UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported) August 18, 2015

 

 

National General Holdings Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36311   02-1046208

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

59 Maiden Lane, 38 th Floor, New York, New York   10038
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 380-9500

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.133-4 (c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information required by this Item 1.01 as it relates to the Indenture (as defined below) is set forth under Item 8.01 below and is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this Item.

 

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

The information required by this Item 2.03 is set forth under Item 8.01 below and is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this Item.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

The Company completed the sale of 11,500,000 shares of its common stock (the “Common Stock”) to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as manager for the several underwriters named in Schedule II (the “Common Stock Underwriters”) to the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 12, 2015 (the “Common Stock Underwriting Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Common Stock Underwriters, including 1,500,000 shares of the Common Stock purchased by the Common Stock Underwriters pursuant to an option to purchase additional shares. The common stock offering was priced to the public at $19.00 per share.

The Company also completed the sale of $100 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (the “Firm Notes”) to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as managers for the several underwriters named in Schedule II (the “Notes Underwriters”) to the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 11, 2015 (the “Notes Underwriting Agreement”), by and between the Company and the Notes Underwriters.

Pursuant to the Notes Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Notes Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (together with the Firm Notes, the “Notes”), solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The Firm Notes were issued pursuant to the Indenture described below.

The Common Stock and the Notes have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-204903) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Act.

Second Supplemental Indenture

The Company issued the Firm Notes under an indenture, dated as of May 23, 2014 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented with respect to the Notes by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 18, 2015 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee.

The Notes bear interest at an annual rate equal to 7.625%, payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2015. The Notes mature on September 15, 2055. The Company has the right to redeem the Notes in $25 increments, in whole or in part, on September 15, 2020, or on any date thereafter, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption. The Firm Notes were issued in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples thereof.

The Notes are the Company’s subordinated unsecured obligations and rank (i) senior in right of payment to any future junior subordinated debt, (ii) equal in right of payment with any unsecured, subordinated debt that the Company incurs in the future that ranks equally with the Notes, and (iii) subordinate in right of payment to any of the Company’s existing and future senior debt, including amounts outstanding under our $135 million revolving credit facility and our 6.75% Senior Notes due 2024 with an aggregate principal amount outstanding of $250 million and certain of the Company’s other obligations. In addition, the Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations of the Company’s subsidiaries.

The foregoing descriptions of the Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, the Notes Underwriting Agreement, the Base Indenture and the Second Supplemental Indenture do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by


reference to the full text of such documents. For a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, refer to the Base Indenture, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on May 28, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference. The Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, the Notes Underwriting Agreement and Second Supplemental Indenture are filed as Exhibits 1.1, 1.2 and 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01 Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  1.1    Common Stock Underwriting Agreement, dated August 12, 2015, by and between National General Holdings Corp. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as manager for the several underwriters named therein.
  1.2    Notes Underwriting Agreement, dated August 11, 2015, by and among National General Holdings Corp. and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as managers for the several underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of May 23, 2014, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-36311) filed on May 28, 2014).
  4.2    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 18, 2015, by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee.
  4.3    Form of 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2).
  5.1    Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the Common Stock.
  5.2    Opinion of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the Notes.
23.1    Consent of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the Common Stock (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.2    Consent of Sidley Austin LLP relating to the Notes (included in Exhibit 5.2).


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.

 

     

National General Holdings Corp.

      (Registrant)
Date August 18, 2015      
     

/s/ Jeffrey Weissmann

      Jeffrey Weissmann
      General Counsel and Secretary

Exhibit 1.1

NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.

10,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

August 12, 2015


August 12, 2015

To the Manager named in Schedule I hereto for

the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom you are acting as manager (the “ Manager ”), an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares (the “ Firm Securities ”) of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not more than the number of additional shares of Common Stock set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “ Additional Securities ”) if and to the extent that you, as Manager of the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such Additional Securities granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Securities and the Additional Securities are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Securities. ” If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the Manager listed on Schedule I hereto, then the terms “Underwriters” and “Manager” as used herein shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement, including a prospectus, (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on Form S-3, relating to securities (the “ Shelf Securities ”), including the Securities, to be issued from time to time by the Company. The registration statement as amended to the date of this Agreement, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), is hereinafter referred to as the “ Registration Statement ,” and the related prospectus covering the Shelf Securities dated June 12, 2015 in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Base Prospectus .” The Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Prospectus ,” and the term “ preliminary prospectus ” means any preliminary form of the Prospectus filed with the Commission. For purposes of this Agreement, “ free writing prospectus ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “ Time of Sale Prospectus ” means the preliminary prospectus, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule I hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “ bona fide electronic road show ” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “Base Prospectus,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents incorporated by reference


therein as of the date hereof (the “ Incorporated Documents ”). The terms “ supplement ,” “ amendment ,” and “ amend ” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

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

(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) eligible to use the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement and the Company has not received notice that the Commission objects to the use of the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement.

(b) (i) The Incorporated Documents, when they were or are filed with the Commission, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, no such documents were filed with the Commission since the Commission’s close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement and prior to the execution of this Agreement and the Incorporated Documents, when they were or are filed with the Commission, did not contain or will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not misleading, (ii) each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, did not contain, and each such part, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement as of the date hereof does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply, and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (v) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the offering, at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4) and at the Option Closing Date (as defined in Section 2) (as applicable), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (vi) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in

 

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the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain as of its date, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date (as applicable), any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Manager expressly for use therein (that information being limited to that described in the last sentence of Section 8(b) hereof).

(c) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(d) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule I hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to you by the Company before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

(e) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (including the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities) and thereby; each of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “ Subsidiaries ”) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or similar entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with requisite power and authority to own, lease or operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends or distributions to the Company, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the

 

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Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company; except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.

(f) The Company had, as of the date indicated in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and will have, as of the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the duly authorized capitalization set forth in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” after giving effect to the adjustments set forth thereunder (but at any Option Closing Date not taking into account the issuance of any Additional Securities by the Company at each Option Closing Date); all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and have not been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive right or other similar right of stockholders arising by operation of law, under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as amended, of the Company, under any agreement to which the Company is a party or otherwise; except as disclosed in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding (i) securities or obligations of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (ii) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or (iii) obligations of the Company to issue or sell any shares of capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligation, or any such warrants, rights or options.

(g) The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance, sale and delivery pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim.

(h) All corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been validly and sufficiently taken; and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company are not subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right of stockholders arising by operation of law, under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, under any agreement to which the Company is a party or otherwise, other than as provided for in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(i) The forms of certificate used to evidence the Securities comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the NASDAQ Global Market and the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, or other organizational documents (collectively, “ Charter Documents ”), and have been duly authorized and approved by the board of directors of the Company.

 

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(j) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed by, and is in good standing in, each jurisdiction in which it conducts its business, or in which it owns or leases property or maintains an office and in which such qualification or licensing is necessary and in which the failure, individually or in the aggregate, to be so qualified or licensed would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(k) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has legal, valid and defensible title to all assets and properties owned by it (whether through fee ownership, mineral estates or similar rights of ownership), in each case free and clear of all liens, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and defects, except such as are disclosed in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; any real property or personal property held under lease by the Company or any Subsidiary is held under a lease that is valid, existing and enforceable by the Company or such Subsidiary, with such exceptions as are disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any such lease.

(l) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or possesses such material licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, other intellectual property rights and know-how (collectively “ Intangibles ”), as are necessary to entitle it to conduct its business described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of any infringement of or conflict with (and, upon due inquiry, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid right to access and use all computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites and equipment used to process, store, maintain and operate data, information and functions used in connection with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “ Company IT Systems ”). The Company IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has violated, or received written notice of any violation with respect to, any law, rule, regulation, order decree or judgment applicable to it and its business, including those relating to transactions with affiliates, environmental, safety or similar laws, federal or state laws relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, federal or state wages and hours law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except for those violations that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor any officer, director, agent or employee purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) made any contributions to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any such contributions, in violation of law, (ii) made any payment to any state, federal or foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or allowed by applicable law (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “ FCPA ”)), (iii) engaged in any transactions, maintained any bank account or used any corporate funds except for transactions, bank accounts and funds which have been and are reflected in the normally maintained books and records of the Company, (iv) violated any provision of the FCPA, or (v) made any other unlawful payment.

(p) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding loans or advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary to or for the benefit of any of the officers, directors, affiliates or representatives of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of the members of the families of any of them.

(q) Except with respect to the Underwriters, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any liability for any brokerage commission, finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

(r) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under) (i) the Charter Documents, (ii) the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties may be bound or affected or (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment, permit or order applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all contracts, agreements or other documents to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party that are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus are so described or referred to therein.

 

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(s) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company, the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the compliance by the Company and the Subsidiaries with the terms and provisions of the Securities and this Agreement will not conflict with, or result in any breach of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under), (i) any provision of the Charter Documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any provision of any contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties may be bound or affected, or (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment, permit or order applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, except in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii) for such conflicts, breaches or defaults that have been validly waived or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary.

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

(u) The statements set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Common Stock,” insofar as it purports to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Certain ERISA Considerations” and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 under “Item 1. Business—Regulation” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.

(v) No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities as contemplated hereby, other than (i) such as have been obtained or made, or will have been obtained or made at the Closing Date and (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities are being offered or sold.

(w) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and have all necessary licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, consents and approvals, and have

 

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not received any written notice of any proceedings relating to the revocation or modification thereof, required in order to conduct their respective businesses as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except to the extent that any failure to have any such licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, consents or approvals or to make any such filings would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of, or in default under, any such license, permit, certificate, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company or any such Subsidiary, the effect of which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus contain accurate summaries of all material contracts, agreements, instruments and other documents of the Company that are required to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; the copies of all contracts, agreements, instruments and other documents (including governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals and all amendments or waivers relating to any of the foregoing) that have been previously furnished or made available to the Manager or their counsel are complete and genuine and include all material collateral and supplemental agreements thereto.

(y) Other than as set forth in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, inquiries or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective properties, directors or officers at law or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; other than the Underwriters, the Company has not authorized anyone to make any representations regarding the offer and sale of the Securities, or regarding the Company or any Subsidiary in connection therewith; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of any order or decree preventing the use of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any order asserting that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and no proceeding for that purpose has commenced or is pending or, to its knowledge, is contemplated.

(z) The Company has made all required filings under applicable insurance holding company statutes, and has received approvals of acquisition of control and/or affiliate transactions, in each jurisdiction in which such filings or approvals are required, except where the failure to have made such filings or receive such approvals in any such jurisdiction would not have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company’s Subsidiaries that is required to be organized and licensed as an insurance or reinsurance company (the “ Insurance Subsidiaries ”) in its jurisdiction of incorporation is duly organized and licensed as an insurance or reinsurance company in its respective jurisdiction of incorporation, and each such Subsidiary has a duly issued license or authorization to operate as an insurer or reinsurer (the “ Insurance Licenses ”) in each other jurisdiction in which such licensing or authorization is required; there is no

 

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pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation that would reasonably be expected to lead to the revocation, termination or suspension of any such Insurance Licenses; and except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no insurance regulatory agency or body has issued any order or decree impairing, restricting or prohibiting the payment of dividends of any Insurance Subsidiary to its respective parent.

(aa) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with the requirements of all laws, ordinances, governmental rules or regulations or court decrees to which it may be subject, and has filed all notices, reports, documents or other information required to be filed thereunder, except where the failure to so comply or file would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Insurance Subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of, any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in reinsurance treaties, contracts, agreements and arrangements to which the Company or any of its Insurance Subsidiaries is a party, except for such violations or defaults which would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its Insurance Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any of the other parties to such treaties, contracts, agreements or arrangements that such other party intends not to perform its obligations thereunder and none of them has any reason to believe that any of the other parties to such treaties, contracts, agreements or arrangements will be unable to perform its obligations thereunder, except to the extent that such nonperformance would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

(cc) The statutory annual and quarterly statements of the Insurance Subsidiaries, and the statutory balance sheets and income statements included in such statutory annual and quarterly statements, as filed by the Insurance Subsidiaries in each jurisdiction where such filing is required, have been prepared in conformity with statutory accounting principles or practices required or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and by the insurance laws of the jurisdiction of domicile of each Insurance Subsidiary, applied on a consistent basis, except as may otherwise be indicated in the notes thereto, and present fairly the statutory financial position of the Insurance Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby.

(dd) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as may be otherwise stated in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any event, circumstance or change that has, or would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any transaction, other than in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the Company or any Subsidiary, contemplated or entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) any liability, obligation, contingent or otherwise, directly or indirectly incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the Company or any Subsidiary,

 

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(iv) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or any Subsidiary on any class of its capital stock, or any purchase by the Company or any Subsidiary of any of its outstanding capital stock, or (v) any change of the capital stock or indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(ee) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, or upon the sale of the Securities as contemplated herein and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”, will be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” (as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”)).

(ff) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities registered by the Company under the Securities Act.

(gg) The Company has not relied upon any of the Underwriters or legal counsel for the Underwriters for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(hh) Each of the independent directors named in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has not within the last three years, been employed by or affiliated, directly or indirectly, with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether by ownership of, ownership interest in, employment by, any material business or professional relationship with, or serving as an officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(ii) In connection with the offering of the Securities, neither the Company, any of the Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective affiliates has, whether directly or through any agent or person acting on its behalf (other than the Underwriters): (i) offered any Securities or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Securities or such other securities in a manner in violation of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) distributed any other offering material in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, other than as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (iii) sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) which is or will be integrated with the offering and sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act.

