The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed. The Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument. All provisions included in this First Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Notes supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Indenture.

Section 6.06. Effectiveness . The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

Section 6.07. The Trustee . The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Indenture. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture or the due execution thereof by the Company. The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements solely of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof.

 

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

 

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Sanford S. Wadler

  Name:   Sanford S. Wadler
  Title:   Vice President and General Counsel
WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Joseph P. O’Donnell

  Name:   Joseph P. O’Donnell
  Title:   Vice President


EXHIBIT A

[FACE OF NOTE]

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.

[Global Notes Legend]

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.02 OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.02(a) OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE BASE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.


 

REGISTERED   REGISTERED

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.

4.875% Senior Notes due 2020

 

CUSIP NO. 090572 AP3  
ISIN NO. US090572AP34  
No. R-1   US$425,000,000

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of Four Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($425,000,000) on December 15, 2020, and to pay interest thereon from December 9, 2010 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 in each year, commencing June 15, 2011, to the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding June 1 or December 1, as the case may be, at the rate of 4.875% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, provided , however that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of 4.875% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand). The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which shall be the June 1 or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

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

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


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated: December 9, 2010

 

Wilmington Trust FSB,

as Trustee

By:

 

 

  Authorized Signatory


[Form of Reverse of Note]

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (herein called the “Notes”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee (herein called the ‘“Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee. The Base Indenture as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture is referred to herein as the “Indenture.” Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in the Base Indenture or the First Supplemental Indenture, as applicable. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA as in effect on the date the Indenture is qualified. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and TIA for a statement of such terms.

The Notes of this series are subject to redemption at any time, upon not less than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ notice by mail, as a whole or from time to time in part, at the election of the Company, on any date prior to their Stated Maturity at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed, and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined below) of the Notes to be redeemed, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 35 basis points, plus , accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Indenture.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes to be redeemed.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (a) the arithmetic average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, (b) if fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained, the arithmetic average of all of those quotations or (c) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is obtained, such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.


“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and their respective successors, or if at any time any of the above is not a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, any other nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Company that is a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, as well as two other nationally recognized investment banking firms selected by the Company that are primary U.S. Government securities dealers.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to any Note to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date for such redemption; provided , however , that, if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, for any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to Maturity, computed as of the second Business Day immediately preceding that Redemption Date, of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Note or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

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

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such


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

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes of this series at the time outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered and this Note may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.

The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

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

The Notes of this series shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law or any successor to such statute). The Trustee and the Company agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any United States federal or state court located in the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Notes.


All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint                                          as agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

Your Signature:

 

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)

 

Your Name:

 

 

 

Date:

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

 

*

 

* NOTICE: The Signature must be guaranteed by an Institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Notes Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee.


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of an interest in this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of an interest in another Global Note or a Definitive Note for an interest 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

Notes Custodian

       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       

Exhibit 4.3

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.

THIS GLOBAL NOTE IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS NOTE) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (I) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.02 OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (II) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 3.02(a) OF THE FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, (III) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.12 OF THE BASE INDENTURE AND (IV) THIS GLOBAL NOTE MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.


 

REGISTERED   REGISTERED

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.

4.875% Senior Notes due 2020

 

CUSIP NO. 090572 AP3  
ISIN NO. US090572AP34  
No. R-1   US$425,000,000

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of Four Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($425,000,000) on December 15, 2020, and to pay interest thereon from December 9, 2010 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 in each year, commencing June 15, 2011, to the Persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding June 1 or December 1, as the case may be, at the rate of 4.875% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment, provided , however that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of 4.875% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand). The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which shall be the June 1 or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Note will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided , however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

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

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


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated: December 9, 2010

 

Wilmington Trust FSB,
as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory


[Reverse of Note]

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (herein called the “Notes”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee (herein called the ‘“Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee. The Base Indenture as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture is referred to herein as the “Indenture.” Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given them in the Base Indenture or the First Supplemental Indenture, as applicable. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA as in effect on the date the Indenture is qualified. The Notes are subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and TIA for a statement of such terms.