(jj) There are no affiliations or associations between (i) any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) and (ii) the Company, any Subsidiary or any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s officers, directors or, to the Company’s knowledge, 5% or greater security holders or any beneficial owner of the Company unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or after the one hundred eightieth (180th) day immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement was initially filed with the Commission, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor any of their respective affiliates is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

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(kk) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers, representatives (it being understood that the Underwriters are not being deemed to be such a representative for this purpose) or affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action intended, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, in, or that has constituted, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(ll) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries carries, or is covered by, insurance (issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility to the best knowledge of the Company) in such amounts and covering such risks as is appropriate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of the assets to be held by them upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and as is customary for companies engaged in businesses similar to the business of the Company, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.

(mm) The consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the notes and schedules thereto, included in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present in all material respects the final position of the Company, as of the respective dates thereof, and the results of operations and statements of cash flows for the periods then ended in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis and comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related rules and regulations thereunder, and there are no other historical or proforma financial statements of the Company or of businesses that have been acquired by the Company or the acquisition of which is probable or otherwise that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company and its Insurance Subsidiaries have made no material change in their insurance reserving practices since the most recent audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(nn) BDO USA, LLP, who have certified certain financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, whose reports with respect to such financial statements and supporting schedules are included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and who have delivered the comfort letters referred to in Section 5(f) hereof, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “ PCAOB ”).

 

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(oo) The Company maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (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, and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included in the Registration Statement is accurate. Except as disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) there are no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and (ii) there has been no material change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting since the respective dates of the information given in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(pp) None of the Company, any Subsidiary, or to the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has made any payment of funds of the Company or any Subsidiary or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, including without limitation the “know your customer” and anti-money laundering laws of any jurisdiction (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.

(qq) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary 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 of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(rr) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any Subsidiary delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or such Subsidiary to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

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(ss) Except where such failure to file or pay an assessment or lien would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or where such matters are the result of a pending bona fide dispute with taxing authorities, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have accurately prepared and timely filed any and all federal, state, foreign and other tax returns that are required to be filed by them, if any, and have paid or made provision for the payment of all taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges, fines or penalties, including without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which the Company and its Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, with respect to the periods covered by such tax returns (whether or not such amounts are shown as due on any tax return), (ii) no deficiency assessment with respect to a proposed adjustment of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s federal, state, local or foreign taxes is pending or, to the best of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, threatened; (iii) since the date of the most recent audited financial statements, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any liability for taxes other than in the ordinary course of its business; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, foreign or other taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(tt) Except as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including 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) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (iii) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any Subsidiary, and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(uu) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary for employees or former employees of the Company or each Subsidiary has been maintained

 

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in compliance in all material respects with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”); no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption, and transactions which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such plan is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA.

(vv) No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ww) The statistical and market-related data included in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is based on or derived from sources that are generally accepted as reliable in the insurance industry.

(xx) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in any of the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis.

(yy) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, affiliates, customers or suppliers of the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, which would be required by the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder to be described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, which is not so described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(zz) No approval of the stockholders of the Company under the rules and regulations of any trading market is required for the Company to issue and deliver the Securities.

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

(bbb) The shares of Common Stock are “actively-traded securities,” as defined in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M promulgated under the Securities Act.

2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective numbers of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite its name at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “ Purchase Price ”).

 

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On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Securities, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to the number of Additional Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto at the Purchase Price; provided, however, that the amount paid by the Underwriters for any Additional Securities shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Securities but not payable on such Additional Securities. You may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm Securities nor later than ten business days after the date of such notice. On each day, if any, that Additional Securities are to be purchased (an “ Option Closing Date ”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Securities (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Securities.

3. Terms of Public Offering . The Company is advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Securities as soon after this Agreement becomes effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company is further advised by you that the Securities are to be offered to the public initially at the Public Offering Price set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “ Public Offering Price ”) and to certain dealers selected by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of the Selling Concession set forth in Schedule I hereto under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of the Reallowance set forth in Schedule I hereto, to any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.

4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters on the closing date and time set forth in Schedule I hereto, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

Payment for any Additional Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than the tenth business day thereafter, as shall be designated in writing by you.

 

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The Firm Securities and Additional Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm Securities and Additional Securities shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Securities to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.

5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations . The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities on the Closing Date are subject to the following further conditions:

(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Company or any of the securities of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or in the rating outlook for the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act; and

(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 5(a)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date. The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Sidley Austin LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

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(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Jeffrey Weissmann, General Counsel of the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date with respect to such matters as the Manager may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(i) With respect to the negative assurance letters of Sidley Austin LLP and Mayer Brown delivered pursuant to Sections 5(c) and 5(e), each of Sidley Austin LLP and Mayer Brown LLP, respectively, may state that their opinions and beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except as specified.

(ii) The opinions of Sidley Austin LLP and Jeffrey Weissmann described in Sections 5(c) and 5(d) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.

(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from BDO USA LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

(g) No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each free writing prospectus (to the extent required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433 of the Securities Act); and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Manager.

(h) The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable.

(i) The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and the officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be of full force and effect on the Closing Date.

 

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(j) The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Securities hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:

(i) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;

(ii) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Sidley Austin LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion and negative assurance letter required by Section 5(c) hereof;

(iii) an opinion of Jeffrey Weissmann, General Counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof;

(iv) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion and negative assurance letter required by Section 5(e) hereof;

(v) a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from BDO USA LLP, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to such Option Closing Date; and

(vi) the “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and the officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be of full force and effect on the Option Closing Date.

(vii) such other documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Securities.

 

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All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

6. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) To furnish to you, without charge, one (1) signed copy of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 6(e) or 6(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request; it being understood that the Company’s obligation to deliver such documents shall be satisfied upon the filing thereof with the Commission on EDGAR.

(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

(c) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which you reasonably object.

(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

(e) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the

 

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circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Securities may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(g) To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request.

(h) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to you as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating to the Securities, all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or

 

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producing any Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Securities by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (subject to a maximum amount of $20,000), (v) all costs and expenses incident to listing the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Securities, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent or registrar, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(j) The Company also covenants with each Underwriter that, without the prior written consent of the Manager identified on Schedule I hereto on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “ Restricted Period ”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to shares of Common Stock or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of shares of Common Stock or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of Common Stock or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to shares of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

 

21


The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to the Securities to be sold hereunder.

(k) To provide the required notification to the NASDAQ Global Market in advance of the issuance of the Securities.

(l) If at any time when 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 Manager, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Manager, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the Manager of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the 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.

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

7. Covenants of the Underwriters . Each Underwriter severally covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.

8. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any “road show” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “ road show ”), or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, caused by any omission or alleged

 

22


omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, such information being limited to the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b), such person (the “ indemnified party ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “ indemnifying party ”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Manager authorized to appoint counsel under this Section set forth in Schedule I hereto, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and

 

23


third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding 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 (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (b) does not include any statements as to or any findings of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(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 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be

 

24


deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

9. Termination . The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade or other relevant exchanges, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States or other relevant jurisdiction shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

10. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II bears to the aggregate number of Firm Securities set forth

 

25


opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Securities and the aggregate number of Firm Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such Firm Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Securities and the aggregate number of Additional Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Securities that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

11. Entire Agreement . (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.

(b) The Company acknowledges that, in connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

26


12. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

13. Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

14. Headings . The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

15. Notices . All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to you at the address set forth in Schedule I hereto; and if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the address set forth in Schedule I hereto.

16. Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), 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.

[Signature pages follow]

 

27


Very truly yours,
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Peter Rendall

Name:   Peter Rendall
Title:   COO & Treasurer

 

[ Underwriting Agreement – Common Stock ]


Accepted as of the date hereof

 

Acting severally on behalf of itself and the

        several Underwriters named in Schedule I

        hereto.

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael Occi

Name:   Michael Occi
Title:   VP

 

[ Underwriting Agreement – Common Stock ]


SCHEDULE I

 

Manager:    Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Manager authorized to release lock-up under Section 6:    Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Manager authorized to appoint counsel under Section 8:    Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC
Registration Statement File No.:    333-204903
Time of Sale Prospectus:    Prospectus dated June 12, 2015 relating to the Shelf Securities and the preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 10, 2015 relating to the Securities
Free Writing Prospectus:    As listed on Schedule III hereto
Securities to be purchased:    Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Number of Firm Securities:    10,000,000 Shares
Number of Additional Securities:    1,500,000 Shares
Purchase Price:    $18.335 per Share
Public Offering Price:    $19.000 per Share
Selling Concession:    $0.399 per Share
Closing Date and Time:    August 18, 2015, 10:00 a.m. New York City time
Closing Location:   

Mayer Brown LLP

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Address for Notices to Underwriters:   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Investment Banking Division

Phone: (212) 761-6691

Facsimile: (212) 507-8999

Address for Notices to the Company:   

National General Holdings Corp.

59 Maiden Lane, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10038

Attention: General Counsel

 

Schedule I-1


SCHEDULE II

 

Underwriter

   Number of Firm Securities To
Be Purchased
 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     7,250,000   

FBR Capital Markets & Co.

     1,000,000   

JMP Securities LLC

     1,000,000   

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

     500,000   

William Blair & Company, L.L.C.

     250,000   
  

 

 

 

Total:

     10,000,000   
  

 

 

 

 

Schedule II-1


SCHEDULE III

Free Writing Prospectuses

 

1. None.

 

Schedule III-1


EXHIBIT A

Form of Lock-up Agreement

 

A-1


August 10, 2015

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

on behalf of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule II to the Underwriting Agreement

c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

      1585 Broadway

      New York, NY 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“ Morgan Stanley ”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), providing for the public offering (the “ Public Offering ”) by the several Underwriters, including Morgan Stanley (the “ Underwriters ”), of 10,000,000 shares (the “ Shares ”) of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”).

To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus (the “ Restricted Period ”) relating to the Public Offering (the “ Prospectus ”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)), by the undersigned or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock as a bona fide gift, (b) transfers to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or his or her immediate family or (c) dispositions from any grantor retained annuity trust; provided that in the case of any transfer or disposition pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c), (i) each donee, trustee or transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of this letter, (ii) such transfer or disposition will not involve a disposition for value and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period, or (d) transfers of Common Stock pursuant to any Rule 10b5-1 plan existing on the date of the final prospectus, (e) transfers required pursuant to the Company’s 2010 Equity Incentive Plan and 2013 Equity Incentive Plan in order to reimburse or pay U.S. federal income tax and withholding obligations in connection with vesting of restricted stock or restricted stock unit grants or (f) transfers to the undersigned’s affiliates, provided that each affiliate transferee shall sign and

 

A-2


deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of this letter. For purposes of this paragraph, “immediate family” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the Restricted Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

If:

(1) during the last 17 days of the Restricted Period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or

(2) prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Restricted Period;

the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The undersigned hereby acknowledges that the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to provide written notice of any event that would result in an extension of the initial Restricted Period and agrees that any such notice properly delivered will be deemed to have been given to, and received by, the undersigned.

The undersigned shall not engage in any transaction that may be restricted by this agreement during the 34-day period beginning on the last day of the initial Restricted Period unless the undersigned requests and receives prior written confirmation from the Company or Morgan Stanley that the restrictions imposed by this agreement have expired.

The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.

 

Very truly yours,

 

(Name)

 

(Address)

 

A-3

Exhibit 1.2

NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.

$100,000,000 7.625% SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2055

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

August 11, 2015


August 11, 2015

To the Managers named in Schedule I hereto for

the Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom you are acting as managers (the “ Managers ”), $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (the “ Firm Securities ”), and, at the option of the Managers acting on behalf of the Underwriters, up to an additional $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of such 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (the “ Additional Securities ”) solely to cover over-allotments. The Firm Securities and the Additional Securities are herein referred to collectively as the “ Securities .” The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of May 23, 2014 (the “ Base Indenture ”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), to be supplemented by the second supplemental indenture, to be dated as of August 18, 2015 (the “ Second Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and the Trustee. If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the Managers listed on Schedule I hereto, then the terms “Underwriters” and “Managers” as used herein shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement, including a prospectus, (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on Form S-3, relating to securities (the “ Shelf Securities ”), including the Securities, to be issued from time to time by the Company. The registration statement as amended to the date of this Agreement, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), is hereinafter referred to as the “ Registration Statement ,” and the related prospectus covering the Shelf Securities dated June 12, 2015 in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Base Prospectus .” The Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “ Prospectus ,” and the term “ preliminary prospectus ” means any preliminary form of the Prospectus filed with the Commission. For purposes of this Agreement, “ free writing prospectus ” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “ Time of Sale Prospectus ” means the preliminary prospectus, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule I hereto, and “broadly


available road show” means a “ bona fide electronic road show ” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “Base Prospectus,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof (the “ Incorporated Documents ”). The terms “ supplement ,” “ amendment ,” and “ amend ” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

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

(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) eligible to use the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement and the Company has not received notice that the Commission objects to the use of the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement.

(b) (i) The Incorporated Documents, when they were or are filed with the Commission, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, no such documents were filed with the Commission since the Commission’s close of business on the business day immediately prior to the date of this Agreement and prior to the execution of this Agreement and the Incorporated Documents, when they were or are filed with the Commission, did not contain or will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make statements therein not misleading, (ii) each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became effective, did not contain, and each such part, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement as of the date hereof does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply, and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (v) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the offering, at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4) and at the Option Closing Date (as defined in Section 2) (as applicable), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to

 

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make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (vi) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain as of its date, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date (as applicable), any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Managers expressly for use therein (that information being limited to that described in the last sentence of Section 8(b) hereof).

(c) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(d) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule I hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to you by the Company before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

(e) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (including the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities) and thereby; each of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company (collectively, the “ Subsidiaries ”) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or similar entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with requisite power and authority to own, lease or operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; except as

 

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described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no Subsidiary is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends or distributions to the Company, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company; except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.

(f) The Company had, as of the date indicated in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and will have, as of the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the duly authorized capitalization set forth in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” after giving effect to the adjustments set forth thereunder (but at any Option Closing Date not taking into account the issuance of any Additional Securities by the Company at each Option Closing Date); all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and have not been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive right or other similar right of stockholders arising by operation of law, under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as amended, of the Company, under any agreement to which the Company is a party or otherwise; except as disclosed in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding (i) securities or obligations of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (ii) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or (iii) obligations of the Company to issue or sell any shares of capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligation, or any such warrants, rights or options.

(g) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and entitled to the rights under, and the benefits of, the Indenture.

(h) All corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been validly and sufficiently taken; and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company are not subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right of stockholders arising by operation of law, under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, under any agreement to which the Company is a party or otherwise, other than as provided for in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

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(i) The form of note representing the Securities complies in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the NASDAQ Global Market (“ NASDAQ ”) and the Indenture, and has been duly authorized and approved by the board of directors of the Company.

(j) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed by, and is in good standing in, each jurisdiction in which it conducts its business, or in which it owns or leases property or maintains an office and in which such qualification or licensing is necessary and in which the failure, individually or in the aggregate, to be so qualified or licensed would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”).

(k) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has legal, valid and defensible title to all assets and properties owned by it (whether through fee ownership, mineral estates or similar rights of ownership), in each case free and clear of all liens, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and defects, except such as are disclosed in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; any real property or personal property held under lease by the Company or any Subsidiary is held under a lease that is valid, existing and enforceable by the Company or such Subsidiary, with such exceptions as are disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any such lease.

(l) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or possesses such material licenses or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, other intellectual property rights and know-how (collectively “ Intangibles ”), as are necessary to entitle it to conduct its business described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of any infringement of or conflict with (and, upon due inquiry, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid right to access and use all computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites and equipment used to process, store, maintain and operate data, information and functions used in connection with the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “ Company IT Systems ”). The Company IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has violated, or received written notice of any violation with respect to, any law, rule, regulation, order decree or judgment applicable to it and its business, including those relating to transactions with affiliates, environmental, safety or similar laws, federal or state laws relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, federal or state wages and hours law, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except for those violations that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor any officer, director, agent or employee purporting to act on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has at any time, directly or indirectly, (i) made any contributions to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any such contributions, in violation of law, (ii) made any payment to any state, federal or foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or allowed by applicable law (including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (the “ FCPA ”)), (iii) engaged in any transactions, maintained any bank account or used any corporate funds except for transactions, bank accounts and funds which have been and are reflected in the normally maintained books and records of the Company, (iv) violated any provision of the FCPA, or (v) made any other unlawful payment.

(p) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding loans or advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary to or for the benefit of any of the officers, directors, affiliates or representatives of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of the members of the families of any of them.

(q) Except with respect to the Underwriters, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any liability for any brokerage commission, finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

(r) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under) (i) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, or other organizational documents (collectively, “ Charter Documents ”), (ii) the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or such Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties may be bound or affected or (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment, permit or order applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and

 

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(iii) above, for such breaches or defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all contracts, agreements or other documents to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party that are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus are so described or referred to therein.

(s) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Indenture, the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company, the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the compliance by the Company and the Subsidiaries with the terms and provisions of the Securities, this Agreement and the Indenture will not conflict with, or result in any breach of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would constitute a breach of, or default under), (i) any provision of the Charter Documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any provision of any contract, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties may be bound or affected, or (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment, permit or order applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, except in the case of clauses (ii) or (iii) for such conflicts, breaches or defaults that have been validly waived or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, charge, claim or encumbrance upon any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(t) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. The Base Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The Second Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company, and when the Second Supplemental Indenture shall have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability. The Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(u) The statements set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of the Notes,” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Certain ERISA Considerations” and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 under “Item 1. Business—Regulation” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.

 

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(v) No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities as contemplated hereby, other than (i) such as have been obtained or made, or will have been obtained or made at the Closing Date and (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities are being offered or sold.

(w) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and have all necessary licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, consents and approvals, and have not received any written notice of any proceedings relating to the revocation or modification thereof, required in order to conduct their respective businesses as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except to the extent that any failure to have any such licenses, permits, certificates, authorizations, consents or approvals or to make any such filings would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of, or in default under, any such license, permit, certificate, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company or any such Subsidiary, the effect of which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus contain accurate summaries of all material contracts, agreements, instruments and other documents of the Company that are required to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; the copies of all contracts, agreements, instruments and other documents (including governmental licenses, authorizations, permits, consents and approvals and all amendments or waivers relating to any of the foregoing) that have been previously furnished or made available to the Managers or their counsel are complete and genuine and include all material collateral and supplemental agreements thereto.

(y) Other than as set forth in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits, proceedings, inquiries or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary, or any of their respective properties, directors or officers at law or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; other than the Underwriters, the Company has not authorized anyone to make any representations regarding the offer and sale of the Securities, or regarding the Company or any Subsidiary in connection therewith; neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of any order or decree preventing the use of the Registration Statement, any preliminary

 

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prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any order asserting that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and no proceeding for that purpose has commenced or is pending or, to its knowledge, is contemplated.

(z) The Company has made all required filings under applicable insurance holding company statutes, and has received approvals of acquisition of control and/or affiliate transactions, in each jurisdiction in which such filings or approvals are required, except where the failure to have made such filings or receive such approvals in any such jurisdiction would not have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company’s Subsidiaries that is required to be organized and licensed as an insurance or reinsurance company (the “ Insurance Subsidiaries ”) in its jurisdiction of incorporation is duly organized and licensed as an insurance or reinsurance company in its respective jurisdiction of incorporation, and each such Subsidiary has a duly issued license or authorization to operate as an insurer or reinsurer (the “ Insurance Licenses ”) in each other jurisdiction in which such licensing or authorization is required; there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or investigation that would reasonably be expected to lead to the revocation, termination or suspension of any such Insurance Licenses; and except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no insurance regulatory agency or body has issued any order or decree impairing, restricting or prohibiting the payment of dividends of any Insurance Subsidiary to its respective parent.

(aa) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with the requirements of all laws, ordinances, governmental rules or regulations or court decrees to which it may be subject, and has filed all notices, reports, documents or other information required to be filed thereunder, except where the failure to so comply or file would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Insurance Subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of, any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in reinsurance treaties, contracts, agreements and arrangements to which the Company or any of its Insurance Subsidiaries is a party, except for such violations or defaults which would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; neither the Company nor any of its Insurance Subsidiaries has received any written notice from any of the other parties to such treaties, contracts, agreements or arrangements that such other party intends not to perform its obligations thereunder and none of them has any reason to believe that any of the other parties to such treaties, contracts, agreements or arrangements will be unable to perform its obligations thereunder, except to the extent that such nonperformance would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

(cc) The statutory annual and quarterly statements of the Insurance Subsidiaries, and the statutory balance sheets and income statements included in such statutory annual and quarterly statements, as filed by the Insurance Subsidiaries in each jurisdiction where such filing is required, have been prepared in conformity with

 

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statutory accounting principles or practices required or permitted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and by the insurance laws of the jurisdiction of domicile of each Insurance Subsidiary, applied on a consistent basis, except as may otherwise be indicated in the notes thereto, and present fairly the statutory financial position of the Insurance Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby.

(dd) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as may be otherwise stated in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any event, circumstance or change that has, or would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any transaction, other than in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the Company or any Subsidiary, contemplated or entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) any liability, obligation, contingent or otherwise, directly or indirectly incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the Company or any Subsidiary, (iv) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or any Subsidiary on any class of its capital stock, or any purchase by the Company or any Subsidiary of any of its outstanding capital stock, or (v) any change of the capital stock or indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(ee) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, or upon the sale of the Securities as contemplated herein and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”, will be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” (as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”)).

(ff) Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities registered by the Company under the Securities Act.

(gg) The Company has not relied upon any of the Underwriters or legal counsel for the Underwriters for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(hh) Each of the independent directors named in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has not within the last three years, been employed by or affiliated, directly or indirectly, with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether by ownership of, ownership interest in, employment by, any material business or professional relationship with, or serving as an officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(ii) In connection with the offering of the Securities, neither the Company, any of the Subsidiaries, nor any of their respective affiliates has, whether directly or through any agent or person acting on its behalf (other than the Underwriters): (i) offered any Securities or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Securities or

 

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such other securities in a manner in violation of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) distributed any other offering material in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, other than as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (iii) sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) which is or will be integrated with the offering and sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act.

(jj) There are no affiliations or associations between (i) any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) and (ii) the Company, any Subsidiary or any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s officers, directors or, to the Company’s knowledge, 5% or greater security holders or any beneficial owner of the Company unregistered equity securities that were acquired at any time on or after the one hundred eightieth (180th) day immediately preceding the date the Registration Statement was initially filed with the Commission, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor any of their respective affiliates is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

(kk) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers, representatives (it being understood that the Underwriters are not being deemed to be such a representative for this purpose) or affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action intended, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, in, or that has constituted, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(ll) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries carries, or is covered by, insurance (issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility to the best knowledge of the Company) in such amounts and covering such risks as is appropriate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of the assets to be held by them upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and as is customary for companies engaged in businesses similar to the business of the Company, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.

(mm) The consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the notes and schedules thereto, included in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present in all material respects the final position of the Company, as of the respective dates thereof, and the results of operations and statements of cash flows for the periods then ended in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis and comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and the related rules and regulations thereunder, and there are no other historical or proforma financial statements of the Company or of businesses that have been acquired by the Company or the acquisition of which is probable or otherwise that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus; except as

 

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disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company and its Insurance Subsidiaries have made no material change in their insurance reserving practices since the most recent audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(nn) BDO USA, LLP, who have certified certain financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, whose reports with respect to such financial statements and supporting schedules are included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and who have delivered the comfort letters referred to in Section 5(f) hereof, are independent registered public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “ PCAOB ”).

(oo) The Company maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (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, and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included in the Registration Statement is accurate. Except as disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) there are no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting and (ii) there has been no material change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting since the respective dates of the information given in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(pp) None of the Company, any Subsidiary, or to the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has made any payment of funds of the Company or any Subsidiary or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, including without limitation the “know your customer” and anti-money laundering laws of any jurisdiction (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.

 

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(qq) None of the Company, any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary 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 of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(rr) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any Subsidiary delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or such Subsidiary to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

(ss) Except where such failure to file or pay an assessment or lien would not in the aggregate reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or where such matters are the result of a pending bona fide dispute with taxing authorities, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have accurately prepared and timely filed any and all federal, state, foreign and other tax returns that are required to be filed by them, if any, and have paid or made provision for the payment of all taxes, assessments, governmental or other similar charges, fines or penalties, including without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which the Company and its Subsidiaries are obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, with respect to the periods covered by such tax returns (whether or not such amounts are shown as due on any tax return), (ii) no deficiency assessment with respect to a proposed adjustment of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s federal, state, local or foreign taxes is pending or, to the best of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s knowledge, threatened; (iii) since the date of the most recent audited financial statements, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any liability for taxes other than in the ordinary course of its business; and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state, foreign or other taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or business of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(tt) Except as described in both the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including 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) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits,

 

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authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (iii) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any Subsidiary, and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(uu) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary for employees or former employees of the Company or each Subsidiary has been maintained in compliance in all material respects with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”); no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption, and transactions which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such plan is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA.

(vv) No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ww) The statistical and market-related data included in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is based on or derived from sources that are generally accepted as reliable in the insurance industry.

(xx) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in any of the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis.

(yy) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, affiliates, customers or suppliers of the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, which would be required by the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder to be described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, which is not so described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

 

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(zz) No approval of the stockholders of the Company under the rules and regulations of any trading market is required for the Company to issue and deliver the Securities.

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

2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amounts of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite its name at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “ Purchase Price ”).

On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Securities, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to the principal amount of Additional Securities set forth in Schedule I hereto at the Purchase Price. You may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the principal amount of Additional Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such Additional Securities are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm Securities nor later than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Securities may be purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Securities. On each day, if any, that Additional Securities are to be purchased (an “ Option Closing Date ”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the principal amount of Additional Securities (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional Additional Securities as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total principal amount of Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the principal amount of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total principal amount of Firm Securities.

3. Terms of Public Offering . The Company is advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Securities as soon after this Agreement becomes effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company is further advised by you that the Securities are to be offered to the public initially at the Public Offering Price set forth in Schedule I hereto (the “ Public Offering Price ”) and to certain dealers selected by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of the Selling Concession set forth in Schedule I hereto under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of the Reallowance set forth in Schedule I hereto, to any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.

 

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4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters on the closing date and time set forth in Schedule I hereto, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

Payment for any Additional Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than the tenth business day thereafter, as shall be designated in writing by you.

The Firm Securities and Additional Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm Securities and Additional Securities shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Securities to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.

5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations . The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities on the Closing Date are subject to the following further conditions:

(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded the Company or any of the securities of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or in the rating outlook for the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act; and

(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect

 

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set forth in Section 5(a)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date. The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Sidley Austin LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Jeffrey Weissmann, General Counsel of the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date with respect to such matters as the Managers may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(i) With respect to the negative assurance letters of Sidley Austin LLP and Mayer Brown delivered pursuant to Sections 5(c) and 5(e), each of Sidley Austin LLP and Mayer Brown LLP, respectively, may state that their opinions and beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except as specified.

(ii) The opinions of Sidley Austin LLP and Jeffrey Weissmann described in Sections 5(c) and 5(d) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.

(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from BDO USA LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

(g) No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each free writing prospectus (to the extent required

 

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to be filed pursuant to Rule 433 of the Securities Act); and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Managers.

(h) The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable.

(i) The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Securities hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:

(i) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;

(ii) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Sidley Austin LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion and negative assurance letter required by Section 5(c) hereof;

(iii) an opinion of Jeffrey Weissmann, General Counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof;

(iv) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Mayer Brown LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion and negative assurance letter required by Section 5(e) hereof;

(v) a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from BDO USA LLP, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to such Option Closing Date; and

(vi) such other documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Securities.

 

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All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

6. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) To furnish to you, without charge, one (1) signed copy of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 6(e) or 6(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request; it being understood that the Company’s obligation to deliver such documents shall be satisfied upon the filing thereof with the Commission on EDGAR.

(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

(c) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which you reasonably object.

(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

(e) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the

 

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circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Securities may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(g) To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request.

(h) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to you as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating to the Securities, all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or

 

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producing any Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or legal investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Securities by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (subject to a maximum amount of $20,000), (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Securities and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Securities, (vii) the costs and charges of any trustee, transfer agent or registrar, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, (x) any fees charged by the rating agencies for the rating of the Securities and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(j) The Company also covenants with each Underwriter that, without the prior written consent of those Managers identified on Schedule I hereto on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 30 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “ Restricted Period ”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Securities or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Securities or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Securities or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Securities or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any Securities or any securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Securities.

 

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The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to the Securities to be sold hereunder.

(k) To use commercially reasonable efforts to list the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Market within 30 days after the Closing Date and to maintain the listing of the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Market.

(l) To prepare a final term sheet relating to the offering of the Securities, containing only the information that describes the final terms of the Securities or the offering in a form consented to by the Managers, and to file such term sheet within the period required by Rule 433(d)(5)(ii) under the Securities Act following the date the final terms have been established for the offering of the Securities.

(m) If at any time when 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 Managers, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Managers, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the Managers of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the 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 posteffective amendment, as the case may be.

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

7. Covenants of the Underwriters . Each Underwriter severally covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.

8. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any

 

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legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any “road show” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “ road show ”), or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Managers expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, such information being limited to the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b), such person (the “ indemnified party ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “ indemnifying party ”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Managers authorized to appoint counsel under this Section set forth in Schedule I hereto, in the case of parties

 

23


indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding 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 (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (b) does not include any statements as to or any findings of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(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 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective aggregate principal amount of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

 

24


(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

9. Termination . The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade or other relevant exchanges, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States or other relevant jurisdiction shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

 

25


10. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II bears to the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the aggregate principal amount of Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such aggregate principal amount of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such Firm Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Securities and the aggregate principal amount of Additional Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Additional Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the aggregate principal amount of Additional Securities that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

 

26


11. Entire Agreement . (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.

(b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Securities: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Securities.

12. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

13. Applicable Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

14. Headings . The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

15. Notices . All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to you at the address set forth in Schedule I hereto; and if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the address set forth in Schedule I hereto.

16. Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), 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.

[Signature pages follow]

 

27


Very truly yours,
NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Peter Rendall

Name:   Peter Rendall
Title:   COO & Treasurer

 

[ Underwriting Agreement – Sub Notes ]


Accepted as of the date hereof

Acting severally on behalf of themselves and

        the several Underwriters named in

        Schedule I hereto.

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

/s/ Michael Occi

Name:   Michael Occi
Title:   VP
UBS SECURITIES LLC
By:  

/s/ Alex Cowley

Name:   Alex Cowley
Title:   Managing Director
By:  

/s/ Mehdi Manii

Name:   Mehdi Manii
Title:   Director
KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Seth A. Bair

Name:   Seth A. Bair
Title:   Managing Director

 

[ Underwriting Agreement – Sub Notes ]


SCHEDULE I

 

Managers:   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

UBS Securities LLC

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

Managers authorized to release lock-up under Section 6:   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

UBS Securities LLC

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

Managers authorized to appoint counsel under Section 8:   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

UBS Securities LLC

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

Indenture:    Indenture dated as of May 23, 2014 between the Company and the Trustee, as supplemented by the second supplemental indenture, to be dated as of August 18, 2015
Trustee:    The Bank of New York Mellon
Registration Statement File No.:    333-204903
Time of Sale Prospectus:          1.        Prospectus dated June 12, 2015 relating to the Shelf     Securities;
         2.        Preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 10,     2015 relating to the Securities; and
         3.        Term sheet referred to in Section 6(l) of the Agreement.
Free Writing Prospectus:    Final Term Sheet filed with the Commission by the Company on August 11, 2015 pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act and attached hereto as Schedule III
Securities to be purchased:    7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055
Principal Amount of Firm Securities:    $100,000,000
Principal Amount of Additional Securities:    $15,000,000
Purchase Price:    96.85% of Principal Amount
Initial Public Offering Price:    100% of Principal Amount

 

Schedule I-1


Selling Concession:    $0.50 per Security
Reallowance:    $0.45 per Security
Closing Date and Time:    August 18, 2015, 10:00 a.m. New York City time
Closing Location:   

Mayer Brown LLP

1221 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Addresses for Notices to Underwriters:   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway, 29th Floor

New York, NY 10036

Attention: Investment Banking Division

Phone: (212) 761-6691

Facsimile: (212) 507-8999

 

UBS Securities LLC

1285 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Fixed Income Syndicate

Phone: (203) 719-1088

Facsimile: (203) 719-0495

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

787 Seventh Avenue, 4 th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Attention: Investment Banking Division

Phone: (212) 887-7777

Facsimile: (212) 541-1799

Address for Notices to the Company:   

National General Holdings Corp.

59 Maiden Lane, 38th Floor

New York, NY 10038

Attention: General Counsel

 

Schedule I-2


SCHEDULE II

 

Underwriter

   Aggregate Principal Amount
of Firm Securities To Be
Purchased
 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

   $ 39,000,000   

UBS Securities LLC

   $ 39,000,000   

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

   $ 19,000,000   

JMP Securities LLC

   $ 3,000,000   
  

 

 

 

Total:

   $ 100,000,000   
  

 

 

 

 

Schedule II-1


SCHEDULE III

PRICING TERM SHEET

Dated August 11, 2015

National General Holdings Corp.

$100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of

7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055

(the “Offering”)

The information in this pricing term sheet relates only to the Offering and should be read together with the preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 10, 2015 to the prospectus dated June 12, 2015, relating to the Offering, including the documents incorporated by reference therein (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”). The information in this pricing term sheet supplements the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement and supersedes the information in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement to the extent inconsistent with the information contained therein. Terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement.

 

Issuer:    National General Holdings Corp.
Title of Securities:    7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (the “Notes”)
Aggregate Principal Amount of Notes Offered:    $100,000,000
Over-allotment Option:    $15,000,000, exercisable for 30 days following August 11, 2015
Maturity Date:    September 15, 2055
Net Proceeds (before expenses) to Issuer:    $96,850,000.00 (excluding any exercise of the Over-allotment Option)
Interest Rate:    7.625% per annum, accruing from the Settlement Date
Interest Payment Dates:    Each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, commencing on December 15, 2015
Interest Payment Record Dates:    Each March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1, commencing on December 1, 2015
Issue Price:    100% of the principal amount plus accrued interest, if any, from the Settlement Date
Underwriting Discount:    3.15%
Optional Redemption:    On and after September 15, 2020, or on any date thereafter, the Notes may be redeemed in $25 increments at the Issuer’s option, for cash, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption.

 

Schedule III-1


Subordination:    The Notes will be subordinated unsecured obligations and will rank (i) senior in right of payment to any future junior subordinated debt, (ii) equally in right of payment with any unsecured, subordinated debt that the Issuer incurs in the future that ranks equally with the Notes, and (iii) subordinate in right of payment to any of the Issuer’s existing and future senior debt, including amounts outstanding under the Issuer’s $135.0 million revolving credit facility and the Issuer’s 6.75% senior notes due 2024 with an aggregate principal amount outstanding of $250.0 million. In addition, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, liabilities and other obligations of the Issuer’s subsidiaries, and certain of the Issuer’s other obligations.
Pricing Date:    August 11, 2015
Trade Date:    August 11, 2015
Settlement Date:    August 18, 2015
Denominations:    $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof
Joint Book-Running Managers:   

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

UBS Securities LLC

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

Co-Manager:    JMP Securities LLC
Listing:    The Issuer intends to list the Notes on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “NGHCZ.”
CUSIP/ISIN:    636220873 / US6362208737
   ******

This information does not purport to be a complete description of these securities. The issuer has filed a registration statement, including a prospectus, with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at (866) 718-1649, UBS Securities LLC at (888) 827-7275 or Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. at (800) 966-1559.

 

Schedule III-2

Exhibit 4.2

National General Holdings Corp.

as Issuer

The Bank of New York Mellon

as Trustee

 

 

Second Supplemental Indenture

Dated as of August 18, 2015

to the Indenture dated as of

May 23, 2014

 

 

7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE 1   
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION   

SECTION 1.01

 

Scope of Supplemental Indenture

     1   

SECTION 1.02

 

Definitions

     2   
ARTICLE 2   
THE SECURITIES   

SECTION 2.01

 

Title and Terms; Payments

     7   

SECTION 2.02

 

Forms

     7   

SECTION 2.03

 

Transfer and Exchange; Restrictions on Transfer

     9   

SECTION 2.04

 

Payments on the Securities

     11   
ARTICLE 3   
REDEMPTIONS; NO SINKING FUND   

SECTION 3.01

 

Redemption

     12   

SECTION 3.02

 

No Sinking Fund

     13   
ARTICLE 4   
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY   

SECTION 4.01

 

Payment of Principal and Interest.

     13   

SECTION 4.02

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     13   

SECTION 4.03

 

Statements as to Defaults

     14   
ARTICLE 5   
REMEDIES   

SECTION 5.01

 

General

     14   

SECTION 5.02

 

Events of Default and Defaults

     15   

SECTION 5.03

 

Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

     16   

SECTION 5.04

 

Waiver of Past Defaults

     17   

SECTION 5.05

 

Control by Majority

     17   

SECTION 5.06

 

Limitation on Suits

     17   

SECTION 5.07

 

Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

     18   

 

i


SECTION 5.08

 

Collection of Indebtedness; Suit for Enforcement by Trustee

     18   

SECTION 5.09

 

Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities

     18   

SECTION 5.10

 

Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

     18   

SECTION 5.11

 

Restoration of Rights and Remedies

     19   

SECTION 5.12

 

Rights and Remedies Cumulative

     19   

SECTION 5.13

 

Delay or Omission Not a Waiver

     19   

SECTION 5.14

 

Priorities

     19   

SECTION 5.15

 

Undertaking for Costs

     20   

SECTION 5.16

 

Waiver of Stay, Extension and Usury Laws

     20   

SECTION 5.17

 

Notices from the Trustee

     20   
ARTICLE 6   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE   

SECTION 6.01

 

Inapplicability of Provisions of Base Indenture; Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance

     21   

SECTION 6.02

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

     21   

SECTION 6.03

 

Defeasance

     21   

SECTION 6.04

 

Deposited Monies to Be Held in Trust by Trustee

     22   

SECTION 6.05

 

Paying Agent to Repay Monies Held; Repayment to Company

     22   

SECTION 6.06

 

Return of Unclaimed Monies

     23   

SECTION 6.07

 

Reinstatement

     23   

SECTION 6.08

 

Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations

     23   
ARTICLE 7   
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   

SECTION 7.01

 

Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

     23   

SECTION 7.02

 

Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

     24   

SECTION 7.03

 

Notice of Amendment or Supplement

     25   

SECTION 7.04

 

Integration of Article 7 into the Base Indenture

     25   
ARTICLE 8   
SUCCESSOR COMPANY   

SECTION 8.01

 

Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

     25   

SECTION 8.02

 

Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms

     26   

 

ii


SECTION 8.03

 

Successor Corporation to Be Substituted

     26   

SECTION 8.04

 

Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to Be Given to Trustee

     27   
ARTICLE 9   
TAX ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS   

SECTION 9.01

 

Payment of Tax Additional Amounts

     27   

SECTION 9.02

 

Exceptions to Payment of Tax Additional Amounts

     28   

SECTION 9.03

 

Entitlement to Refund or Credit

     28   

SECTION 9.04

 

References to be Consistent

     29   
ARTICLE 10   
SUBORDINATION   

SECTION 10.01

 

Agreement to Subordinate

     29   

SECTION 10.02

 

Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities.

     29   

SECTION 10.03

 

No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness

     31   

SECTION 10.04

 

Payments on Securities Permitted

     31   

SECTION 10.05

 

Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination

     31   

SECTION 10.06

 

Notices to Trustee

     32   

SECTION 10.07

 

Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness

     32   

SECTION 10.08

 

Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness

     32   

SECTION 10.09

 

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

     33   

SECTION 10.10

 

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

     33   

SECTION 10.11

 

Trustee not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness

     33   
ARTICLE 11   
MISCELLANEOUS   

SECTION 11.01

 

Effect on Successors and Assigns

     33   

SECTION 11.02

 

Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial

     34   

SECTION 11.03

 

No Security Interest Created

     34   

SECTION 11.04

 

Trust Indenture Act

     34   

SECTION 11.05

 

Benefits of Supplemental Indenture

     34   

SECTION 11.06

 

Calculations; Determinations

     34   

SECTION 11.07

 

Execution in Counterparts

     34   

 

iii


SECTION 11.08

 

Notices

     35   

SECTION 11.09

 

Ratification of Base Indenture

     35   

SECTION 11.10

 

The Trustee

     35   

SECTION 11.11

 

No Recourse Against Others

     35   

SECTION 11.12

 

FATCA

     35   

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Security

     A-1   

 

iv


SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of August 18, 2015, between National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and The Bank of New York Mellon (the “ Trustee ”), as trustee under the Indenture, dated as of May 23, 2014, between the Company and the Trustee (as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “ Base Indenture ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

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

WHEREAS, Article Nine of the Base Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into supplemental indentures to the Base Indenture to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as contemplated by Section 301 of the Base Indenture;

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

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture, the Company has authorized the creation and issuance under this Supplemental Indenture of its 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (the “ Securities ”), the form and substance of such Securities and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture;

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

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

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the benefit of the Company and the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 1.01 Scope of Supplemental Indenture . The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall govern only the terms of (and only the rights of

 

1


the Holders, the obligations of the Company and the rights and obligations of the Trustee with respect to), the Securities, which may be issued from time to time, and shall not apply to any other securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture (or govern the rights of the Holders or the obligations of the Company with respect to any such other securities) unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements. The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall, with respect to the Securities, supersede any corresponding provisions in the Base Indenture. Subject to the preceding sentence, and except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Securities and govern the rights of the Holders of the Securities and the obligations of the Company and the rights and obligations of the Trustee with respect thereto.

SECTION 1.02 Definitions . For all purposes of the Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(i) the terms defined in this Article 1 shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Article 1 and include the plural as well as the singular;

(ii) references to any statute, rule or regulation refer to such statute, rule or regulation, as amended from time to time, including any successor statute, rule or regulation; and

(iii) all words, terms and phrases defined in the Base Indenture (but not otherwise defined herein) shall have the same meanings as in the Base Indenture.

Agent Members ” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(c) hereof.

Applicable Law ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.12(a) hereof.

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

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

Business Day ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law or executive order to close or to be closed.

 

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Close of Business ” means, as of any date, 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on such date.

Company ” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, and, subject to the provisions of Section 8.02 hereof, shall include its successors and assigns.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

Custodian ” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Securities (so long as the Securities constitute Global Securities), or any successor custodian.

Default ” has the meaning, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 602 of the Base Indenture, specified in Section 5.02 hereof.

Depository ” means the Person designated as Depository by the Company pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture until a successor Depository shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and thereafter “Depository” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depository hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person.

Discharged ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03 hereof.

Event of Default ” has the meaning, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 501 of the Base Indenture, specified in Section 5.02 hereof.

Form of Assignment and Transfer ” means the “Form of Assignment and Transfer” attached as Attachment 1 to the Form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A .

GAAP ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Global Security ” means any Security issued in fully-registered certificated form to the Depository in accordance with Section 301 of the Base Indenture.

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

Indebtedness ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, any and all obligations of a Person for money borrowed which, in accordance with GAAP, would be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person as a liability on the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined.

 

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Indenture ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, the Base Indenture, as originally executed and as supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures supplemental thereto, including this Supplemental Indenture, entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture, including, for all purposes of the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and any such other supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and any other such supplemental indenture, respectively.

Interest Payment Date ” means, with respect to the payment of interest on the Securities and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, each March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2015.

Issue Date ” means, with respect to the Securities, August 18, 2015.

Maturity Date ” means, with respect to any Security and the payment of the principal amount thereof, September 15, 2055.

Non-U.S. Jurisdiction ” means any jurisdiction under which an entity may be organized that is not the United States of America, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia.

Outstanding ” means, with respect to the Securities, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, any Securities authenticated by the Trustee except (i) Securities cancelled by it, (ii) Securities delivered to it for cancellation and (iii)(A) Securities replaced pursuant to Section 306 of the Base Indenture, on and after the time such Security is replaced (unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that such Security is held by a bona fide purchaser), (B) any and all Securities, as of the Maturity Date, if the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with the Indenture, money sufficient to pay all of the Securities then payable, and (C) any and all Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, except that in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or other action that is to be made by a requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities, only such Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be disregarded.

Physical Security ” means any non-Global Security issued pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof that is in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons.

Preliminary Prospectus ” means the basic prospectus, dated June 12, 2015 together with the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated August 10, 2015, relating to the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company.

Prospectus ” means the basic prospectus, dated June 12, 2015 together with the final prospectus supplement, dated August 11, 2015, relating to the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company.

Redemption Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 hereof.

 

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Redemption Price ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01 hereof.

Regular Record Date ” means, with respect to any Interest Payment Date and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, the March 1, June 1, September 1 or December 1 (in each case, whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Responsible Officer ” means any officer of the Trustee in its corporate trust department and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer or employee of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture.

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

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

Significant Subsidiary ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, a Subsidiary, including its Subsidiaries, that meets any of the conditions set forth Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.

Subsidiary ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, a corporation, company (including any limited liability company), association, partnership, joint venture, trust or other business entity in which the Company and/or one or more of the Company’s other Subsidiaries owns at least 50% of the Voting Stock thereof.

Successor Company ” has the meaning specified in Section 8.02(a) hereof.

Supplemental Indenture ” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph hereof, as such instrument may be supplemented from time to time by one or more indentures

 

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supplemental hereto, entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, including, for all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture and any such other supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern the Base Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture and any other such supplemental indenture, respectively.

Tax Additional Amount s ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 hereof.

Taxing Jurisdiction ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 hereof.

Term Sheet ” means the final term sheet, dated August 11, 2015, relating to the Preliminary Prospectus.

Trade Payables ” means accounts payable or any other Indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities).

Trustee ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

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

Voting Stock ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, stock of any class or classes or other ownership interest having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers, trustees or Persons with similar functions of the Person in question, provided that, for the purposes of this definition, stock that carries only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event will not be considered Voting Stock whether or not that event has happened.

 

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Withholding Tax ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.01 hereof.

ARTICLE 2

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01 Title and Terms; Payments .

(a) Establishment; Designation . Pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture, there is hereby established and authorized a new series of Securities under the Indenture, which series of Securities shall be designated the “7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055.”

(b) Initial Issuance . Subject to Section 2.01(c) hereof, the aggregate principal amount of Securities that may initially be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture is limited to $100,000,000 (or up to $115,000,000 if the over-allotment option described in the Prospectus is exercised).

(c) Further Issues . The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of the Holders, issue, in an unlimited aggregate principal amount, additional Securities under the Indenture having the same terms and conditions as the Securities initially issued under the Indenture in all respects (or in all respects except for the Issue Date, the offering price and, if applicable, the first Interest Payment Date and the initial interest accrual date). Any such additional Securities will be consolidated and form a single series with the Securities initially issued under the Indenture; provided, however , that a separate CUSIP, common code or ISIN, as applicable, will be issued for any additional Securities unless the additional Securities and the Securities initially offered under the Indenture are fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

(d) Purchases . The Company and its Subsidiaries may from time to time repurchase Securities in open market purchases, in negotiated transactions or otherwise without giving prior notice to or obtaining any consent of the Holders. Any Securities purchased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the foregoing sentence or otherwise will be retired and will no longer be Outstanding under the Indenture.

(e) Denominations . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 301 and 302 of the Base Indenture, the Securities will be issued only in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof.

SECTION 2.02 Forms .

(a) In General . Pursuant to Section 201 of the Base Indenture, the Securities will be substantially in the forms set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and may include such insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities.

 

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Notwithstanding Section 305 of the Base Indenture, each Security will bear a Trustee’s certificate of authentication substantially in the form included in Exhibit A hereto. Each Security will also bear a Form of Assignment and Transfer.

Any Security that is a Global Security will bear a legend substantially in the form of the legend set forth in Exhibit A hereto and shall also bear the “Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Security” set forth in Annex A to Exhibit A hereto.

The terms and provisions contained in the Securities will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of the Indenture and upon receipt of the Securities, the Holders expressly agree to such terms and provisions hereof and of the Securities and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent that any provision of any Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture will govern and control.

(b) Initial and Subsequent Form of Securities . The Company hereby initially appoints The Depository Trust Company as the Depository for the Securities, which initially shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities without interest coupons (i) registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository, and (ii) delivered to the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.

So long as the Securities are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depository, unless otherwise required by law, and except to the extent provided in Section 2.03(b)(A) through (C) hereof, all Securities will be represented by one or more Global Securities.

(c) Global Securities . Each Global Security will represent the aggregate principal amount of the then-Outstanding Securities endorsed thereon and provide that it represents such aggregate principal amount of the then-Outstanding Securities, which aggregate principal amount may, from time to time, be reduced or increased to reflect transfers, exchanges or purchases in accordance with the Indenture and the Applicable Procedures by the Company or the Holders.

Members of, or participants in, the Depository (“ Agent Members ”) shall have no rights under the Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depository, or the Trustee as its custodian, or under the Global Security, and Cede & Co., or such other person designated by the Depository as its nominee, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of the Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of any Holder.

 

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SECTION 2.03 Transfer and Exchange; Restrictions on Transfer .

(a) In General. A written form of transfer substantially in the form of the Form of Assignment and Transfer set forth in Attachment 1 to Exhibit A hereto will be deemed to be written instrument of transfer satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar.

At such time as all interests in a Global Security have been purchased, cancelled or exchanged for Securities in certificated form, such Global Security shall, upon receipt thereof, be cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with standing procedures and instructions existing between the Depository and the custodian for the Global Security. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any interest in a Global Security is purchased, cancelled or exchanged for Securities in certificated form, the principal amount of such Global Security shall, in accordance with the standing procedures and instructions existing between the Depository and the custodian for the Global Security, be appropriately reduced.

(b) Global Securities . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 305 of the Base Indenture, every transfer and exchange of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be effected through the Depository in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and the provisions of the Indenture, and each Global Security may be transferred only as a whole and only (A) by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository, (B) by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or to another nominee of the Depository, or (C) by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(c) Holders Deemed Owners . Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any interest (subject to Section 307 of the Base Indenture) on such Security at the Maturity Date and for all other purposes whatsoever for distribution of notices to such Holders or solicitations of their consent, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 305 of the Base Indenture:

(1) Each Global Security will be exchanged for Physical Securities if the Depository delivers notice to the Company that the Depository is unwilling, unable or no longer permitted under applicable law to continue to act as Depository, and, in each case, the Company promptly delivers a copy of such notice to the Trustee and the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days after receiving such notice from the Depository.

(2) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security may exchange such beneficial interest for Physical Securities by delivering a written request to the Security Registrar.

(3) If the Company notifies the Trustee that it wishes to terminate and exchange all or part of a Global Security for Physical Securities and the beneficial owners of the majority of the principal amount of such Global Security (or portion thereof) to be exchanged consent to such exchange, the Company may exchange all beneficial interests in such Global Security (or portion thereof) for Physical Securities by delivering a written request to the Security Registrar.

 

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In the case of an exchange for Physical Securities under clause (1) above:

(A) each Global Security will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(B) the Trustee will cause each Global Security to be cancelled in accordance with the Applicable Procedures; and

(C) the Company, in accordance with Section 303 of the Base Indenture, will promptly execute, and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee, in accordance with Section 303 of the Base Indenture, will promptly authenticate and deliver, for each beneficial interest in each Global Security so exchanged, an aggregate principal amount of Physical Securities equal to the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest, registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depository specifies, and bearing any legends that such Physical Securities are required to bear under the Indenture.

In the case of an exchange for Physical Securities under clause (2) above:

(A) the Security Registrar will deliver notice of such request to the Company and the Trustee, which notice will identify the owner of the beneficial interest to be exchanged, the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest and the CUSIP of the relevant Global Security, in each case if and as such information is provided to the Security Registrar by the Depository;

(B) the Company, in accordance with Section 303 of the Base Indenture, will promptly execute, and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee, in accordance with Section 303 of the Base Indenture, will promptly authenticate and deliver to such owner, for the beneficial interest so exchanged by such owner, Physical Securities registered in such owner’s name having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of such beneficial interest and bearing any legends that such Physical Securities are required to bear under the Indenture; and

(C) the Security Registrar, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, will cause the principal amount of such Global Security to be decreased by the aggregate principal amount of the beneficial interest so exchanged. If all of the beneficial interests in a Global Security are so exchanged, such Global Security will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Trustee will cause such Global Security to be cancelled in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

In the case of an exchange for Physical Securities under clause (3) above:

(A) the Company will deliver notice of such request to the Security Registrar and the Trustee, which notice will identify each owner of a beneficial interest to be exchanged, the aggregate principal amount of each such beneficial interest and the CUSIP of the relevant Global Security;

 

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(B) the Company, in accordance with Section 303 of the Base Indenture, will promptly execute, and, upon receipt of a Company Order, the Trustee, in accordance with Section 303 of the Base Indenture, will promptly authenticate and deliver to each such beneficial owner, Physical Securities registered in such beneficial owner’s name having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of its exchanged beneficial interest and bearing any legends that such Physical Securities are required to bear under the Indenture and any applicable law; and

(C) the Security Registrar, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures, will cause the principal amount of each relevant Global Security to be decreased by the aggregate principal amount of the beneficial interests so exchanged. If all of the beneficial interests in a Global Security are so exchanged, such Global Security will be deemed surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Trustee will cause such Global Security to be cancelled in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

In each of the cases described in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above, the Company may rely on the Depository to provide all names of beneficial owners and their respective principal amounts beneficially owned and may issue Physical Securities registered in the names and amounts so provided by the Depository.

(d) Physical Securities. Except to the extent otherwise provided in Section 2.03(a) hereof, Physical Securities may be transferred or exchanged in accordance with Section 305 of the Base Indenture.

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

SECTION 2.04 Payments on the Securities .

(a) In General . Each Security will accrue interest at a rate equal to 7.625% per annum from and including the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, the Issue Date. Interest on a Security will cease to accrue upon the earlier of the Maturity Date and, subject to the provisions of Article 3 hereof, any date of redemption of such Security. Interest on any Security will be payable quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning December 15, 2015, to the Holder of such Security as of the Close of Business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. As provided in Section 310 of the Base Indenture, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

 

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The Securities will mature on the Maturity Date, and on the Maturity Date, each Holder of a then-Outstanding Security will be entitled on such date to receive $25 in cash for each $25 in principal amount of then-Outstanding Securities held, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Maturity Date on such then-Outstanding Securities.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the Maturity Date or earlier date of redemption or any Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the required payment will be made on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such date, and no additional interest will accrue and no default shall occur on account of such delay.

(b) Method of Payment . The Company shall pay the principal of and premium, if any, on any Physical Security to the Holder of such Security in cash at the designated office of the Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York, prior to 10:00 a.m. on the relevant payment or settlement date, as the case may be. The Company shall pay any interest on any Physical Security to the Holder of such Security (i) if such Holder holds $2,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Securities, by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address, and (ii) if such Holder holds more than $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Securities, (A) by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address or, (B) if such Holder delivers to the Paying Agent a written request that the Company make such payments by wire transfer to an account of such Holder within the United States, for each interest payment corresponding to each Regular Record Date occurring during the period beginning on the date on which such Holder delivered such request and ending on the date, if any, on which such Holder delivers to the Paying Agent a written instruction to the contrary, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by such Holder.

The Company will pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, any Global Security to the Depository by wire transfer of immediately available funds on the relevant payment date in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

(c) Defaulted Payments . The Company shall pay any interest on the Securities that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on the applicable Interest Payment Date, in accordance with Section 307 of the Base Indenture.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTIONS; NO SINKING FUND

SECTION 3.01 Redemption . The Company may, at its option and in accordance with the terms of Article Eleven of the Base Indenture, on September 15, 2020 or on any date thereafter, redeem all or any portion of the Securities, in increments of $25 aggregate principal amount of the Securities, at a redemption price (the “ Redemption Price ”) calculated by the Company equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities being redeemed plus accrued but unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption (the “ Redemption

 

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Date ”). If the Company redeems only a portion of the Securities on any Redemption Date, the Company may subsequently redeem additional Securities on any Interest Payment Date prior to the Maturity Date.

SECTION 3.02 No Sinking Fund . Article Twelve of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities.

ARTICLE 4

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

The covenants contained in this Article 4 shall be solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities and shall not apply to any other securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other securities specifically incorporates such covenants and provides that they are for the benefit of such securities.

SECTION 4.01 Payment of Principal and Interest . This Section 4.01 shall replace Section 1001 of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

The Company covenants and agrees that it will cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on each of the Securities at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Securities. The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, if any or accrued and unpaid interest and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action, provided that, if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit must be received by the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date.

SECTION 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency . This Section 4.02 replaces Section 1002 of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office of the Paying Agent, where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, and an office of the Security Registrar, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and the Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office or the office or agency of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

The Company may also from time to time designate co-registrars and one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, for such purposes. The Company

 

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will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The term “ Paying Agent ” includes any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.

The Company hereby initially designates the Trustee as the Paying Agent, Security Registrar, Custodian (in respect of the Global Securities), Transfer Agent and the Corporate Trust Office, which shall be in the continental United States, shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Company for each of the aforesaid purposes.

With respect to any Global Security, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall be the Place of Payment where such Global Security may be presented or surrendered for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange; provided, however, that any such payment, presentation, surrender or delivery effected pursuant to the Applicable Procedures of the Depository for such Global Security shall be deemed to have been effected at the Place of Payment for such Global Security in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

SECTION 4.03 Statements as to Defaults . In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible, and in any event within thirty (30) days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default, its status and the action that the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. Such Officers’ Certificate shall also comply with any additional requirements set forth in Section 1008 of the Base Indenture.

ARTICLE 5

REMEDIES

SECTION 5.01 General . The Event of Default provisions set forth in this Article 5 shall, with respect to the Securities, supersede the entirety of Article Five of the Base Indenture, and all references in the Base Indenture to Article Five thereof and the provisions relating to Events of Default therein, as the case may be, shall, with respect to the Securities, be deemed to be references to this Article 5 and the Events of Default provisions set forth in this Article 5, respectively. Accordingly, and without limitation:

(a) all references to Section 502 in the Base Indenture are, with respect to the Securities, hereby deemed replaced by references to Section 5.03 hereof;

(b) the references to Section 501(4) in the Base Indenture are, with respect to the Securities, hereby deemed replaced by references to Section 5.02(b)(3) hereof;

(c) the references to Sections 501(5) and 501(6) in the Base Indenture are, with respect to the Securities, hereby deemed replaced by references to Section 5.02(a)(1) and (a)(2) hereof; and

(d) the reference to Section 5.04 in Section 9.02(1) of the Base Indenture is, with respect to the Securities, hereby deemed replaced by a reference to Section 5.10 hereof.

 

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SECTION 5.02 Events of Default and Defaults .

(a) “ Event of Default ,” wherever used herein with respect to the Securities, 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):

(1) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises for relief in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or as hereafter amended, or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy law or other similar law, or appointing a receiver, trustee or other similar official (except for the appointment of a conservator) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of substantially all of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs under any such law and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

(2) the filing by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of a petition or answer or consent seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or as hereinafter amended, or any other applicable Federal or State bankruptcy law or other similar law, or the consent by it to the institution of proceedings thereunder or to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment or taking possession of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official (except for the appointment of a conservator) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of substantially all of its property under any such law, or the Company or any Significant Subsidiary shall take any corporate action in furtherance of any such action.

(b) “ Default ” with respect to the Securities, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such 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):

(1) default in any payment of interest on any Security when due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of thirty (30) calendar days;

(2) default in payment of principal or premium, if any, on the Securities when due, regardless of whether such payment became due because of maturity, redemption, acceleration or otherwise; or

(3) default in the performance of any covenant or warranty of the Company in respect of the Securities (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such default and requiring it to be remedied.

 

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Under no circumstances whatsoever and at no time (whether prior or subsequent to a Default or Event of Default) shall the Trustee be responsible for monitoring or charged with determining any of the foregoing, all such being the sole responsibility of the Company.

SECTION 5.03 Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment .

(a) If an Event of Default relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs, the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Securities will automatically, and without action by the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Upon such a declaration of acceleration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will be due and payable immediately.

(b) The provisions of Section 5.03(a), however, are subject to the conditions that if, at any time after the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Securities shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the monies due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided:

(1) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay installments of accrued and unpaid interest, if any, upon all Securities and the principal of all Securities that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of accrued and unpaid interest, if any (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law), and on such principal, at the rate borne by the Securities at such time) and amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 606 of the Base Indenture;

(2) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

(3) any and all Events of Defaults under the Indenture, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, the Securities (including on overdue installments) that shall have become due solely by such acceleration, shall have been cured or waived pursuant to Section 5.04 hereof,

then, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Securities (other than the breach of any provision of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each affected Holder) and rescind and annul such declaration of acceleration resulting from such Defaults or Event of Defaults (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the breach of any provision of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each affected Holder) and their consequences and such Default (other than a Default relating to the breach of any provision of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each affected Holder) shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of the Indenture; provided , that no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Default or Event of Default, or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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SECTION 5.04 Waiver of Past Defaults . If an Event of Default or a Default, other than (a) an uncured Event of Default described in Section 5.02(a) hereof or (b) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 7.02 hereof cannot be amended without the consent of each affected Holder, occurs, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then-Outstanding Securities may waive such Event of Default or Default and all of its consequences hereunder. Any such consent or waiver may, but is not required to, be obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Securities, or similar transaction. Whenever any Event of Default is so waived, it will cease to exist, and whenever any Default is so waived, it will be deemed cured, and any Event of Default arising therefrom will be deemed not to have occurred. However, no such waiver will extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 5.05 Control by Majority . At any time, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then-Outstanding Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or for exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or, subject to the Trustee’s duties under Articles Six and Ten of the Base Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act, that the Trustee determines to be unduly prejudicial to the rights of a Holder or to the Trustee, or that would potentially involve the Trustee in personal liability unless the Trustee is offered indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense to the Trustee that may result from the Trustee’s instituting such proceeding as the Trustee. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification reasonably satisfactory to it against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 5.06 Limitation on Suits . Subject to Section 5.07 hereof, no Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Securities unless:

(a) such Holder has previously delivered to the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) the Holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the then-Outstanding Securities deliver to the Trustee a written request that the Trustee pursue a remedy with respect to such Event of Default;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, damage, cost, liability or other expense, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses and court costs, of compliance with such written request;

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

(e) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then-Outstanding Securities did not deliver to the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such written request.

 

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

SECTION 5.07 Rights of Holders to Receive Payment . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in the Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on, its Securities, on or after the respective due date, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder and will not be subject to the requirements of Section 5.06 hereof.

SECTION 5.08 Collection of Indebtedness ; Suit for Enforcement by Trustee . If a Default specified in Sections 5.02(b)(1) or 5.02(b)(2) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and payable on such Security for principal, premium, if any, and interest, and such further amount as is sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, as well as any other amounts that may be due under Section 606 of the Base Indenture.

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

SECTION 5.09 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities . All rights of action and claims under the Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name 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 in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 5.10 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, will be entitled to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and

 

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advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606 of the Base Indenture. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606 of the Base Indenture out of the estate in any such proceeding, will be denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a lien on, and is paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to, or to accept or to adopt on behalf of any Holder, any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 5.11 Restoration of Rights and Remedies . If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under the Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such 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 5.12 Rights and Remedies Cumulative . Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 306 of the Base Indenture, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 5.13 Delay or Omission Not a Waiver . No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder 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 5 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 (subject to the limitations contained in the Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 5.14 Priorities . If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 5, it will pay out the money in the following order:

FIRST: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under Section 606 of the Base Indenture, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;

 

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SECOND: to the Holders, for any amounts due and unpaid on the principal of, or accrued and unpaid interest on, any Security, without preference or priority of any kind, according to such amounts due and payable on all of the Securities; and

THIRD: the balance, if any, to the Company or to such other party as a court of competent jurisdiction directs.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section 5.14. If the Trustee so fixes a record date and a payment date, at least fifteen (15) days prior to such record date, the Company will deliver to each Holder and the Trustee a written notice, which notice will state such record date, such payment date and the amount of such payment.

SECTION 5.15 Undertaking for Costs . All parties to the Indenture agree, and each Holder, by such Holder’s acceptance of a Security, 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 the Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided , however , that the provisions of this Section 5.15 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on any Security on or after the due date expressed or provided for in the Indenture.

SECTION 5.16 Waiver of Stay, Extension and Usury Laws . The Company covenants that, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, 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, that may affect the covenants or the performance of the Indenture; and the Company, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will instead suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

SECTION 5.17 Notices from the Trustee . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Base Indenture, including Section 602 thereof, whenever a Default occurs and is continuing and written notice thereof is provided to a Responsible Officer, the Trustee must deliver notice by mail (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with DTC procedures) of such Default to the Holders within ninety (90) days after the date on which such Responsible Officer receives such written notice. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of, or interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.

 

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ARTICLE 6

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 6.01 Inapplicability of Provisions of Base Indenture; Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture; Defeasance . The satisfaction and discharge and defeasance provisions set forth in this Article 6 shall, with respect to the Securities, supersede the entirety of Article Four of the Base Indenture, and all references in the Base Indenture to Article Four thereof and the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge or defeasance therein, as the case may be, shall, with respect to the Securities, be deemed to be references to this Article 6 and the satisfaction and discharge or defeasance provisions set forth in this Article 6, respectively.

SECTION 6.02 Satisfaction and Discharge . When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered) and not theretofore canceled, or (b) all the Securities not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable (whether on the Maturity Date, or otherwise) and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, or deliver to the Holders, as applicable, an amount of cash sufficient to pay all amounts due on all of such Securities (other than any Securities that shall have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal, premium, if any, and interest due, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then the Indenture with respect to the Securities shall cease to be of further effect (except as to (i) rights hereunder of Holders to receive all amounts owing upon the Securities and the other rights, duties and obligations of Holders, as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the amounts, if any, so deposited with the Trustee and (ii) the rights and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and thereunder), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Securities have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Securities; the Company, however, hereby agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably incurred by the Trustee, including the fees and expenses of its counsel, and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably and properly rendered by the Trustee in connection with the Indenture or the Securities.

SECTION 6.03 Defeasance . At the Company’s option, either (a) it shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below) from its obligations with respect to the Securities or (b) it shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or

 

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condition set forth in Section 4.03 or Section 8.01 hereof at any time after the satisfaction of the following conditions:

(a) The Company shall have deposited irrevocably with the Trustee in trust (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations that through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one (1) day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient (in the opinion of a nationally recognized registered public accounting firm) to pay and discharge each installment of principal and premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due;

(b) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the borrowing of funds and the grant of any related liens to be applied to such deposit); and

(c) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option pursuant to this Section 6.03 and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such option had not been exercised and, in the case of the Securities being Discharged, accompanied by a ruling to that effect received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service and (ii) all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance of the Indenture with respect to the Securities have been complied with.

Discharged ” means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the Securities and to have satisfied all the obligations under the Indenture, except (A) the rights of Holders to receive, from the trust fund, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to transfer and exchange of the Securities set forth in Section 2.03 hereof and Sections 305, 306, 403 and 1002 of the Base Indenture and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee under the Indenture. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Discharged” shall only be applicable to a defeasance under this Section 6.03.

SECTION 6.04 Deposited Monies to Be Held in Trust by Trustee . Subject to Section 6.05 hereof, all monies deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.02 or Section 6.03 hereof shall be held in trust for the sole benefit of the Holders, and such monies shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company if acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Holders of the particular Securities for the payment, settlement or redemption of which such monies have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums or amounts due and to become due thereon for principal and interest, if any. 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.

SECTION 6.05 Paying Agent to Repay Monies Held; Repayment to Company . Upon the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, all monies then held by any Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall, upon written request of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such monies. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to

 

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the Company (or to its designee) upon Company Order any excess monies or U.S. Government Obligations held by them at any time. The provisions of Section 6.06 hereof shall apply to any money held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article 6 that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which money or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 6.03 hereof.

SECTION 6.06 Return of Unclaimed Monies . Subject to the requirements of applicable law, any monies deposited with or paid to the Trustee or a Paying Agent for payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Holders of the Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, on written request of the Company, and all liability of the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall thereupon cease with respect to such monies; and the Holder shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment or delivery that such Holder may be entitled to collect unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.

SECTION 6.07 Reinstatement . If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 6.04 hereof by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under the Indenture with respect to the Securities and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 6.02 or Section 6.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 6.04 hereof; provided, however , that if the Company makes any payment of interest or premium on, principal of or payment or delivery in respect of any Security following 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.

SECTION 6.08 Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations . The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal or interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

ARTICLE 7

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 7.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders . Section 901 of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities, and this Section 7.01 shall replace Section 901 of the Base Indenture in its entirety and shall apply solely to the Securities.

Without the consent of any Holder, the Company (when authorized by a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more

 

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indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(a) cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency in the Indenture with respect to the Securities or the Securities, including to eliminate any conflict with the Trust Indenture Act;

(b) conform the terms of the Indenture or the Securities to the description thereof in the Preliminary Prospectus, as supplemented by the Term Sheet related to the offering of the Securities;

(c) to evidence the succession by a Successor Company and to provide for the assumption by a Successor Company of the Company’s obligations under the Indenture with respect to the Securities;

(d) to add guarantees with respect to the Securities;

(e) to secure the Securities;

(f) to add to the Company’s covenants such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the benefit of the Holders (or any other holders) or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company by the Indenture with respect to the Securities;

(g) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder (other than a Holder that consents to such change) in any material respect;

(h) to provide for a successor Trustee;

(i) to comply with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository; or

(j) to comply with any rules or requirements in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 7.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders . Section 902 of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities, and this Section 7.02 shall replace Section 902 of the Base Indenture in its entirety and shall apply solely with respect to the Securities.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (with such consents to be determined on a series by series basis), including without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Securities and by Act of these Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture with respect to the Securities or of modifying in any manner the

 

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rights of the Holders under the Indenture; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

(a) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities Outstanding necessary to waive any past Default or Event of Default;

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

(c) reduce the principal of any Security or change the Maturity Date;

(d) change the place or currency of payment on any Security;

(e) impair the right of any Holder of Securities to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, if any, its Securities or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, with respect to such Holder’s Securities; or

(f) make any change to the provisions of this Article 7 or in the waiver provisions of the Indenture that requires each Holder’s consent to modify, amend or waive.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 7.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date that is ninety (90) days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

SECTION 7.03 Notice of Amendment or Supplement . After an amendment or supplement under this Article 7 becomes effective, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, shall not impair or affect the validity of the amendment or supplement.

SECTION 7.04 Integration of Article 7 into the Base Indenture . All references in Sections 903, 904, 905 and 906 of the Base Indenture to “this Article” shall be deemed to be references to this Article 7 and all references in Section 1504 of the Base Indenture to Section 902 shall be deemed to be references to Section 7.02 hereof.

ARTICLE 8

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

SECTION 8.01 Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets . The successor company provisions set forth in this Article 8 shall, with respect to the Securities, supersede the

 

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entirety of Article Eight of the Base Indenture, and all references in the Base Indenture to Article Eight thereof and the successor company provisions therein shall, with respect to the Securities, be deemed to be references to this Article 8 and the successor company provisions set forth in this Article 8, respectively.

SECTION 8.02 Company May Consolidate, Etc. on Certain Terms . Subject to the provisions of Section 8.04 hereof, the Company shall not amalgamate or consolidate with, merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another Person, unless:

(a) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “ Successor Company ”), if not the Company, shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the Securities, and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Company under the Securities and the Indenture as applicable to the Securities; and

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

Upon any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall succeed to, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture.

At the election of the Company, a conveyance, transfer or lease of properties and assets substantially as an entirety to one or more Subsidiaries of the Company may be deemed not to be a conveyance, transfer or lease to a Person other than the Company, and in the event of such election, such conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be subject to this Section 8.02. Notice of any such election shall be sent to the Trustee promptly following the consummation of any such conveyance, transfer or lease of properties and assets to one or more Subsidiaries, specifying that such transaction does not constitute a conveyance, transfer or lease to a Person other than the Company in accordance with this Section 8.02.

SECTION 8.03 Successor Corporation to Be Substituted . In case of any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and upon the assumption by the Successor Company, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities, and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Company under the Indenture with respect to the Securities, such Successor Company shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture with respect to the Securities, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part. Such Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and

 

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delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor Company instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in the Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Securities that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities that such Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of the Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer (but not in the case of a lease), the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of the Indenture or any successor that shall thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article 8 may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter and, except in the case of a lease, such Person shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Securities and from its obligations under the Indenture with respect to the Securities.

In case of any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

SECTION 8.04 Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate to Be Given to Trustee . In the case of any such amalgamation, merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease the Trustee shall receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such assumption and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction such supplemental indenture, complies with the provisions of this Article 8 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

ARTICLE 9

TAX ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS

SECTION 9.01 Payment of Tax Additional Amounts . The Company shall pay any amounts due with respect to the Securities without deduction or withholding for any and all present and future withholding taxes, levies, imposts and charges (each, a “ Withholding Tax ”) imposed by or for the account of any Non-U.S. Jurisdiction in which the Company is resident for tax purposes or any political subdivision or taxing authority of such jurisdiction (the “ Taxing Jurisdiction ”) as a result of any consolidation, merger, amalgamation, or other transaction permitted by Section 8.01 hereof and conducted in accordance with Article 8 hereof, unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. If such deduction or withholding is at any time required, the Company will (subject to compliance by such Holder with any relevant administrative requirements) pay each Holder additional amounts (“ Tax Additional Amounts ”) as will result in such Holder’s receipt of such amounts as it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been required. If the Taxing Jurisdiction requires the Company to deduct or withhold any Withholding Tax, the Company will (subject to compliance by a Holder with any relevant administrative requirements) pay such Tax Additional Amounts in respect of any principal amount (and premium, if any), or interest payable at the Maturity Date or any

 

27


earlier date of redemption, on any Interest Payment Date, or otherwise, as applicable, as may be necessary so that the net amounts paid to the Holder or the Trustee after such deduction or withholding will equal the principal amount (and premium, if any), or interest on the Securities.

SECTION 9.02 Exceptions to Payment of Tax Additional Amounts . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to pay Tax Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 9.01 hereof in the following instances:

(a) any Withholding Tax which would not be payable or due but for the fact that (1) the Holder (or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary of, member or shareholder of, such Holder, if such Holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation) is a domiciliary, national or resident of, or engaging in business or maintaining a permanent establishment or being physically present in, the Taxing Jurisdiction or otherwise having some present or former connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction other than the holding or ownership of the Securities or the collection of principal amount and interest (if any), in accordance with the terms of the Securities and the Indenture or the enforcement of the Securities or (2) where presentation is required, the Security was presented more than ten (10) days after the date such payment became due or was provided for, whichever is later;

(b) any Withholding Tax attributable to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, excise, personal property or similar tax, levy, impost or charge;

(c) any Withholding Tax attributable to any tax, levy, impost or charge which is payable otherwise than by withholding from payment of principal amount and interest (if any);

(d) any Withholding Tax which would not have been imposed but for the failure to comply with certification, information, documentation or other reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connections with the relevant tax authority of the Holder or beneficial owner of the Securities, if this compliance is required by statute, treaty or by regulation as a precondition to relief or exemption from such Withholding Tax;

(e) to the extent a Holder is entitled to a refund or credit in such Taxing Jurisdiction of amounts required to be withheld by such Taxing Jurisdiction; or

(f) any combination of the instances described in (a) through (e).

SECTION 9.03 Entitlement to Refund or Credit . With respect to Section 9.02(e), in the absence of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Company may conclusively presume that a Holder is entitled to a refund or credit of all amounts required to be withheld if the relevant local laws provide a Holder with the ability to file or otherwise claim such refund or credit. The Company shall not be required to pay any Tax Additional Amounts to any Holder of a Security who is a fiduciary or partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of the Security to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, or a member of such partnership or a beneficial owner thereof, would not have been entitled to the payment of such Tax Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been the Holder of the Security.

 

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SECTION 9.04 References to be Consistent . Whenever with respect to the Securities there is mentioned in the Indenture or in any Global Security or Physical Security, in any context, payment of principal (and premium, if any) interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to any Security at the Maturity Date, any Interest Payment Date or otherwise, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Tax Additional Amounts described in this Article 9 to the extent that, in such context, Tax Additional Amounts were or would be payable by the Company in respect thereof.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes, the Paying Agent and Trustee shall be entitled to make a deduction or withholding from any payment which it makes hereunder or under the Notes for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or charges if and to the extent so required by any applicable law and any current or future regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof or any law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto or by virtue of the relevant Holder failing to satisfy any certification or other requirements in respect of the Notes, in which event the Paying Agent shall make such payment after such withholding or deduction has been made and shall account to the relevant authorities for the amount so withheld or deducted and shall have no obligation to gross up any payment hereunder or pay any additional amount as a result of such withholding tax.

ARTICLE 10

SUBORDINATION

SECTION 10.01 Agreement to Subordinate . The Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of such series by his, her or its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Securities of such series is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 10.02 Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation or Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities . Subject to Section 10.01 hereof, upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in the Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):

(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon (including any interest accrued after any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company occurs) before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities;

 

29


(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article 10 shall be paid by the liquidation trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and

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

(d) Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness (to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to such holder have been applied to the payment of Senior Indebtedness) to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article 10 are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article 10 or elsewhere in the Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under the Indenture, subject to the rights, if

 

30


any, under this Article 10 of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 10, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 10.05 hereof, shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereof and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10.

SECTION 10.03 No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Section 10.01 hereof, if any principal, premium or interest in respect of Senior Indebtedness is not paid within any applicable grace period (including at maturity) or any other default on Senior Indebtedness occurs and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms, the Company shall not pay the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities or repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire any Securities, unless, in each case, the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash. If the Securities are declared due and payable before the Maturity Date, the holders of Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time the Securities so become due and payable shall be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of such Senior Indebtedness before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment on the Securities. Subject to Section 10.11 hereof, if, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the preceding sentences, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have been made known to the Trustee or such Holder, such payment must be paid over and delivered to the Company.

SECTION 10.04 Payments on Securities Permitted . Subject to Section 10.01 hereof, nothing contained in the Indenture or in any of the Securities shall (a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 10.02 and 10.03 hereof, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities or (b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys or assets deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities, unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any fact prohibiting the making of such payment from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee more than two Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment.

SECTION 10.05 Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination . Subject to Section 10.01 hereof, each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his, her or its behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article 10 and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

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SECTION 10.06 Notices to Trustee . The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies or assets to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article 10. Subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.11 hereof, notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 10 or any other provisions of the Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any fact which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys or assets to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall be entitled in all respects conclusively to presume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys or assets may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys or assets the notice provided for in this Section 10.06, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys or assets and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 10, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 10 and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

SECTION 10.07 Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Section 10.01 hereof, the Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 10 in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in the Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article 10 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 5.15 hereof or Section 606 of the Base Indenture.

SECTION 10.08 Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.11 hereof, any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under

 

32


any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee. No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article 10 or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

SECTION 10.09 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent . Subject to Section 10.01 hereof, upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 10, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10.

SECTION 10.10 Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance . Subject to Sections 10.01 and 10.11 hereof, amounts and U.S. Government Obligations deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article 6 and not, at the time of such deposit, prohibited to be deposited under Sections 10.02 or 10.03 shall not be subject to this Article 10.

SECTION 10.11 Trustee not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness . With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article 10, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into the Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company, or any other Person, moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 10 or otherwise and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into the Indenture against the Trustee.

ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 11.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns . Notwithstanding Section 112 of the Base Indenture, all agreements of the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, and the Paying Agent in the Indenture and the Securities will bind their respective successors.

 

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SECTION 11.02 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Supplemental Indenture and the Securities shall be deemed to be contracts made under the law of the State of New York and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law principles other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401. Each party hereto and each Holder by acceptance thereof, hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with the Indenture.

SECTION 11.03 No Security Interest Created . Nothing in the Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, shall be construed to constitute a security interest under the Uniform Commercial Code or similar legislation, as now or hereafter enacted and in effect, in any jurisdiction.

SECTION 11.04 Trust Indenture Act . If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern the Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of the Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to the Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 11.05 Benefits of Supplemental Indenture . Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, will give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any authenticating agent, any Security Registrar or their successors hereunder or the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Supplemental Indenture.

SECTION 11.06 Calculations; Determinations . The Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Securities. None of the Trustee, Security Registrar or Paying Agent (in each case if different from the Company) shall have any responsibility for making such calculations or for determining amounts to be paid, nor shall they be charged with any knowledge of or have any duties to monitor any measurement period. These calculations include, but are not limited to accrued interest payable on the Securities. The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations shall be final and binding on Holders. The Company shall provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder upon the request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Company.

SECTION 11.07 Execution in Counterparts . This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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SECTION 11.08 Notices . The Company or the Trustee, by notice given to the other in the manner provided in Section 105 of the Base Indenture, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 105 and 106 of the Base Indenture, whenever the Company is required to deliver notice to the Holders, the Company will, by the date it is required to deliver such notice to the Holders, deliver a copy of such notice to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar. Each notice to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Security Registrar shall be sufficiently given if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid to the address most recently sent by the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar, as the case may be, to the Company.

SECTION 11.09 Ratification of Base Indenture . The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein provided. For the avoidance of doubt, each of the Company and each Holder, by its acceptance of such Securities, acknowledges and agrees that all of the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits afforded to the Trustee under the Base Indenture are deemed to be incorporated herein, and shall be enforceable by the Trustee hereunder, in each of its capacities hereunder as if set forth herein in full.

SECTION 11.10 The Trustee . The recitals in this Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company only and not by the Trustee, the Trustee shall not be responsible with respect to the validity or sufficiency hereof, and all of the provisions contained in the Base Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of the Securities and of this Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as set forth in full herein.

SECTION 11.11 No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, the Indenture or 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 issuance of the Securities.

SECTION 11.12 FATCA .

(a) In order to comply with applicable tax laws, rules and regulations (inclusive of directives, guidelines and interpretations promulgated by competent authorities) in effect from time to time (“ Applicable Law ”), the Company agrees (i) to provide to the Trustee and the Paying Agent sufficient information about the applicable parties and/or transactions (including any modification to the terms of such transactions) so the Trustee and the Paying Agent can determine whether it has tax-related obligations under Applicable Law, (ii) that the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to make any withholding or deduction from payments under the Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law for which neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall have any liability, and (iii) to hold harmless the Trustee and the Paying Agent for any losses it may suffer due to the actions it takes to comply with such Applicable Law. The terms of this section shall survive the termination of the Indenture.

 

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(b) Each of the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct FATCA Withholding Tax, and shall have no obligation to gross-up any payment hereunder or to pay any additional amount as a result of such FATCA Withholding Tax.

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

 

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

 

NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Michael Weiner

Name:   Michael Weiner
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Attest:
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Weissmann

Name:   Jeffrey Weissmann
Title:   General Counsel

 

National General Holdings Corp. – Second Supplemental Indenture Signature Page


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON,
as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Laurence J. O’Brien

Name:   Laurence J. O’Brien
Title:   Vice President

 

National General Holdings Corp. – Second Supplemental Indenture Signature Page


EXHIBIT A

[ FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY ]

[ For Global Securities, include the following legend :

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

 

No.:    [    ]
CUSIP:    636220873
ISIN:    US6362208737

Principal Amount $[        ]

[as revised by the Schedule of Increases

and Decreases in the Global Security attached hereto] 1

National General Holdings Corp.

7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055

National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to [        ] [ include “ Cede & Co. for Global Security ] or registered assigns, the principal amount of $ [        ] on September 15, 2055 (the “ Maturity Date ”) and to pay interest hereon as set forth in the Indenture in the manner, at the rates and to the Persons set forth therein.

 

Interest Payment Dates:    March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15.
Regular Record Dates:    March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1.
Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

 

 

1   Include for Global Securities only.

 

Exhibit A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP. has caused this instrument to be signed manually or by facsimile by two of its duly authorized officers.

Dated:

 

NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Attest:

 

[ Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication Follows ]

 

Exhibit A-2


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

The Bank of New York Mellon , as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

Exhibit A-3


[ FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE ]

NATIONAL GENERAL HOLDINGS CORP.

7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “ Securities ”), issued under an Indenture dated as of May 23, 2014 (herein called the “ Base Indenture ”), and as further supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 18, 2015 (herein called the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”) by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, herein called the “ Trustee ”, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

This Security is subject to redemption at the option of the Company prior to the Maturity Date in accordance with Section 3.01 of the Supplemental Indenture.

This Security is not subject to the benefit of a sinking fund.

The Indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on all Senior Indebtedness of the Company and each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, agrees to and shall be bound by the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company will make all payments in respect of the principal amount of and premium, if any, on this Security to the Holder that surrenders this Security to the Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of this Security. The Company will pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Any references in this Security to principal (and premium, if any), interest or any other amount payable under or with respect to the Security at the Maturity Date, any Interest Payment Date or otherwise, shall be deemed to include payment of Tax Additional Amounts, as applicable.

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

 

Exhibit A-4


As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or the Securities, 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 Security, the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of the applicable series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for sixty (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 Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for herein.

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

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities and of like series and tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

 

Exhibit A-5


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.

All defined terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. If any provision of this Security limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Indenture, such provision of the Indenture shall control.

 

Exhibit A-6


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of this Security, shall be construed as though they were written out in full

 

TEN COM - as tenants in common  

 

  Custodian
  (Cust)  
TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties  

 

 
  (Minor)  

JT TEN - as joint tenants with right of

Survivorship and not as tenants in common

  UNIF GIFT MIN ACT - Uniform Gifts to Minors Act                       ( State)
   

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

 

Exhibit A-7


ANNEX A

[ Include for Global Security ]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES OF GLOBAL SECURITY

Initial principal amount of Global Security:

 

Date

 

Amount of Increase

in principal

amount of Global

Security

 

Amount of

Decrease in

principal amount

of Global Security

   Principal amount
of Global Security
after Increase or
Decrease
   Notation by
Security Registrar
or Custodian
         
         
         

 

A-1


ATTACHMENT 1

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

For value received                      hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

                     (Please insert social security or Taxpayer Identification Number of assignee) the within Security, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints                      to transfer the said Security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

 

 

Signature(s)
Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an institution which is a member of one of the following recognized signature Guarantee Programs:
(i) The Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (STAMP); (ii) The New York Stock Exchange Medallion Program (MNSP); (iii) The Stock Exchange Medallion Program (SEMP) or (iv) another guarantee

 

Attachment 1-1

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

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SIDLEY AUSTIN  LLP

787 SEVENTH AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10019

(212) 839 5300

(212) 839 5599 FAX

  

BEIJING

BOSTON

BRUSSELS

CENTURY CITY

CHICAGO

DALLAS

GENEVA

 

FOUNDED 1866

    

HONG KONG

HOUSTON

LONDON

LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK

PALO ALTO

SAN FRANCISCO

    

SHANGHAI

SINGAPORE

SYDNEY

TOKYO

WASHINGTON, D.C.

August 18, 2015

National General Holdings Corp.

59 Maiden Lane, 38th Floor

New York, New York 10038

 

Re: National General Holdings Corp.

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-204903)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the above-referenced automatic shelf registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) that was filed by National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), on June 12, 2015 (Registration No. 333-204903) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the registration of debt securities, warrants, units, preferred stock, depositary shares and common stock to be issued from time to time by the Company.

Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company is issuing 11,500,000 common shares (the “ Shares ”), including 1,500,000 shares issued pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option.

We are familiar with (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the prospectus dated June 12, 2015 included in the Registration Statement (the “ Base Prospectus ”), (iii) the prospectus supplement dated August 12, 2015 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ” and, together with the Base Prospectus, the “ Prospectus ”) supplementing the Base Prospectus and relating to the Shares, (iv) the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 12, 2015, by and between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, as manager of the several underwriters named in Schedule II thereto (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), (v) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on June 11, 2015 and August 3, 2015, as certified by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect, relating to, among other things the offer, issuance, sale and distribution of the Shares, (vi) certain resolutions of the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors adopted on August 12, 2015, as certified by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect, and (vii) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, in each case as currently in effect and as certified by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the

 

Sidley Austin (NY) LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership doing business as Sidley Austin LLP and practicing in affiliation with other Sidley Austin partnerships.


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Company and other corporate documents, have examined such questions of law and have satisfied ourselves as to such matters of fact as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for our examination.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the issuance of the Shares covered by the Registration Statement have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered as contemplated by the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

This opinion letter is limited to the laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 18, 2015 and to its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the related rules promulgated by the SEC.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Sidley Austin LLP

 

2

Exhibit 5.2

 

 

LOGO

  

SIDLEY AUSTIN  LLP

787 SEVENTH AVENUE

NEW YORK, NY 10019

(212) 839 5300

(212) 839 5599 FAX

  

BEIJING

BOSTON

BRUSSELS

CENTURY CITY

CHICAGO

DALLAS

GENEVA

 

FOUNDED 1866

    

HONG KONG

HOUSTON

LONDON

LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK

PALO ALTO

SAN FRANCISCO

    

SHANGHAI

SINGAPORE

SYDNEY

TOKYO

WASHINGTON, D.C.

August 18, 2015

National General Holdings Corp.

59 Maiden Lane, 38th Floor

New York, New York 10038

 

Re: National General Holdings Corp.

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-204903)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the above-referenced automatic shelf registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) that was filed by National General Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), on June 12, 2015 (Registration No. 333-204903) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), relating to the registration of debt securities, warrants, units, preferred stock, depositary shares and common stock to be issued from time to time by the Company.

Pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Company is issuing up to $115,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Subordinated Notes due 2055 (including $15,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes to be subject to the underwriters’ over-allotment option) (the “ Notes ”).

We are familiar with (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the prospectus dated June 12, 2015 included in the Registration Statement (the “ Base Prospectus ”), (iii) the prospectus supplement dated August 11, 2015 (the “ Prospectus Supplement ” and, together with the Base Prospectus, the “ Prospectus ”) supplementing the Base Prospectus and relating to the Notes, (iv) the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 11, 2015, by and among the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, UBS Securities LLC and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as managers of the several underwriters named in Schedule II thereto (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), (v) the Indenture, dated May 23, 2014 (the “ Original Indenture ”), by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 18, 2015 (the “ Second Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Original Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), by and between the Company and the Trustee, (vi) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company adopted on June 11, 2015 and August 3, 2015, as certified by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect, relating to, among other things the offer, issuance, sale and distribution of the Notes, (vii) certain resolutions of the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors adopted on August 11, 2015, as certified by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force

 

Sidley Austin (NY) LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership doing business as Sidley Austin LLP and practicing in affiliation with other Sidley Austin partnerships.


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and effect, and (viii) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, in each case as currently in effect and as certified by the Secretary of the Company on the date hereof as being true, complete and correct and in full force and effect. We have also examined originals, or copies of originals certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and other corporate documents, have examined such questions of law and have satisfied ourselves as to such matters of fact as we have considered relevant and necessary as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. We have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons and the conformity with the original documents of any copies thereof submitted to us for our examination.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1. The issuance of the Notes covered by the Registration Statement have been duly authorized and, when executed and delivered as contemplated by the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

2. The issuance of the Notes covered by the Registration Statement in connection with any exercise of the option to purchase additional Notes granted by the Company to the underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized by the Company, and when executed and delivered as contemplated by the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally (including without limitation all laws relating to fraudulent transfers) and subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including without limitation concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that, at the time of the issuance, sale and delivery of the Notes pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional Notes: (i) the authorization thereof by the Company will not have been modified or rescinded, and there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity thereof; (ii) the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the underwriters; and (iii) the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Company, as currently in effect, will not have been modified or amended and will be in full force and effect.

 

2


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This opinion letter is limited to the laws of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on August 18, 2015 and to its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus which is part of the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the related rules promulgated by the SEC.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Sidley Austin LLP

 

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