The Notes of this series are subject to redemption at any time, upon not less than 30 days’ and not more than 60 days’ notice by mail, as a whole or from time to time in part, at the election of the Company, on any date prior to their Stated Maturity at a Redemption Price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed, and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined below) of the Notes to be redeemed, discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 35 basis points, plus , accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on the Notes that are due and payable on Interest Payment Dates falling on or prior to a Redemption Date will be payable on the Interest Payment Date to the registered Holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to the Notes and the Indenture.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes to be redeemed.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (a) the arithmetic average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, (b) if fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations are obtained, the arithmetic average of all of those quotations or (c) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is obtained, such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and their respective successors, or if at any time any of the above is not a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, any other nationally recognized investment


banking firm selected by the Company that is a primary U.S. Government securities dealer, as well as two other nationally recognized investment banking firms selected by the Company that are primary U.S. Government securities dealers.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the arithmetic average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to any Note to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related Redemption Date for such redemption; provided , however , that, if such Redemption Date is not an Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, for any Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to Maturity, computed as of the second Business Day immediately preceding that Redemption Date, of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this Note or certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Note, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

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

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.


As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to it, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Notes of this series at the time outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note may be registered and this Note may be exchanged as provided in the Indenture.

The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

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

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

The Notes of this series shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law or any successor to such statute). The Trustee and the Company agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any United States federal or state court located in the borough of Manhattan, in the city of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Notes.

All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.


ASSIGNMENT FORM

To assign this Note, fill in the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Note to:

 

 

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax I.D. no.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Print or type assignee’s name, address and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint                                          as agent to transfer this Note on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him.

 

 

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
Your Name:  

 

Date:  

 

 
Signature Guarantee:  

*

 

* NOTICE: The Signature must be guaranteed by an Institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs: (i) The Notes Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP); or (iv) such other guarantee program acceptable to the Trustee.


SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NOTE

The following exchanges of an interest in this Global Note for an interest in another Global Note or for a Definitive Note, or exchanges of an interest in another Global Note or a Definitive Note for an interest 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

Notes Custodian

           

Exhibit 5.1

 

     

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

Tel: +1.650.328.4600 Fax: +1.650.463.2600

www.lw.com

LOGO       FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES   
      Abu Dhabi    Moscow   
      Barcelona    Munich   
      Beijing    New Jersey   
      Brussels    New York   
      Chicago    Orange County   
December 9, 2010       Doha    Paris   
      Dubai    Riyadh   
      Frankfurt    Rome   
      Hamburg    San Diego   
      Hong Kong    San Francisco   
      Houston    Shanghai   

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.

1000 Alfred Nobel Drive

Hercules, California 94547

      London    Silicon Valley   
      Los Angeles    Singapore   
      Madrid    Tokyo   
      Milan    Washington, D.C.   

 

  Re: Registration Statement No. 333-170981; $425,000,000 Aggregate Principal

Amount of 4.875% Senior Notes due 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the issuance by the Company of $425,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.875% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “ Notes ”) under the indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (the “ Base Indenture ”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust FSB, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, dated as of December 9, 2010 (the Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and the Trustee, and pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on December 6, 2010 (Registration No. 333-170981) (the “ Registration Statement ”), a base prospectus dated December 6, 2010, included in the Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective (the “ Base Prospectus ”), a final prospectus supplement, dated December 6, 2010, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act on December 6, 2010 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “ Prospectus ”), and the underwriting agreement, dated December 6, 2010, among Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as underwriters, and the Company (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”).

This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related prospectus, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Notes.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the internal laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of


December 9, 2010

Page 2

LOGO

 

Delaware, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of Delaware, any other laws, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Notes have been duly executed, issued and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor in the manner contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and will be legally valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

Our opinions are subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; and (iv) we express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (c) waivers of rights or defenses contained in Section 6.13 of the Indenture, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any Debt Securities, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (f) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (g) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (h) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (i) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (j) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (k) grants of setoff rights, (l) proxies, powers and trusts, (m) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, and (n) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

With your consent, we have assumed (a) that the Indenture and the Notes (collectively, the “ Documents ”) have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (b) that each of the Documents constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the parties thereto other than the Company, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, and (c) that the status of each of the Documents as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties is not affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.


December 9, 2010

Page 3

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This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 9, 2010, and to the reference to our firm contained in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP