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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2016

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

ALPHABET INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   61-1767919
(State of Incorporation)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

(650) 253-0000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Larry Page

Chief Executive Officer

Alphabet Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

(650) 253-0000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

David C. Drummond, Esq.

Christine E. Flores, Esq.

Kenneth H. Yi, Esq.

Alphabet Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

(650) 253-0000

 

Pamela L. Marcogliese, Esq.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

One Liberty Plaza

New York, NY 10006

(212) 225-2000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:   ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:   x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated Filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

    Amount to be Registered/Proposed    

Maximum Offering
Price Per Unit/

Proposed Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price(1)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(2)

Debt Securities(3)

       

Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share(3)

       

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share(3)

       

Class C Capital Stock, par value $0.001 per share(3)

       

Warrants(3)(4)

       

 

 

(1) An unspecified aggregate initial offering price and number of securities of each class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at unspecified prices.
(2) The registrant is relying on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to defer payment of all of the registration fee.
(3) Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities.
(4) Representing rights or obligations to purchase Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock, Class C Capital Stock or other securities, property or assets.

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

Alphabet Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Class A Common Stock

Class C Capital Stock

Warrants

 

 

By this prospectus, we or selling security holders may offer and sell from time to time the securities described in this prospectus separately or together in any combination. Specific terms of any securities to be offered will be provided in a supplement to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest. A supplement may also add to, update, supplement or clarify information contained in this prospectus.

Unless stated otherwise in a prospectus supplement, none of these securities will be listed on any securities exchange. Our Class C Capital Stock and Class A Common Stock are listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “GOOG” and “GOOGL” respectively.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more agents, underwriters, dealers or other third parties or directly to one or more purchasers on a continuous or delayed basis. Selling security holders may offer and sell their securities from time to time on terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described under “ Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus, as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, before making a decision to invest in our securities.

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is February 12, 2016.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1   

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     1   

ALPHABET INC.

     3   

RISK FACTORS

     3   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     3   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     4   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     5   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     10   

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     18   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     20   

LEGAL MATTERS

     23   

EXPERTS

     23   

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     23   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     24   

We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement, and in any related free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this document does not extend to you. The information contained in this document speaks only as of the date of this document, unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

Unless we have indicated otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Alphabet,” “company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiaries.

 

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A BOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). We may offer the securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities to be offered. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will describe in a prospectus supplement, which will be delivered with this prospectus, specific information about the offering and the terms of the particular securities to be offered. The applicable prospectus supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the applicable prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including the exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities. Wherever references are made in this prospectus to information that will be included in a prospectus supplement, to the extent permitted by applicable law, rules or regulations, we may instead include such information or add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus by means of a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, through filings we make with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus or by any other method as may then be permitted under applicable law, rules or regulations. The registration statement, including the exhibits to the registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, can be obtained from the SEC, as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

FO RWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, includes forward-looking statements made within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding:

 

    the growth of our business and revenues and our expectations about the factors that influence our success and trends in our business;

 

    our plans to continue to invest in new businesses, products and technologies, systems, facilities, and infrastructure, to continue to hire aggressively and provide competitive compensation programs, as well as to continue to invest in acquisitions;

 

    seasonal fluctuations in internet usage and advertiser expenditures, traditional retail seasonality and macroeconomic conditions, which are likely to cause fluctuations in our quarterly results;

 

    the potential for declines in our revenue growth rate;

 

    our expectation that growth in advertising revenues from our websites will continue to exceed that from our Google Network Members’ websites, which will have a positive impact on our operating margins;

 

    our expectation that we will continue to take steps to improve the relevance of the ads we deliver and to reduce the number of accidental clicks;

 

    fluctuations in the rate of change in revenue and revenue growth, as well as the rate of change in paid clicks and average cost-per-click and various factors contributing to such fluctuations;

 



 

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    our belief that our foreign exchange risk management program will not fully offset our net exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

 

    the expected increase of costs related to hedging activities under our foreign exchange risk management program;

 

    our expectation that our cost of revenues, research and development expenses, sales and marketing expenses, and general and administrative expenses will increase in dollars and may increase as a percentage of revenues;

 

    our potential exposure in connection with pending investigations, proceedings, and other contingencies;

 

    our expectation that our traffic acquisition costs will fluctuate in the future;

 

    our continued investments in international markets;

 

    estimates of our future compensation expenses;

 

    fluctuations in our effective tax rate;

 

    the sufficiency of our sources of funding;

 

    our payment terms to certain advertisers, which may increase our working capital requirements;

 

    fluctuations in our capital expenditures;

 

    our expectations related to the new operating structure implemented pursuant to the holding company reorganization and the associated disclosure implications;

 

    the expected timing and amount of Alphabet Inc.’s stock repurchase;

 

    our intention to align our capital structure so that debt is held at the holding company level;

as well as other statements regarding our future operations, financial condition and prospects, and business strategies. These forward-looking statements also include all statements other than statements of historical facts contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. The words “will,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “may,” “could,” “likely,” “ongoing,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “predict,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “target,” “forecast,” “goal,” “objective,” “aim,” and other words and terms of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this prospectus, including in the section captioned “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and in particular, the risks discussed in the sections captioned “Note About Forward-Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” and those discussed in other documents we file with the SEC. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or by the rules and regulations of the SEC. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and our other filings with the SEC.

“Alphabet,” “Google” and other trademarks of ours appearing in this prospectus are our property. This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain additional trade names and

 



 

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trademarks of other companies. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of us by such companies, or any relationship with any of these companies.

ALPH ABET INC.

Alphabet is a collection of businesses, the largest of which is Google. Alphabet also includes businesses that we combine as Other Bets and generally are far afield of our main Internet products such as Verily, Calico, X, Nest, GV, Google Capital and Access/Google Fiber. Our Alphabet structure is about helping businesses within Alphabet prosper through strong leaders and independence.

At Google, our innovations in search and advertising have made our website widely used and our brand one of the most recognized in the world. We generate revenues primarily by delivering online advertising that consumers find relevant and that advertisers find cost-effective. Google’s core products such as Search, Android, Maps, Chrome, YouTube, Google Play and Gmail each have over one billion monthly active users. Google’s vision is to remain a place of incredible creativity and innovation that uses our technical expertise to tackle big problems. Our Other Bets are also making important strides in their industries, and our goal is for them to become thriving, successful businesses in the long term.

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in July 2015. In October 2015, we implemented a holding company reorganization in which we became the successor registrant to our wholly-owned subsidiary, Google. Our headquarters are located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043, and our telephone number is (650) 253-0000. Our Class C Capital Stock and Class A Common Stock are listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “GOOG” and “GOOGL” respectively. We maintain a number of websites, including www.abc.xyz. The information on, or accessible through, our websites is not part of this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

You should carefully consider, among other things, the matters discussed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents that we include or incorporate by reference into this prospectus.

US E OF PROCEEDS

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, we intend to use net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby for general corporate purposes, including to refinance or to repay outstanding indebtedness if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may temporarily invest funds that are not immediately needed for these purposes in short-term marketable securities.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement indicates otherwise, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of securities by selling security holders.

 



 

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RATIO OF EAR NINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2015 is set forth below. For the purpose of computing these ratios, “earnings” consists of income before provision for income taxes and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles, plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). “Fixed charges” consists of interest expense (which includes amortization of debt issue costs), capitalized interest and a portion of rentals deemed to be interest.

We do not have any shares of preferred stock outstanding as of December 31, 2015. As a result, our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends for any given period is equivalent to our ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2011      2012      2013      2014      2015  

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1)

     68x         63x         63x         57x         57x   

 

(1) On October 2, 2015, we implemented a holding company reorganization pursuant to which Google became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Alphabet. Upon completion of the holding company reorganization, Alphabet became a successor to Google for purposes of Rule 12g-3(a) of the Exchange Act.

 



 

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D ESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may offer secured or unsecured debt securities, which may be convertible or non-convertible, in one or more series.

The following is a summary of certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities and the indenture, but they are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of an indenture, dated as of February 12, 2016, entered into between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, as supplemented from time to time (the “indenture”), which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, including the definitions of specified terms used in the indenture, and to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent these general provisions may apply to the debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If a different trustee or a different indenture for a series of debt securities is used, those details will be provided in a prospectus supplement and the forms of any other indentures will be filed with the SEC at the time they are used. The terms of the debt securities will include those set forth in the applicable indenture, any related documents and those made a part of the indenture by the Trust Indenture Act. You should read the summary below, the applicable prospectus supplement and the provisions of the applicable indenture and any related documents before investing in our debt securities.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the debt securities. These terms may include the following:

 

    the title and any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    whether the debt securities will be secured or unsecured;

 

    whether the debt securities are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;

 

    whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated debt securities and, if subordinated, the terms of such subordination;

 

    the percentage or percentages of principal amount at which such debt securities will be issued;

 

    the interest rate(s) or the method for determining the interest rate(s);

 

    the dates on which interest will accrue or the method for determining dates on which interest will accrue and dates on which interest will be payable;

 

    the dates on which the debt securities may be issued, the maturity date and other dates of payment of principal;

 

    redemption or early repayment provisions;

 

    authorized denominations if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

    the form of the debt securities;

 

    amount of discount or premium, if any, with which such debt securities will be issued;

 

    whether such debt securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities;

 

    the identity of the depositary for global securities;

 

    whether a temporary security is to be issued with respect to such series and whether any interest payable prior to the issuance of definitive securities of the series will be credited to the account of the persons entitled thereto;

 

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    the terms upon which beneficial interests in a temporary global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for beneficial interests in a definitive global security or for individual definitive securities;

 

    any covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued;

 

    any defaults and events of default applicable to the particular debt securities being issued;

 

    any restriction or condition on the transferability of the debt securities;

 

    the currency, currencies or currency units in which the purchase price for, the principal of and any premium and any interest on, such debt securities will be payable;

 

    the time period within which, the manner in which, and the terms and conditions upon which the purchaser of the debt securities can select the payment currency;

 

    the securities exchange(s) or automated quotation system(s) on which the securities will be listed or admitted to trading, as applicable, if any;

 

    whether any underwriter(s) will act as market maker(s) for the securities;

 

    the extent to which a secondary market for the securities is expected to develop;

 

    our obligation or right to redeem, purchase or repay debt securities under a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision;

 

    provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture;

 

    place or places where we may pay principal, premium, if any, and interest and where holders may present the debt securities for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion;

 

    place or places where notices and demands relating to the debt securities and the indentures may be made;

 

    if other than the principal amount of the debt securities, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities that is payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity;

 

    any index or formula used to determine the amount of payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities and the method of determining these amounts;

 

    any provisions relating to compensation and reimbursement of the trustee;

 

    provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events; and

 

    additional terms not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture.

General

We may sell the debt securities, including original issue discount securities, at par or at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we may issue additional debt securities of a particular series without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series outstanding at the time of issuance. Any such additional debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt securities of that series, will constitute a single series of securities under the indenture. Such additional notes will have the same terms as to ranking, redemption, waivers, amendments or otherwise as the applicable series of notes, and will vote together as one class on all matters with respect to such series of notes. In addition, we will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement, material U.S. federal tax considerations and any other special considerations for any debt securities we sell which are denominated in a currency or currency unit other than U.S. dollars. Any taxes withheld or deducted from payments in respect of the debt securities and paid to the relevant tax authority shall be deemed to have been paid to the applicable holder. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any securities exchange.

 

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We expect most debt securities to be issued in fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Subject to the limitations provided in the indenture and in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities that are issued in registered form may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate office of the trustee or the principal corporate trust office of the trustee, without the payment of any service charge, other than any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Global Securities

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Events of Default

Under the terms of the indenture, each of the following constitutes an event of default for a series of debt securities unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified:

 

    default for 30 days in the payment of any interest when due;

 

    default in the payment of principal, or premium, if any, when due at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

 

    default for 30 days in the payment of any sinking fund installment, if any, when due;

 

    default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement in the indenture for 90 days after written notice;

 

    certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and

 

    any other event of default described in the applicable company order or supplemental indenture under which the series of debt securities is issued.

We are required to furnish the trustee annually with an officer’s certificate as to our compliance with all conditions and covenants under the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to you of any default, except in respect of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities, if it considers it in the interest of the holders of the debt securities to do so.

Effect of an Event of Default

If an event of default exists with respect to a series of outstanding debt securities (other than an event of default in the case of certain events of bankruptcy), the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of such series of outstanding debt securities may declare the principal amount, or, if the debt securities are original issue discount securities, the portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series, of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all outstanding debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to us, and to the trustee if given by holders. Upon that declaration the principal (or specified) amount will become immediately due and payable. However, at any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained, the event of default may, without further act, be deemed to have been waived and such declaration may, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled subject to conditions specified in the indenture.

 

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If an event of default in the case of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization exists, the principal amount of all debt securities outstanding under the indenture shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder of such outstanding debt, become immediately due and payable.

Subject to the provisions of the indenture relating to the duties of the trustee, if an event of default then exists, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture (other than the payment of any amounts on the debt securities furnished to it pursuant to the indenture) at your (or any other person’s) request, order or direction, unless you have (or such other person has) offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it. Subject to the provisions for the security or indemnification of the trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of a series of outstanding debt securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee in connection with the debt securities of that series.

Legal Proceedings and Enforcement of Right to Payment

You will not have any right to institute any proceeding in connection with the indenture or for any remedy under the indenture, unless (i) you have previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series, (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of a series of the outstanding debt securities must have made written request to the trustee to institute that proceeding, (iii) there shall have been offered to the trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to the trustee and (iv) the trustee, within 60 days following the receipt of that notice, must have failed to institute the proceeding. However, you will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in the debt security and to institute a suit for the enforcement of that payment.

Modification and Waiver

Modification

We and the trustee may modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected:

 

    extend the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any outstanding debt security;

 

    reduce the principal amount of or the interest on or any premium payable upon the redemption of any outstanding debt security;

 

    change the currency in which the principal amount of and premium, if any, or interest on any outstanding debt security is denominated or payable;

 

    reduce the principal amount of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

 

    impair your right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any outstanding debt security after the stated maturity or redemption date;

 

    materially adversely affect the economic terms of any right to convert or exchange any outstanding debt security;

 

    reduce the percentage of the holders of outstanding debt securities necessary to modify or amend the indenture or to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults and consequences of such defaults; or

 

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    modify any of these provisions or any of the provisions relating to the waiver of certain past defaults or certain covenants, except to increase the required percentage to effect such action or to provide that certain other provisions may not be modified or waived without the consent of all of the holders of the debt securities affected.

Waiver

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, waive compliance by us with certain restrictive covenants of the indenture.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series, generally waive any past default under the indenture and the consequences of such default. However, a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any interest on, any debt security of that series or a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected cannot be so waived.

Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

We will not consolidate with or merge into any other entity, or sell other than for cash or lease, all or substantially all our assets to another entity, and no entity may consolidate with or merge into us, unless:

 

    we will be the continuing entity in any merger or consolidation or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than us) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations relating to the debt securities;

 

    immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or lease, there exists no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an event of default; and

 

    other conditions described in the indenture are met.

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

The indenture provides that we may discharge all of our obligations with respect to any series of the debt securities at any time, and that we may also be released from our obligations under certain covenants and from certain other obligations, including obligations imposed by a company order or supplemental indenture with respect to that series, if any, and elect not to comply with those sections and obligations without creating an event of default. Discharge under the first procedure is called “defeasance” and under the second procedure is called “covenant defeasance.”

Defeasance or covenant defeasance may be effected only if:

 

    we irrevocably deposit with the trustee money or U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof, as trust funds in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all outstanding debt securities of that series;

 

    no event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit, other than an event of default resulting from the borrowing of funds and the grant of any related liens to be applied to such deposit; and

 

   

we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that (i) the beneficial owners of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge or as a result of the deposit and covenant defeasance and (ii) the deposit, defeasance and discharge or the deposit and covenant defeasance will not

 

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otherwise alter those beneficial owners U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal and interest payments on the debt securities of that series and, in the case of a defeasance, this opinion is accompanied by a ruling to that effect received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

Concerning the Trustee

The trustee under the indenture is The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. The trustee will have all the duties and responsibilities of an indenture trustee specified in the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any debt securities issued under the indenture. The trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in performing its duties or exercising its rights and powers if it reasonably believes that it is not reasonably assured of repayment or adequate indemnity.

DESCRIP TION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

We may offer shares of our Class A Common Stock, Class C Capital Stock or shares of our preferred stock. The following summary of the rights of our capital stock does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to and qualified by the provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (“certificate of incorporation”), our Amended and Restated Bylaws (“bylaws”), the terms of our Class C Undertaking (as defined below), and certain Transfer Restriction Agreements (as described below), copies of which are incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), as amended, also affects the terms of our capital stock.

Our certificate of incorporation provides for (1) the Class A Common Stock (“Class A Common Stock”), which has one vote per share; (2) the Class B Common Stock (“Class B Common Stock”), which has 10 votes per share; and (3) the Class C Capital Stock (“Class C Capital Stock”), which has no voting rights unless otherwise required by law. Our certificate of incorporation also provides for 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock.

Our authorized capital stock consists of 15,100,000,000 shares, each with a par value of $0.001 per share, of which:

 

    9,000,000,000 shares are designated as Class A Common Stock;

 

    3,000,000,000 shares are designated as Class B Common Stock;

 

    3,000,000,000 shares are designated as Class C Capital Stock; and

 

    100,000,000 shares are designated as preferred stock.

At February 5, 2016, there were 292,585,668 shares of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding, 50,199,837 shares of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding and 345,544,269 shares of Class C Capital Stock issued and outstanding. At that date, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.

 

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Capital Stock

Voting Rights

Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have identical rights, except that holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share and holders of shares of Class B Common Stock are entitled to 10 votes per share. Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together as a single class on all matters (including the election of directors) submitted to a vote of stockholders, unless otherwise required by law.

Holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock have no voting rights, unless otherwise required by law.

The DGCL could require the holders of any of the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, or Class C Capital Stock to vote separately as a single class in the following circumstances:

 

    If we amended our certificate of incorporation to increase or decrease the par value of the shares of a class of stock, then the holders of the shares of that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment.

 

    If we amended our certificate of incorporation in a manner that altered or changed the powers, preferences, or special rights of the shares of a class of stock so as to affect them adversely, then the holders of the shares of that class would be required to vote separately to approve the proposed amendment.

As permitted by the DGCL and as set forth in our certificate of incorporation, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, and Class C Capital Stock do not have the right to vote separately as a single class if the number of authorized shares of such class is increased or decreased. Rather, the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, and Class C Capital Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, voting together as a single class.

We have not provided for cumulative voting for the election of directors.

Dividends

Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, and Class C Capital Stock will be entitled to share equally, on a per share basis, in any dividends that our board of directors may determine to issue from time to time. In the event that a dividend is paid in the form of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, or rights to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, (1) the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall receive Class A Common Stock, or rights to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock, as the case may be; (2) the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock shall receive shares of Class B Common Stock, or rights to acquire shares of Class B Common Stock, as the case may be; and (3) the holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock shall receive shares of Class C Capital Stock, or rights to acquire shares of Class C Capital Stock, as the case may be.

Liquidation Rights

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be entitled to share equally in all assets remaining after the payment of any liabilities and the liquidation preferences on any outstanding preferred stock. Immediately prior to the earlier of (1) any distribution of our assets in connection with a liquidation, dissolution, or winding-up, or (2) any record date established to determine the holders of our capital stock entitled to receive such distribution, each share of Class C Capital Stock shall automatically be converted into one share of Class A Common Stock.

 

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Conversion

Shares of Class A Common Stock are not convertible into any other shares of our capital stock.

Other than in connection with a liquidation as described above, shares of Class C Capital Stock are not convertible into any other shares of our capital stock.

Each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one share of Class A Common Stock upon written notice to our transfer agent. In addition, each share of Class B Common Stock shall convert automatically into one share of Class A Common Stock upon any transfer, whether or not for value, except for certain transfers described in our certificate of incorporation, including the following:

 

    Transfers between Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founders, subject to the requirements of the Transfer Restriction Agreements (as described below).

 

    Transfers for tax and estate planning purposes, including to trusts, corporations, and partnerships established or controlled by a holder of Class B Common Stock.

In addition, partnerships or limited liability companies that held more than 5% of the total outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock as of the closing of Google’s initial public offering in 2004 may distribute their shares of Class B Common Stock to their respective partners or members (who may further distribute the shares of Class B Common Stock to their respective partners or members) without triggering a conversion to shares of Class A Common Stock. Such distributions must be conducted in accordance with the ownership interests of such partners or members and the terms of any agreements binding the partnership or limited liability company.

The death of any holder of shares of Class B Common Stock who is a natural person will result in the conversion of his or her shares of Class B Common Stock, and any shares held by his or her permitted entities, into shares of Class A Common Stock. However, subject to the terms of the Transfer Restriction Agreements, either of Larry or Sergey may transfer voting control of his shares of Class B Common Stock and those held by his permitted entities to the other contingent or effective upon his death without triggering a conversion into shares of Class A Common Stock, but the shares of Class B Common Stock so transferred will convert to Class A Common Stock nine months after the death of the transferring founder.

Once transferred and converted into shares of Class A Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock shall not be reissued.

No class of our capital stock may be subdivided or combined unless the other classes of capital stock are concurrently subdivided or combined in the same proportion and in the same manner.

Equal Status

Except as expressly provided in our certificate of incorporation, shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share ratably and are identical in all respects as to all matters. In the event of any merger, consolidation, or other business combination requiring the approval of our stockholders entitled to vote thereon (whether or not we are the surviving entity), the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration as the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, and the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock. In the event of any (1) tender or exchange offer to acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock by any third party pursuant to an agreement to which we are a party, or (2) any tender or exchange offer by us to acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, the same form of consideration as the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock, and the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock shall have the right to receive, or the right to elect to receive, at least the same amount of consideration on a per share basis as the holders of shares of Class B Common Stock.

 

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Except as expressly provided in our certificate of incorporation, shares of Class C Capital Stock have the same rights and privileges and rank equally, share ratably and are identical in all respects to the shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock as to all matters. In the event of any merger, consolidation, or other business combination requiring the approval of our stockholders entitled to vote thereon (whether or not we are the surviving entity), the holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock shall receive the same amount and form of consideration on a per share basis as the consideration, if any, received by holders of shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with such merger, consolidation or combination (and if holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to make an election as to the amount or form of consideration that such holders shall receive in any such merger, consolidation or combination with respect to their shares of Class A Common Stock, then the holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock shall be entitled to make the same election as to their shares of Class C Capital Stock). In the event of any (1) tender or exchange offer to acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock by any third party pursuant to an agreement to which we are a party, or (2) any tender or exchange offer by us to acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, the holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock shall receive the same amount and form of consideration on a per share basis as the consideration received by holders of shares of Class A Common Stock (and if holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to make an election as to the amount or form of consideration that such holders shall receive in any such tender or exchange offer with respect to their shares of Class A Common Stock, then the holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock shall be entitled to make the same election as to their shares of Class C Capital Stock).

Class C Settlement Agreement

In connection with the adjustment of Google’s capital structure by establishing the Google Class C Capital Stock, and the dividend of one share of Google Class C Capital Stock for each share of Google Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock outstanding on March 27, 2014 (the “Class C dividend”), on October 28, 2013, the Delaware Court of Chancery approved a settlement entered into by Google, the board of directors of Google and the plaintiffs in the class action litigation involving the authorization to distribute Google Class C Capital Stock captioned In Re: Google Inc. Class C Shareholder Litigation , Civil Action No. 7469-CS. The parties subsequently filed a Revised Stipulation of Compromise and Settlement with the Court, which issued an Order and Final Judgment on November 6, 2013 that fully approved the parties’ settlement agreement (the “Google Class C Settlement Agreement”). Additionally, on October 2, 2015, we entered into a Class C Undertaking pertaining to the Google Class C Settlement Agreement, pursuant to which Alphabet will undertake, with respect to the Alphabet Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, Class C Capital Stock and preferred stock, to be bound by the restrictions, undertakings and all continuing obligations and to benefit from the rights of the Google Class C Settlement Agreement that are applicable to Google as if Alphabet were Google (the “Class C Undertaking”).

The terms of the Class C Undertaking require us to: (i) ensure that the Transfer Restriction Agreements (defined below) entered into by Larry, our Chief Executive Officer; Sergey, our President; and Eric E. Schmidt, our Executive Chairman, and certain of their respective affiliates cannot be waived or amended unless such amendment or waiver is first considered and recommended by a committee of two or more of the independent directors of our board of directors who do not hold Class B Common Stock, and then approved by every member of our board of directors, excluding Larry and Sergey; (ii) ensure that any waiver or amendment of the Transfer Restriction Agreements will be publicly disclosed at least 30 days before such waiver or amendment takes effect on a Form 8-K, Form 10-Q or Form 10-K; (iii) effective for three years from the Class C Capital Stock dividend payment date, prior to issuing more than 10 million shares of Class C Capital Stock as consideration in an acquisition or other business combination (excluding assumptions or conversions of equity for employees of acquired or combined companies), have our independent directors consider the effects of issuing such shares on our holders of Class A Common Stock and upon the company as a whole; and (iv) when the aggregate voting power of Larry and Sergey falls below 15% of the cumulative voting power of all our shareholders, have our board of directors consider in good faith whether it is no longer in our best interests to maintain a class of nonvoting stock and, if it so determines, take steps to cause the Class C Capital Stock to convert into Class A Common Stock.

 

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Transfer Restriction Agreements

On October 2, 2015, we entered into a transfer restriction agreement with each of Larry, Sergey, and Eric and certain of their respective affiliates (collectively, the “Transfer Restriction Agreements”). They are intended to limit the ability of Larry, Sergey, and Eric to sell their Alphabet stock in a manner that does not reduce their voting power. Under the Transfer Restriction Agreements, the parties are bound, without any modification, by the same restrictions, undertakings and obligations that are imposed under the transfer restriction agreements, related joinders and other documentation entered into with Google on March 25, 2014 in connection with the Google Class C Settlement Agreement (the “Google Transfer Restriction Agreements”).

Pursuant to the Transfer Restriction Agreements, none of Larry, Sergey, Eric, or certain of their respective affiliates that are party to the agreements (generally, trusts and other estate planning vehicles through which Larry, Sergey, and Eric hold all or a portion of their shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Capital Stock) may sell, assign, transfer, convey or hypothecate any shares of Class C Capital Stock if, as a result of such sale, transfer, conveyance or hypothecation, they, together with certain of their respective affiliates, would own more shares of Class B Common Stock than shares of Class C Capital Stock. If at any time either Larry, Sergey, or Eric, in each case together with certain of his respective affiliates, owns more shares of Class B Common Stock than shares of Class C Capital Stock, then Larry, Sergey, or Eric, as the case may be, and his respective affiliates, will be deemed to have automatically converted that number of shares of Class B Common Stock into shares of Class A Common Stock such that after such conversion he and his affiliates own an equal number of shares of Class B Common Stock as he and his affiliates own of shares of Class C Capital Stock. The required maximum ratio of shares of Class B Common Stock to shares of Class C Capital Stock owned by Larry, Sergey and Eric is subject to adjustment in connection with certain dividends, stock splits, distributions or recapitalizations.

Larry, Sergey, Eric, and certain of their respective affiliates that are party to the Transfer Restriction Agreements may transfer shares of Class B Common Stock to their affiliates as permitted by the terms of our certificate of incorporation only if, immediately following such transfer, Larry, Sergey, or Eric, as the case may be, and his respective affiliates, would own an aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to or less than the number of shares of Class C Capital Stock that he and his affiliates own. Additionally, Larry, Sergey, Eric, and certain of their respective affiliates that are party to the Transfer Restriction Agreements may transfer shares of Class C Capital Stock to their affiliates only if, immediately following such transfer, Larry, Sergey, or Eric, as the case may be, and his respective affiliates, would own an aggregate number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to or less than the number of shares of Class C Capital Stock that he and his affiliates own. However, each of Larry and his affiliates that are party to his Transfer Restriction Agreement and Sergey and his affiliates that are party to his Transfer Restriction Agreement may not transfer shares of Class B Common Stock to another person in a transfer that does not result in the automatic conversion of such shares of Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the certificate of incorporation unless Larry or Sergey, as the case may be, and his respective affiliates, transfer, in the same manner and to the same extent, an equal number of shares of Class C Capital Stock to the transferee.

In the event of (1) any merger, consolidation, or other business combination requiring the approval of the holders of our capital stock (whether or not Alphabet is the surviving entity), or the acquisition of all or substantially all of our assets, (2) any tender or exchange offer by any third party to acquire a majority of the shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or Class C Capital Stock, or (3) any tender or exchange offer by us to acquire any shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, or Class C Capital Stock, none of Larry, Sergey, Eric, and certain of their respective affiliates that are party to the Transfer Restriction Agreements may sell, transfer or exchange, directly or indirectly, any shares of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, or Class C Capital Stock in connection with such transaction or in a related transaction for (a) with respect to their shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock, an amount per share greater than the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock receive in such transaction or a form of consideration different from the form that the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock would receive, or may

 

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elect to receive, in such transaction; or (b) with respect to their shares of Class C Capital Stock, an amount per share greater than the holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock receive in such transaction or a form of consideration different from the form that the holders of shares of Class C Capital Stock would receive, or may elect to receive, in such transaction (the “Founder Equal Treatment Provision”).

With respect to Larry, Sergey, and certain of their respective affiliates, the applicable Transfer Restriction Agreements generally terminate when they collectively hold less than 34% of our total outstanding voting power. However, the Founder Equal Treatment Provision never terminates.

With respect to Eric and certain of his affiliates, the applicable Transfer Restriction Agreement generally terminates when they collectively hold less than 2% of our total outstanding voting power. However, the Founder Equal Treatment Provision never terminates.

As required under the terms of the Class C Settlement Agreement, the Transfer Restriction Agreements may only be amended or waived if such amendment or waiver is (i) first considered and recommended by a committee of two or more independent directors of our board of directors who do not hold Class B Common Stock and (ii) then approved by every member of our board of directors, excluding Larry and Sergey. Any Transfer Restriction Agreement amendment or waiver will be publicly disclosed by Alphabet on a Form 8-K, Form 10-Q or Form 10-K at least 30 days before such amendment or waiver takes effect.

Preferred Stock

We are authorized to issue, without approval by our stockholders, up to a total of 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors may establish the number of shares to be included in each such series and may fix the designations, preferences, powers, and other rights, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares of a series of preferred stock. Our board of directors could authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could dilute the voting power or rights of the holders of Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock, and Class C Capital Stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Alphabet and might harm the market price of our Class A Common Stock or Class C Capital Stock.

The particular terms of any series of preferred stock offered by us will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms relating to the series of preferred stock offered may include:

 

    the number of shares of the preferred stock being offered;

 

    the title and liquidation preference per share of the preferred stock;

 

    the purchase price of the preferred stock;

 

    the dividend rate or method for determining the dividend rate;

 

    the dates on which dividends will be paid;

 

    whether dividends on the preferred stock will be cumulative or noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall commence to accumulate;

 

    any redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the preferred stock;

 

    any securities exchange on which the preferred stock may be listed; and

 

    any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights and restrictions applicable to the preferred stock.

 

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Holders of preferred stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, cash dividends at the rates and on the dates set forth in the related prospectus supplement. Dividend rates may be fixed or variable or both. Different series of preferred stock may be entitled to dividends at different dividend rates or based upon different methods of determination. Each dividend will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on our stock books on record dates determined by our board of directors. Dividends on preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as specified in the related prospectus supplement. If our board of directors fails to declare a dividend on any preferred stock for which dividends are noncumulative, then the right to receive that dividend will be lost, and we will have no obligation to pay the dividend for that dividend period, whether or not dividends are declared for any future dividend period.

Any series of preferred stock may be redeemable in whole or in part at our option. In addition, any series of preferred stock may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund. The redemption provisions that may apply to a series of preferred stock, including the redemption dates and the redemption prices for that series, will be set forth in the related prospectus supplement

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and of the DGCL could have the effect of delaying, deferring, or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. In particular, our capital structure concentrates ownership of our voting stock in the hands of Larry, Sergey, and Eric. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. However, these provisions could also have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our Class A Common Stock or Class C Capital Stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

Three Classes of Stock

As discussed above, our Class B Common Stock has 10 votes per share, while our Class A Common Stock has one vote per share and our Class C Capital Stock has no voting rights (unless otherwise required by law). As a result of their ownership of a substantial portion of our Class B Common Stock, Larry and Sergey currently have the ability to elect all of our directors and to determine the outcome of most matters submitted for a vote of our stockholders. This concentrated voting control could discourage others from initiating any potential merger, takeover, or other change of control transaction that other stockholders may view as beneficial.

Because the Class C Capital Stock has no voting rights (except as required by law), the issuance of Class C Capital Stock will not result in voting dilution to the holders of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock. As a result, the issuance of Class C Capital Stock could prolong the duration of Larry and Sergey’s current relative ownership of our voting power and their ability to elect all of our directors and to determine the outcome of most matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders.

So long as Larry and Sergey have the ability to determine the outcome of most matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, third parties may be deterred in their willingness to make an unsolicited merger, takeover, or other change of control proposal, or to engage in a proxy contest for the election of directors. As a result, our three classes of stock may have the effect of depriving our stockholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices and make it more difficult to replace our directors and management.

 

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Special Approval for Change in Control Transactions

In the event a person seeks to acquire us by means of a merger or consolidation transaction, a purchase of all or substantially all of our assets, or an issuance of our voting securities representing more than 2% of our outstanding shares at the time of issuance and that results in any person or group owning more than 50% of our outstanding voting power, then these types of acquisition transactions must be approved by our stockholders at an annual or special meeting. At this meeting, we must obtain the approval of stockholders representing the greater of:

 

    a majority of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock; and

 

    60% of the voting power of the shares of capital stock present in person or represented by proxy at the stockholder meeting and entitled to vote.

Limits on Ability of Stockholders to Act by Written Consent

We have provided in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws that our stockholders may not act by written consent. This limit on the ability of our stockholders to act by written consent may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions. As a result, no stockholder, regardless of how large its holdings of our stock are, would be able to amend our bylaws or remove directors without holding a stockholders meeting.

Undesignated Preferred Stock

The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring or preventing hostile takeovers or delaying or preventing changes in control or management of our company.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of directors or a committee of our board of directors. The bylaws do not give our board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting of the stockholders. However, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging, under certain circumstances, in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder unless:

 

    prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

    upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding (1) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

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    on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Generally, a business combination includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An interested stockholder is a person who owns 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting securities or is an affiliate or associate of the corporation and, within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting securities, and affiliates and associates of such person. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions our board of directors does not approve in advance. Section 203 may also discourage attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of capital stock held by stockholders.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our capital stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O. Box 30170, College Station, Texas 77842-3170. Overnight correspondence should be sent to: Computershare Trust Company, N.A., 211 Quality Circle, Suite 210, College Station, Texas 77845.

Listing

Our Class C Capital Stock and Class A Common Stock are listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbols “GOOG” and “GOOGL” respectively. Our Class B Common Stock is not listed on any stock market or exchange.

DES CRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

We may offer warrants, including warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, Class A Common Stock, Class C Capital Stock or other securities, property or assets (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices), as well as other types of warrants. We may offer warrants independently or together with other securities offered under this prospectus, and they may be attached to or separate from those securities. We will issue the warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, that we will describe in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants we offer.

The following is a summary of certain general terms and provisions of the warrants, but they are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate relating to the warrants. Forms of these documents will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, either by an amendment to the registration statement or by a Current Report on Form 8-K. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain copies of these documents. You should read the summary below, the applicable prospectus supplement and the provisions of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate before investing in our warrants.

Debt Warrants

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of warrants to purchase debt securities that we may offer, the warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the warrant certificates representing the debt warrants. These terms will include the following:

 

    the title of the debt warrants;

 

    the debt securities for which the debt warrants are exercisable;

 

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    the aggregate number of the debt warrants;

 

    the price or prices at which we will issue the debt warrants, the principal amount of debt securities that you may purchase upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price or prices at which such principal amount may be purchased upon exercise;

 

    currency, currencies, or currency units, if other than in U.S. dollars, in which such debt warrants are to be issued or for which the debt warrants may be exercised;

 

    the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the debt warrants;

 

    the designation and terms of any related debt securities issued with the debt warrants, and the number of debt warrants issued with each debt security;

 

    the date, if any, from which you may separately transfer the debt warrants and the related securities;

 

    the date on which your right to exercise the debt warrants commences, and the date on which your right expires;

 

    the maximum or minimum number of the debt warrants which you may exercise at any time;

 

    if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations;

 

    any other terms of the debt warrants and terms, procedures and limitations relating to your exercise of the debt warrants; and

 

    the terms of the securities you may purchase upon exercise of the debt warrants.

We will also describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any provisions for a change in the exercise price or expiration date of the warrants and the kind, frequency and timing of any notice to be given. You may exchange debt warrant certificates for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and may exercise debt warrants at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office that we indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to exercise, you will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon that exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities purchasable upon the exercise.

Other Warrants

We may issue other warrants. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the following terms of those warrants:

 

    the title of the warrants;

 

    the securities, which may include preferred stock, Class A Common Stock, Class C Capital Stock or other securities, property or assets (including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices), for which you may exercise the warrants;

 

    the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

    the price or prices at which we will issue the warrants, the number of securities or amount of other property or assets that you may purchase upon exercise of each warrant and the price or prices at which such securities, property or assets may be purchased;

 

    currency, currencies, or currency units, if other than in U.S. dollars, in which such warrants are to be issued or for which the debt warrants may be exercised;

 

    the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;

 

    the designation and terms of any related securities issued with the warrants, and the number of warrants issued with each security;

 

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    the date, if any, from which you may separately transfer the warrants and the related securities;

 

    the date on which your right to exercise the warrants commences, and the date on which your right expires;

 

    the maximum or minimum number of warrants which you may exercise at any time;

 

    if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

 

    any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to your exchange and exercise of the warrants.

We will also describe in the applicable prospectus supplement any provisions for a change in the exercise price or the expiration date of the warrants and the kind, frequency and timing of any notice to be given. You may exchange warrant certificates for new warrant certificates of different denominations and may exercise warrants at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office that we indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of your warrants, you will not have any of the rights of holders of the preferred stock, common stock or other securities purchasable upon that exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the preferred stock, common stock or other securities purchasable upon the exercise.

Exercise of Warrants

We will describe in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants the principal amount or the number of our securities, or amount of other securities, property or assets that you may purchase for cash upon exercise of a warrant, and the exercise price. You may exercise a warrant as described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date stated in the prospectus supplement. Unexercised warrants will become void after the close of business on the expiration date, or any later expiration date that we determine.

We will forward the securities purchasable upon the exercise as soon as practicable after receipt of payment and the properly completed and executed warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or other office stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. If you exercise less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue you a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

PL AN OF DISTRIBUTION

Initial Offering and Sale of Securities

We may sell securities from time to time in one or more transactions separately or in combination. We may sell the securities of or within any series to or through agents, underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms or other third parties or directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of any of these methods. We may issue securities as a dividend or distribution. In some cases, we or dealers acting with us or on behalf of us may also purchase securities and reoffer them to the public. We may also offer and sell, or agree to deliver, securities pursuant to, or in connection with, any option agreement or other contractual arrangement.

Agents whom we designate may solicit offers to purchase the securities.

 

    If required, we will name any agent involved in offering or selling securities, and disclose any commissions that we will pay to the agent, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

    Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, agents will act on a best efforts basis for the period of their appointment.

 

    Agents may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, of any of the securities that they offer or sell.

 

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We may use an underwriter or underwriters in the offer or sale of the securities.

 

    If we use an underwriter or underwriters, we will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter or underwriters at the time that we reach an agreement for the sale of the securities.

 

    We will include the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as the names of any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including the compensation the underwriters and dealers will receive, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

    The underwriters will use the applicable prospectus supplement, together with this prospectus, to sell the securities.

We may use a dealer to sell the securities.

 

    If we use a dealer, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal.

 

    The dealer will then sell the securities to the public at varying prices that the dealer will determine at the time it sells the securities.

 

    We will include the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions with the dealer in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may solicit directly offers to purchase the securities, and we may directly sell the securities to institutional or other investors. We will describe the terms of direct sales in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act.

We may also offer and sell securities, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more firms referred to as remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as our agents. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us, and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act in connection with the securities they remarket.

We may indemnify agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Agents, underwriters, dealers and remarketing firms, or their affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our respective affiliates, in the ordinary course of business.

We may authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the securities at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts.

 

    If we use delayed delivery contracts, we will disclose that we are using them in the prospectus supplement and will tell you when we will demand payment and delivery of the securities under the delayed delivery contracts.

 

    These delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to the conditions that we describe in the prospectus supplement.

 

    We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the commission that underwriters and agents soliciting purchases of the securities under delayed contracts will be entitled to receive.

Any underwriter, agent or dealer that is a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority member is not permitted to sell securities in an offering to accounts over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of its customer.

 

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Unless otherwise specified in connection with a particular underwritten offering of securities, the underwriters will not be obligated to purchase offered securities unless specified conditions are satisfied, and if the underwriters do purchase any offered securities, they will purchase all offered securities.

In connection with underwritten offerings of the offered securities and in accordance with applicable law and industry practice, the underwriters in certain circumstances are permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the securities in connection with the offering ( i.e. , if they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement), the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing securities in the open market or as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters. This means that if the underwriters purchase the securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters’ short position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the underwriters who sold those securities as part of the offering. In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of a security to the extent that it were to discourage resales of the security. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.

We may enter into derivative or other hedging transactions involving the securities with third parties, or sell securities not covered by the prospectus to third parties in privately-negotiated transactions. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with those derivative transactions, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions, or may lend securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of securities, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivative or hedging transactions to close out any related open borrowings of securities. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus).

We may effect sales of securities in connection with forward sale, option or other types of agreements with third parties. Any distribution of securities pursuant to any forward sale agreement may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions that may take place through a stock exchange, including block trades or ordinary broker’s transactions, or through broker-dealers acting either as principal or agent, or through privately-negotiated transactions, or through an underwritten public offering, or through a combination of any such methods of sale, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated or fixed prices.

We may loan or pledge securities to third parties that in turn may sell the securities using this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or, if we default in the case of a pledge, may offer and sell the securities from time to time using this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. Such third parties may transfer their short positions to investors in the securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities offered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or otherwise.

Sales by Selling Security Holders

Selling security holders may use this prospectus in connection with resales of securities they hold as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will identify the selling security holders, the terms of the securities and any material relationships we have with the selling security holders. Selling security holders may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act in connection with the securities they resell and any profits on the sales may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, the selling security holders will receive all the proceeds from the sale of the securities.

 

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LE GAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of any securities offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, our legal counsel.

E XPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below (other than portions of these documents that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed and exhibits furnished in connection with such items):

 

    Alphabet’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed on February 11, 2016;

 

    the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from Google’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2015 together with Google’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on March 24, 2015 and March 26, 2015, and our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 2, 2015; and

 

    the descriptions of our Class A Common Stock and Class C Capital Stock contained on Form 8-K12B, filed with the SEC on October 2, 2015 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

All reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this prospectus and until all the securities offered by this prospectus have been sold and all conditions to the consummation of such sales have been satisfied shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents. However, we are not incorporating by reference any information provided in these documents that is furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed and exhibits furnished in connection with such items.

Alphabet Inc. hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the information that has been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, excluding all exhibits unless an exhibit has been specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Requests for such copies should be directed to our Investor Relations department, at the following address:

Alphabet Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, California 94043

(650) 253-0000

Email: investor-relations@abc.xyz

 

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W HERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-888-SEC-0330 for further information about the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an internet website at www.sec.gov that contains periodic and current reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. Information about us is also available at our website at www.abc.xyz/investor. The information on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

We are responsible for the information contained and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement, and in any related free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize. We have not authorized anyone to give you any other information, and we take no responsibility for any other information that others may give you. The securities offered under this prospectus are offered only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of the securities offered hereby.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process under the Securities Act relating to the securities to be offered. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. The registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, may be inspected at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at the address set forth above. Statements contained herein concerning any document filed as an exhibit are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth fees and expenses payable by the registrant, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. All amounts set forth below are estimates. All of such expenses are being borne by the registrant.

 

     Amount
to be Paid
 

SEC registration fee

   $          (1)  

Printing fees

              (2)  

Legal fees and expenses

              (2)  

Accounting fees and expenses

              (2)  

Trustee’s and transfer agent’s fees and expenses

              (2)  

Rating agency fees

              (2)  

Miscellaneous

              (2)  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $     
  

 

 

 

 

(1) This registration statement relates to the registration of securities having an indeterminate maximum aggregate amount. Payment of the registration fee has been deferred and will be calculated and paid in accordance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.
(2) The estimated amounts of fees and expenses to be incurred in connection with any offering of securities pursuant to this registration statement will be determined from time to time and reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.

As of the date of this filing, Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), as amended, provides in regard to indemnification of directors and officers as follows:

145 INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS; INSURANCE.

(a) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

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(b) A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

(d) Any indemnification under subsections (a) and (b) of this section (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer of the corporation at the time of such determination, (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4) by the stockholders.

(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.

(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. A right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses arising under a provision of the certificate of incorporation or a bylaw shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to the certificate of incorporation or the bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought, unless the provision in effect at the time of such act or omission explicitly authorizes such elimination or impairment after such action or omission has occurred.

(g) A corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the

 

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corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under this section.

(h) For purposes of this section, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

(i) For purposes of this section, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the corporation” as referred to in this section.

(j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

(k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification brought under this section or under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise. The Court of Chancery may summarily determine a corporation’s obligation to advance expenses (including attorneys’ fees).

As permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, the registrant’s certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors.

In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, the bylaws of the registrant provide that:

 

    The registrant will indemnify its directors and officers for serving the registrant in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at the registrant’s request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

    The registrant may, in its discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is not required by law.

 

    The registrant is required to advance expenses, as incurred, to its directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such director or officer will undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

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    The registrant will not be obligated pursuant to the bylaws to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person, except with respect to proceedings authorized by the registrant’s board of directors or brought to enforce a right to indemnification.

 

    The rights conferred in the bylaws are not exclusive, and the registrant is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons.

 

    The registrant may not retroactively amend or repeal the bylaw or certificate of incorporation provisions to reduce its indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

The registrant’s policy is to enter into separate indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers that provide the maximum indemnity allowed to directors and executive officers by Section 145 of the DGCL and that allow for certain additional procedural protections. The registrant also maintains directors and officers insurance to insure such persons against certain liabilities.

These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements entered into between the registrant and its officers and directors may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of the registrant’s officers and directors for liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act.

In connection with an offering of the securities registered hereunder, the registrant may enter into an underwriting agreement which may provide that the underwriters are obligated, under certain circumstances, to indemnify directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

The Exhibit Index filed herewith and appearing immediately before the exhibits hereto is incorporated by reference in this Item 16.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

 

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

 

  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

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

provided , however , that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities

 

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and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

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

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

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

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

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

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(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report, pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

(e) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Mountain View, State of California, on February 12, 2016.

 

ALPHABET INC.

By:

 

/s/ LARRY PAGE

 

Larry Page

Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

The undersigned director of Alphabet Inc., a Delaware corporation, whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Larry Page, David C. Drummond, Ruth Porat and Kent Walker, and each of them acting individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-3 or other applicable form, with all exhibits thereto, or any and all amendments (including pre-effective and post-effective amendments) and supplements to a registration statement, and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ LARRY PAGE

Larry Page

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

( Principal Executive Officer )

  February 12, 2016

/s/ RUTH PORAT

Ruth Porat

  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

( Principal Financial and Accounting Officer )

  February 12, 2016

/s/ ERIC E. SCHMIDT

Eric E. Schmidt

   Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors   February 12, 2016

/s/ SERGEY BRIN

Sergey Brin

   President and Director   February 12, 2016

/s/ L. JOHN DOERR

L. John Doerr

   Director   February 12, 2016

/s/ DIANE B. GREENE

Diane B. Greene

   Director   February 12, 2016

 

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Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ JOHN L. HENNESSY

John L. Hennessy

   Director   February 12, 2016

/s/ ANN MATHER

Ann Mather

   Director   February 12, 2016

/s/ ALAN R. MULALLY

Alan R. Mulally

   Director   February 12, 2016

/s/ PAUL S. OTELLINI

Paul S. Otellini

   Director   February 12, 2016

/s/ K. RAM SHRIRAM

K. Ram Shriram

   Director   February 12, 2016

/s/ SHIRLEY M. TILGHMAN

Shirley M. Tilghman

   Director   February 12, 2016

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  

Incorporated by reference herein

         

From

  

Date

  1.1  

   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt Securities)    Filed herewith   

  1.2  

   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Equity Securities)*      

  1.3  

   Form of Underwriting Agreement (Warrants)*      

  4.1  

   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of registrant    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

  4.2  

   Amended and Restated Bylaws of registrant    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

  4.3  

   Indenture, dated as of February 12, 2016, between Alphabet Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee    Filed herewith   

  4.4  

   Specimen Preferred Stock certificate*      

  4.5  

   Specimen Class A Common Stock certificate    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

4.6  

   Specimen Class C Capital Stock certificate    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

  4.7  

   Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of warrant certificate)*      

  4.8  

   Class C Undertaking    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

  4.9  

   Transfer Restriction Agreement, dated October 2, 2015, between Alphabet Inc. and Larry Page    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

  4.10

   Transfer Restriction Agreement, dated October 2, 2015, between Alphabet Inc. and Sergey Brin    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

  4.11

   Transfer Restriction Agreement, dated October 2, 2015, between Alphabet Inc. and Eric E. Schmidt and certain of his affiliates    Current Report on Form 8-K12B (File No. 001-37580)    October 2, 2015

  4.12

   Form of debt securities (included in Exhibit 4.3)    Filed herewith   

  5.1  

   Opinion of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP    Filed herewith   

12.1  

   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges    Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-37580)    February 11, 2016

23.1  

   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm    Filed herewith   

23.2  

   Consent of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement)    Filed herewith   

24.1  

   Power of Attorney (incorporated by reference to the signature page of this Registration Statement)    Filed herewith   

25.1  

   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1    Filed herewith   

 

* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference, if applicable.

Exhibit 1.1

ALPHABET INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

Debt Securities

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

To the Underwriters

named in the applicable

Terms Agreement

supplemental hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In accordance with the authorization granted by the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, of Alphabet Inc. (the “ Company ”), the Company proposes to sell from time to time, pursuant to the automatic shelf registration statement filed by the Company on Form S-3, in domestic or such foreign currencies or units of two or more currencies as the Company shall designate at the time of offering, an indeterminate aggregate principal amount of convertible or non-convertible debt securities identified in the Terms Agreement (as defined below) (the “ Debt Securities ” or “ Securities ”). Each issue of the Securities shall have such terms set forth in the applicable Terms Agreement.

Whenever the Company determines to make an offering of Securities through one or more investment banking firms, it will enter into a terms agreement with such firm or firms providing for the sale of such Securities to, and the purchase and offering thereof by, such firm or firms. The Terms Agreement shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto and shall specify such applicable information relating to the Securities or the Company as is indicated in such Exhibit. The Terms Agreement will incorporate by reference the provisions of this Agreement. Each offering of Securities will be governed by this Agreement, as supplemented by the applicable Terms Agreement, and this Agreement and such Terms Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each Underwriter participating in the offering of such Securities. Unless the context otherwise requires, as used hereinafter (a) the term “ Agreement ” shall refer to this Underwriting Agreement and to the Terms Agreement supplemental hereto with respect to the offering of specific Securities as executed by or on behalf of the Company and by or on behalf of the Underwriter or Underwriters which are parties thereto; (b) the term “ Terms Agreement ” shall refer to the Terms Agreement applicable to a specific offering of Securities; (c) the term “ Underwriter ” or “ Underwriters ” shall refer to the one or more investment banking firms, respectively, which are parties to the applicable Terms Agreement; and (d) “ Representatives ,” “ you ” or “ your ” shall refer to any manager or co-managers of an underwriting syndicate so specified in the applicable Terms Agreement, or, if none is or are so named, to the Underwriter or Underwriters.

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Time of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms “ amend ,” “ amendment ” or “ supplement ” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Time of the Registration Statement or the date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein, but not otherwise defined elsewhere, are defined in Section 19 hereof.

1. Representations and Warranties . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as follows:

(a) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, at the time of each amendment to the Registration Statement, at the Effective Time relating to the Securities, and on the Closing Date (as defined below), the Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and filed with the

 

1


Commission an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale from time to time of the Securities. Such Registration Statement became effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Act. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Company may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements relating to the Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Effective Time or, to the extent not completed at the Effective Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Effective Time, will be included or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Effective Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). The initial effective date of the Registration Statement was not earlier than the date three years before the Effective Time relating to the Securities.

(b) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, at the time of each amendment to the Registration Statement, at the Effective Time relating to the Securities, and on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act, and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on its date, at the time of filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), and on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act, and the Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules and regulations thereunder and did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(c) As of the Applicable Time, (i) the Disclosure Package, (ii) any electronic road show, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, and (iii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements or omissions in the Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(d) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Act and (ii) as of the Effective Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405) and the Company has not received notice that the Commission objects to the use of the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement.

(e) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and, if applicable, the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives, did not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. If at any time following the issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration

 

2


Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (i) the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives, and (ii) the Company has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(f) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the Indenture in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”); the Company’s authorized capital stock conforms in all material respects as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in or incorporated by reference into the Disclosure Package and all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company has been duly authorized and is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(g) Each subsidiary of the Company that is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 405 (individually, a “ Subsidiary ” and collectively, the “ Subsidiaries ”) has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package; and each Subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary has been duly authorized and is validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(h) The Terms Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(i) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and has been duly authorized and, when executed and delivered by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability.

(j) The Securities have been duly authorized and, on the Closing Date, the Securities will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and delivered and paid for as provided in this Agreement, will be the valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability.

(k) The Indenture conforms, and the Securities will conform, in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(l) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to include any securities with the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(m) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement and the Indenture, and the issuance and sale of the Securities, will not contravene (i) any provision of applicable law; (ii) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company; (iii) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company; or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary (except, in the case of (i), (iii) and (iv), for contraventions that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

3


(n) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or the Indenture in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities, except such as (i) may be required by the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states or other jurisdictions in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities or (ii) the failure of which to obtain would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, in each case, which is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Disclosure Package or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case except as described in the Disclosure Package.

(p) The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses except for such certificates, authorizations and permits, the failure of which to obtain, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except as described the Disclosure Package.

(q) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists, except as described in the Disclosure Package, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.

(r) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package and are not so described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Disclosure Package or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

(s) The financial statements and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Base Prospectus comply or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in all material respects in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or Disclosure Package has been derived from the records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus fairly present the required information and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(t) The Company is not required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(u) To the knowledge of the Company or except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them, except where the failure to own, possess or acquire any

 

4


of the foregoing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and, except as described in the Disclosure Package, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing that, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) The Company maintains a system of 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 U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) amounts reflected on the Company’s balance sheet 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 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus fairly present the required information and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection with an offering of Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby on the date of such certificate.

2. Purchase and Sale . (a) The several commitments of the Underwriters to purchase Securities pursuant to the Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth.

(b) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Terms Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (ii) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is, and has been, acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company directly or indirectly, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed, or will assume, an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any similar obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in the Terms Agreement and (iv) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

3. Delivery and Payment . Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, any Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at such place as shall be set forth in the Terms Agreement (which, in the case of Securities in bearer form, shall be at a place located outside of the United States), at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third Business Day (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 9 hereof) following the date of the Terms Agreement or such other time as shall be agreed upon by you and the Company (such time and date being referred to as the “ Closing Date ”). Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the order of the Company against delivery to you for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them (unless such Securities are issuable only in the form of a single global Security registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary, in which event the Underwriters’ interest in such global certificate shall be noted in a manner satisfactory to the Underwriters and their counsel). Such Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as you may request in writing at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date. Such Securities, which may be in temporary form, will be made available for examination and packaging by you on or before the first Business Day prior to the Closing Date.

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

 

5


5. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants with the several Underwriters as follows:

(a) The Company, during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has previously furnished the Representatives a copy thereof for their review and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which they reasonably object, provided , however , that the foregoing requirement shall not apply to any of the Company’s periodic or current reports required to be filed with or furnished to the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 13(f), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or to any other report that the Company in its good faith judgment believes is required by law or regulation to be filed with or furnished to the Commission. Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Company will (i) cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any supplement thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) as soon as reasonably practicable. Except for the filing of any of the Company’s periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly advise the Representatives of (i) the filing of the Final Prospectus and any supplement thereto, (ii) prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the filing and effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration Statement, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or notice of suspension of qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(b) If so indicated in the Terms Agreement, to prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, substantially in the form provided to the Company by you on or prior to the date hereof, which shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company and to file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.

(c) If, during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the prospectus is to be delivered, not misleading, or in the Underwriters’ or Company’s opinion it is necessary to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to comply with applicable law, the Company will (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to immediately notify the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) subject to paragraph (a) of this Section 5 , amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

(d) If, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the prospectus is to be delivered, not misleading, or in the Underwriters’ or Company’s opinion it is necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company will (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to immediately notify the Representatives of any such event, (ii) subject to paragraph (a) of this Section 5 , amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in the use of the Final Prospectus, and (iv) supply any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.

 

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(e) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 (other than any such earnings statement available via the Commission’s EDGAR system).

(f) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(g) The Company will endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request; provided , however , that nothing contained herein shall require the Company to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction, to execute a general consent to service of process in any state or to subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it is otherwise not so subject.

(h) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433, other than, if applicable, a free writing prospectus containing the information contained in the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule III to the Terms Agreement and any electronic road show; provided further that each of the Underwriters may, if applicable, use one or more term sheets relating to the Securities containing customary information, not inconsistent with the form of the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof, without the prior consent of the Company. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

(i) The Company, during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), will file promptly all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of the Exchange Act.

(j) If so indicated in the Terms Agreement, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt or equity securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, except as set forth in the Terms Agreement and until after the expiration of the restricted period set forth in the Terms Agreement.

(k) The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and expenses of the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the

 

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Underwriters, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) the cost of printing or 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, 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 not to exceed $5,000, (iii) all fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act and, if applicable, the listing of the Securities on a securities exchange or admission to trading of the Securities on a quotation system, (iv) the cost of the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, (v) 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, (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities, (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties) and (viii) 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 and Sections 7 and 8 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the 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.

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Securities pursuant to the Terms Agreement are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Effective Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company’s officers made in each certificate furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance and observance by the Company of all covenants and agreements herein contained on its part to be performed and observed and to the following further conditions:

(a) The Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, has been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); if applicable, the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(b) hereof, and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened.

(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion and negative comfort letters, each dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

(c) The Company shall have requested and caused Matheson, Irish solicitors to Google Ireland Holdings, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives an opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

(d) The Representatives shall have received from counsel for the Underwriters set forth in the Terms Agreement such opinion and negative comfort letter, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the Company, signed by an executive officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and the Indenture and that:

(i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened;

 

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(ii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date; and

(iii) there has not occurred any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, which event or condition is not described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

(f) The Company shall have requested and caused Ernst & Young LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, on or prior to the date of the Terms Agreement and on the Closing Date, letters, (which may refer to letters previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated respectively as of the date of delivery thereof and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder, and 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 Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date of the Terms Agreement.

(g) Subsequent to the date of the Terms Agreement or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have occurred any 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 Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) that, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, is so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(h) Subsequent to the date of the Terms Agreement or, if earlier, the dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), 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 debt securities of the Company by Standard and Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. that, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

(i) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of counsel for the Underwriters, at the address set forth in the Terms Agreement, on the Closing Date.

7. Payment of Expenses . 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 severally through the Representatives on demand, 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.

 

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8. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each of your affiliates within the meaning of Rule 405 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 (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or caused any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Disclosure Package, or the Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, 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 such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. The obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have.

(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 this Section 8 , 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 reasonable 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 indemnified party, 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 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

 

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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 (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 8 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 by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits 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 total 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 Final Prospectus, bear to the aggregate 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 their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to above in this paragraph (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 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.

(e) For purposes of this Section 8 , each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and any other affiliate (within the meaning of Rule 405) of any Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of paragraph (d) of this Section 8 .

9. Default . (a) If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this Agreement, the Representatives may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by themselves or another party or other parties satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Securities on such terms. If another party or other parties become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the Representatives or the Company may postpone the Closing Date

 

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for up to seven days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “ Underwriter ” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in the Underwriting Agreement that, pursuant to this Section 9 , purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require the remaining Underwriters to purchase (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set forth opposite their names in the Terms Agreement bears to the aggregate amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, as referred to in paragraph (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 5 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

10. Termination . This Agreement shall be subject to termination by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment there shall have occurred any (i) suspension or material limitation of trading generally on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, (ii) suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, (iii) declaration of any moratorium on commercial banking activities by Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or any change in financial markets affecting the United States or any calamity or crisis that, in the Representatives’ reasonable judgment, is material and adverse and makes it, in the Representatives’ reasonable judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto). Sections 5(k) , 7 , 8 , 13 and 15 hereof shall survive any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section.

11. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery . The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities, rights of contribution and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers, directors, controlling persons or affiliates referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

12. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices sent to the Underwriters shall be directed to you at the address indicated in the Terms Agreement; notices sent to the Company shall be directed to it at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043, Attention: Assistant Secretary, Telephone: (650) 253-0000, E-mail: securities@google.com, Facsimile: (650) 887-1790 or as otherwise set forth in the Terms Agreement.

13. Parties . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon you and the Company, and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed as given to any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Section 8 hereof and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This

 

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Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties and their respective successors and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

14. Integration . This Agreement, including the Terms Agreements, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

15. Governing Law . This Agreement, including the Terms Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such State.

16. Waiver of Jury Trial . The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, each Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

17. Counterparts . Each Terms Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

18. Headings . The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

19. Definitions . In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, the terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Applicable Time ” means the time and date so stated in the Terms Agreement.

Base Prospectus ” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above contained in the Registration Statement at the Effective Time.

Business Day ” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.

Commission ” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Disclosure Package ” shall have the meaning provided in Schedule I to the Terms Agreement.

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

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

Final Prospectus ” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Effective Time, together with the Base Prospectus.

Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

Indenture ” shall have the meaning provided in Schedule I to the Terms Agreement.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

Preliminary Prospectus ” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above which is used prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.

 

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Registration Statement ” shall mean the automatic shelf registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended at each Effective Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.

Rule 158 ,” “ Rule 164 ,” “ Rule 172 ,” “ Rule 405 ,” “ Rule 415 ,” “ Rule 424 ,” “ Rule 430B ,” “ Rule 433 ” and “ Rule 462 ” refer to such rules under the Act.

Trustee ” shall have the meaning provided in Schedule I to the Terms Agreement.

Trust Indenture Act ” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

14


EXHIBIT A

ALPHABET INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

Debt Securities

TERMS AGREEMENT

Date: [                    ]

TO: ALPHABET INC.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, California 94043

Attention: General Counsel

Each Underwriter severally agrees, subject to the terms and provisions of the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), which is incorporated herein in its entirety and made a part hereof, to purchase the principal amount of Debt Securities set forth opposite its name in the table below. General terms applicable to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are set forth in Schedule I hereto. A description of the final terms of Debt Securities subject to this Agreement are set forth in Schedule II hereto. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined shall have the same meaning as given in the Agreement.

 

Name

   Principal Amount
of Debt Securities
 
   $                
   $                

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

A-1


By  

 

Name:  
Title:  
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[Acting on behalf of themselves and the other named Underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto.]

Accepted:

 

ALPHABET INC.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

A-2


Schedule I to the Terms Agreement

GENERAL TERMS

Representatives:

Underwriters:

Counsel for Underwriters and Address:

Trustee:

Applicable Time:

Closing Date and Time:

Closing Location:

Address for Notices to the Underwriters:

*     *     *

Term Sheet: [The Company will prepare and file a final term sheet relating to the Securities as contemplated in Section 5(b) of the Agreement.]

Disclosure Package:

[(i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used most recently prior to the Effective Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto, (iv) if applicable, the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) of the Agreement, if any, and (v) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.]

Indenture:

The indenture, dated as of [                    ], between the Company and the Trustee[, as supplemented by one or more supplemental indentures][, together with the supplemental indenture, dated as of [                    ], between the Company and the Trustee,][, together with the Officer’s Certificate, dated as of [                    ], pursuant to such Indenture,] with respect to the Debt Securities (the “ Indenture ”).

Restricted Period: [From the date of this Terms Agreement through and including the Closing Date.]

 

Schedule I-1


Schedule II to the Terms Agreement

DEBT SECURITIES

Title of Debt Securities:

CUSIP/ISIN:

Principal amount to be issued: $        

Interest rate:    %

Interest payment dates:

Date of maturity:

[Currency of denomination:

Currency of payment:

Form and denomination:

Overseas paying agent: ]

[Reference price:

Conversion premium:

Initial conversion price:

Initial conversion ratio:

Put options for holders:

Adjustment to conversion ratio upon a make-whole event:]

Redemption provisions:

Sinking fund requirements:

Ranking:

Listing:

Other provisions:

Underwriting discount:    %.

Public offering price:    %, plus accrued interest, or amortized original issue discount, if any, from [                    ].

Purchase price:    %, plus accrued interest, or amortized original issue discount, if any, from [                    ] (payable in next day funds).

Proceeds net of aggregate underwriting discount before expenses:

Total net proceeds:

 

Schedule II-1


Schedule III to the Terms Agreement

Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package

 

a. Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

 

b. Free Writing Prospectuses

 

Schedule III-1

Exhibit 4.3

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of

February 12, 2016

Between

ALPHABET INC.,

as Company

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

 

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE I   
DEFINITIONS   

Section 1.01

 

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.02

 

Rules of Construction

     8   
ARTICLE II   
FORMS OF SECURITIES   

Section 2.01

 

Form Generally

     9   

Section 2.02

 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

     9   

Section 2.03

 

Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent

     9   
ARTICLE III   
THE DEBT SECURITIES   

Section 3.01

 

Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series

     10   

Section 3.02

 

Denominations

     13   

Section 3.03

 

Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating

     13   

Section 3.04

 

Temporary Securities

     15   

Section 3.05

 

Registrar and Paying Agent

     16   

Section 3.06

 

Transfer and Exchange

     16   

Section 3.07

 

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

     20   

Section 3.08

 

Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved

     21   

Section 3.09

 

Cancellation

     22   

Section 3.10

 

Computation of Interest

     22   

Section 3.11

 

Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities

     22   

Section 3.12

 

CUSIP Numbers

     24   
ARTICLE IV   
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES   

Section 4.01

 

Applicability of Right of Redemption

     24   

Section 4.02

 

Selection of Securities to be Redeemed

     24   

Section 4.03

 

Notice of Redemption

     25   

Section 4.04

 

Deposit of Redemption Price

     26   

Section 4.05

 

Securities Payable on Redemption Date

     26   

Section 4.06

 

Securities Redeemed in Part

     26   

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  
ARTICLE V   
SINKING FUNDS   

Section 5.01

 

Applicability of Sinking Fund

     27   

Section 5.02

 

Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation

     27   

Section 5.03

 

Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price

     27   

Section 5.04

 

Application of Sinking Fund Payment

     28   
ARTICLE VI   
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY   

Section 6.01

 

Payments of Principal, Premium and Interest

     29   

Section 6.02

 

Maintenance of Office or Agency; Paying Agent

     29   

Section 6.03

 

To Hold Payment in Trust

     29   

Section 6.04

 

Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

     31   

Section 6.05

 

Compliance Certificate

     32   

Section 6.06

 

Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities

     32   

Section 6.07

 

Statement by Officers as to Default

     32   
ARTICLE VII   
REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS   

Section 7.01

 

Events of Default

     32   

Section 7.02

 

Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment

     34   

Section 7.03

 

Other Remedies

     35   

Section 7.04

 

Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact

     36   

Section 7.05

 

Priorities

     36   

Section 7.06

 

Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults

     37   

Section 7.07

 

Limitation on Suits

     37   

Section 7.08

 

Undertaking for Costs

     38   

Section 7.09

 

Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     38   
ARTICLE VIII   
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS   

Section 8.01

 

Evidence of Action of Securityholders

     39   

Section 8.02

 

Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities

     39   

Section 8.03

 

Persons Deemed Owners

     40   

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 8.04

 

Effect of Consents

     40   
ARTICLE IX   
SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS   

Section 9.01

 

Purposes of Meetings

     40   

Section 9.02

 

Call of Meetings by Trustee

     41   

Section 9.03

 

Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders

     41   

Section 9.04

 

Qualifications for Voting

     41   

Section 9.05

 

Regulation of Meetings

     41   

Section 9.06

 

Voting

     42   

Section 9.07

 

No Delay of Rights by Meeting

     43   
ARTICLE X   
REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS   

Section 10.01

 

Reports by Trustee

     43   

Section 10.02

 

Reports by the Company

     43   

Section 10.03

 

Securityholders’ Lists

     44   
ARTICLE XI   
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE   

Section 11.01

 

Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity

     44   

Section 11.02

 

Duties of Trustee

     47   

Section 11.03

 

Notice of Defaults

     48   

Section 11.04

 

Eligibility; Disqualification

     48   

Section 11.05

 

Resignation and Notice; Removal

     49   

Section 11.06

 

Successor Trustee by Appointment

     50   

Section 11.07

 

Successor Trustee by Merger

     51   

Section 11.08

 

Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate

     52   

Section 11.09

 

Appointment of Authenticating Agent

     52   

Section 11.10

 

Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders

     53   
ARTICLE XII   
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE   

Section 12.01

 

Applicability of Article

     53   

Section 12.02

 

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     53   

 

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

Section 12.03

 

Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations

     55   

Section 12.04

 

Repayment to Company

     55   

Section 12.05

 

Indemnity for Government Obligations

     55   

Section 12.06

 

Deposits to Be Held in Escrow

     56   

Section 12.07

 

Application of Trust Money

     56   

Section 12.08

 

Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies

     57   
ARTICLE XIII   
IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS   

Section 13.01

 

No Personal Liability

     57   
ARTICLE XIV   
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   

Section 14.01

 

Without Consent of Securityholders

     58   

Section 14.02

 

With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations

     59   

Section 14.03

 

Trustee Protected

     60   

Section 14.04

 

Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture

     61   

Section 14.05

 

Notation on or Exchange of Securities

     61   

Section 14.06

 

Conformity with TIA

     61   
ARTICLE XV   
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES   

Section 15.01

 

Agreement to Subordinate

     61   

Section 15.02

 

Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities

     61   

Section 15.03

 

No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness

     63   

Section 15.04

 

Payments on Securities Permitted

     63   

Section 15.05

 

Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination

     64   

Section 15.06

 

Notices to Trustee

     64   

Section 15.07

 

Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness

     64   

Section 15.08

 

Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness

     65   

Section 15.09

 

Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent

     65   

Section 15.10

 

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

     65   

Section 15.11

 

Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness

     65   

 

iv


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  
ARTICLE XVI   
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS   

Section 16.01

 

Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent

     66   

Section 16.02

 

Trust Indenture Act Controls

     67   

Section 16.03

 

Notices to the Company and Trustee

     67   

Section 16.04

 

Notices to Securityholders; Waiver

     68   

Section 16.05

 

Legal Holiday

     68   

Section 16.06

 

Effects of Headings and Table of Contents

     68   

Section 16.07

 

Successors and Assigns

     68   

Section 16.08

 

Severability

     68   

Section 16.09

 

Benefits of Indenture

     69   

Section 16.10

 

Counterparts

     69   

Section 16.11

 

Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

     69   

Section 16.12

 

Force Majeure

     69   

Section 16.13

 

FATCA

     69   

EXHIBITS

    

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Security

  

 

v


INDENTURE dated as of February 12, 2016, between ALPHABET INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the “ Securities ”) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as defined below) thereof for the equal and proportionate benefit of all of the present and future Holders of the Securities, each party agrees and covenants as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions .

(a) Unless otherwise defined in this Indenture or the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Indenture Act.

(b) Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Section 1.01(b) shall for all purposes of this Indenture have the meanings hereinafter set forth, the following definitions to be equally applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of any of the terms herein defined:

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

Authenticating Agent ” has the meaning provided in Section 11.09.

Authorized Officers ” means the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Treasurer, Controller, Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code.


Board of Directors ” means either the board of directors of the Company or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect hereof.

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

Business Day ” means, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which commercial banks in such Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

Capital Stock ” means:

(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as in effect on the date hereof.

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

Company Order ” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any of the Authorized Officers and delivered to the Trustee.

Corporate Trust Office ,” or other similar term, 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 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90017, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration], or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust officer of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).

Currency ” means U.S. Dollars or Foreign Currency.

 

2


Currency Determination Agent ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.11(d).

Default ” has the meaning provided in Section 11.03.

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.08(b).

Depositary ” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Depositary ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “ Depositary ” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

Designated Currency ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.11(a).

Discharged ” has the meaning provided in Section 12.03.

Event of Default ” has the meaning provided in Section 7.01.

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

Exchange Rate ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.11(d).

Floating Rate Security ” means a Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

Foreign Currency ” means a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States or a composite currency, the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.

GAAP ” means, with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder, shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States as in effect from time to time, including, without limitation, those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession.

Global Security ” means any Security that evidences all or part of a series of Securities, issued in fully-registered certificated form to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Section 3.03 and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 3.03(f).

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 payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit

 

3


obligation by the United States, that, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option 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 Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a 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 Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Holder ,” “ Holder of Securities, ” or “ Securityholder ” mean the Person in whose name Securities are registered in the Register.

Indebtedness ” means 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.

Indenture ” means this instrument and all indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

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

Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment ” has the meaning provided in Section 5.01(b).

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

Members ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.03(h).

Notice of Default ” has the meaning provided in Section 7.01(d).

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed by any of the Authorized Officers and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 16.01 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

Opinion of Counsel ” means an opinion in writing reasonably acceptable to the Trustee signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or who may be other counsel, that meets the applicable requirements provided for in Section 16.01.

Optional Sinking Fund Payment ” has the meaning provided in Section 5.01(b).

Original Issue Discount Security ” means any Security that is issued with “original issue discount” within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder and any other Security designated by the Company as issued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes.

 

4


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

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

(2) Securities or portions thereof for which payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities or Securities as to which the Company’s obligations have been Discharged; provided , however , that if such Securities or portions thereof are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

(3) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.07(b) or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of a series Outstanding have performed any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding unless the Company, such Affiliate or such other obligor owns all of such Securities, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such action, only Securities of such series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, the decision of the Trustee upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all such Debt Securities, if any, known by the Company to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above described Persons; and, subject to the provisions of Section 11.01, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all such Debt Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of a series have performed any action hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02 and the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount calculated pursuant to Section 3.11(b).

 

5


Paying Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company. The Company may act as Paying Agent with respect to Securities of any series issued hereunder.

Person ” shall mean an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or political subdivision thereof.

Place of Payment ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.01(h).

Predecessor Security ” means, with respect to any Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

Record Date ” means, with respect to any interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, the close of business on such date specified in such Security for the payment of interest pursuant to Section 3.01.

Redemption Date ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture and the terms of such Security, which, in the case of a Floating Rate Security, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, shall be an Interest Payment Date only.

Redemption Price ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to the terms of the Security and this Indenture.

Register ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.05(a).

Registrar ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.05(a).

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Department (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as constituted from time to time.

Security ” or “ Securities ” means any security or securities, as the case may be, duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered under this Indenture.

 

6


Security Custodian ” means the custodian with respect to any Global Security appointed by the Depositary, or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be the Paying Agent.

Senior Indebtedness ” means the principal of, premium, if any, or 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 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. This definition may be modified or superseded by a supplemental indenture.

Special Record Date ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.08(b)(i).

Stated Maturity ” means, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of interest thereon, the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal (or any portion thereof) of or premium, if any, on such Security or such installment of interest is due and payable.

Subsidiary ” means, when used with respect to any Person:

(1) any corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders’ agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, association or other business entity that is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

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

 

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

Successor Company ” has the meaning provided in Section 3.06(i).

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).

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

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

U.S. Dollars ” or “ $ ” means such currency of the United States as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

United States ” shall mean the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories and its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

Section 1.02 Rules of Construction . For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

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

(b) references to “ Article ” or “ Section ” or other subdivision herein are references to an Article, Section or other subdivision of the Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires; and

(c) references to any agreement, instrument, statute or regulation defined or referred to herein or in any instrument establishing the terms of any Securities (or executed in connection therewith) are references to such agreement, instrument, statute or regulation as from time to time amended, modified, supplemented or replaced, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and by succession of comparable successor agreements, instruments, statutes or regulations.

 

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ARTICLE II

FORMS OF SECURITIES

Section 2.01 Form Generally .

(a) The Securities of each series shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto or as shall be established pursuant to a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which any series of the Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such series may be quoted, or to conform to usage, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

(b) The terms and provisions of the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

Section 2.02 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

(a) Only such of the Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate substantially in the form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication hereinafter recited, executed by the Trustee by manual signature, shall be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or entitle the Holder thereof to any right or benefit under this Indenture.

(b) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

(c) The form of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be substantially as follows:

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

 

Date of authentication:                         

[NAME OF TRUSTEE],

as Trustee

    By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory

Section 2.03 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent . If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s certificate of authentication by such Authenticating Agent to be borne by Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:

 

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TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities issued referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

Date of authentication:                         

[NAME OF TRUSTEE],

as Trustee

    By:   [NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT]
      as Authenticating Agent
    By:  

 

      Authorized Signatory

ARTICLE III

THE DEBT SECURITIES

Section 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series . The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. There shall be set forth in a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series, except to the extent that additional Securities of an existing series are being issued);

(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 4.06, or 14.05);

(c) the dates on which or periods during which the Securities of the series may be issued, and the dates on, or the range of dates within, which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series are or may be payable or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended;

(d) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, and the Record Dates for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on such Interest Payment Dates or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the duration of such extension or deferral;

 

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(e) if other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency in which Securities of the series shall be denominated or in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable and any other terms applicable thereto;

(f) if the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method including, but not limited to, an index based on a Currency or Currencies other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(g) if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated or stated to be payable without such election, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made and the time and the manner of determining the Exchange Rate (in addition to or in lieu of the provision set forth in Section 3.11) between the Currency in which the Securities are denominated or payable without such election and the Currency in which the Securities are to be paid if such election is made;

(h) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, and where Securities of any series may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made (each such place, the “ Place of Payment ”);

(i) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;

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

(k) if other than denominations of $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02;

(m) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities and the amount of discount with which such Securities may be issued;

 

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(n) provisions, if any, for the defeasance of Securities of the series in whole or in part and any addition or change in the provisions related to satisfaction and discharge;

(o) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, (i) the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities, (ii) the form of legend in addition to or in lieu of that in Section 3.03(f) which shall be borne by such Global Security and (iii) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented thereby;

(p) the date as of which any Global Security of the series shall be dated if other than the original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;

(q) the form of the Securities of the series;

(r) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities or property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be so convertible or exchangeable, and any additions or changes, if any, to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;

(s) whether the Securities of such series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;

(t) whether the Securities of such series shall be secured;

(u) any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series;

(v) any addition or change in the provisions related to compensation and reimbursement of the Trustee which applies to Securities of such series;

(w) any addition or change in the provisions related to supplemental indentures set forth in Sections 14.01, 14.02 and 14.04 which applies to Securities of such series;

(x) provisions, if any, granting special rights to Holders upon the occurrence of specified events;

(y) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 and any addition or change in the provisions set forth in Article VII which applies to Securities of the series;

(z) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article VI which applies to Securities of the series; and

 

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(aa) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 14.01, but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such series), including any terms which may be required by or advisable under the laws of the United States or regulations thereunder or advisable (as determined by the Company) in connection with the marketing of Securities of the series.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or set forth in a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto.

Section 3.02 Denominations . In the absence of any specification pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable only as Securities in denominations of $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, and shall be payable only in U.S. Dollars.

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

(a) The Securities shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company by any of the Authorized Officers. Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such officer. If the Person whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated and delivered, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

(b) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities and, if required pursuant to Section 3.01, a supplemental indenture, Company Order or Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the Securities of a series. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities without any further action by the Company. The Company Order shall specify the principal amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.

(c) In authenticating Securities of any series and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 11.02) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate, prepared in accordance with Section 16.01 stating that the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture have been complied with, and an Opinion of Counsel, prepared in accordance with Section 16.01 and substantially in the form set forth below:

(i) that the form or forms of such Securities have been established in accordance with Article II and Section 3.01 and in conformity with the other provisions of this Indenture;

(ii) that the terms of such Securities have been established in accordance with Section 3.01 and in conformity with the other provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(iii) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general equity principles; and

(iv) that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture in respect of the authentication and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel is delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued; provided that nothing in this clause (c) is intended to derogate Trustee’s rights to receive an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel under Section 16.01.

(d) The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities under this Section 3.03 if the issue of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise.

(e) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

(f) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, if in registered form, in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.

The aggregate principal amount of each Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Security Custodian, as provided in this Indenture.

(g) Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as such Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

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(h) Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“ Members ”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Security Custodian under such Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar and any of their agents as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar or any of their agents from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Security. The Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Members and Persons that may hold interests through Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

(i) No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in one of the forms provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee or by an Authenticating Agent by manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

Section 3.04 Temporary Securities .

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such temporary Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such temporary Securities. Any such temporary Security may be in global form, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Security or Securities in lieu of which it is issued.

(b) If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of such temporary Securities at the office or agency maintained by the Company in a Place of Payment for such purposes provided in Section 6.02, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall

 

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authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

(c) Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Securities represented thereby pursuant to this Section 3.04 or Section 3.06, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed.

Section 3.05 Registrar and Paying Agent .

(a) The Company shall keep, at an office or agency to be maintained by it in a Place of Payment where Securities may be presented for registration or presented and surrendered for registration of transfer or of exchange, and where Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable (the “ Registrar ”), a security register for the registration and the registration of transfer or of exchange of the Securities (the registers maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “ Register ”), as in this Indenture provided, which Register shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection by the Trustee. Such Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Company may have one or more co-Registrars; the term “ Registrar ” includes any co-registrar.

(b) The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or co-Registrar not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar for any series, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 11.01. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Registrar, co-Registrar or transfer agent.

(c) The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Registrar in connection with the Securities and this Indenture, until such time as another Person is appointed as such in replacement of the Trustee as such. No Person shall at any time be appointed as or act as Registrar unless such Person is at such time empowered under applicable law to act as such Registrar.

Section 3.06 Transfer and Exchange .

(a) Transfer .

(i) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Registrar, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or

 

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more new Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations. The transfer of any Security shall not be valid as against the Company or the Trustee unless registered at the Registrar at the request of the Holder, or at the request of his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented thereby, a Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(b) Exchange .

(i) At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at the Registrar.

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

(c) Exchange of Global Securities for Individual Securities . Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities shall not be entitled to receive individual Securities.

(i) Individual Securities shall be issued to all owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security in exchange for such interests if: (A) at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.03(g) and, in each case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, or (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and the Registrar an Officer’s Certificate stating that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable.

In connection with the exchange of an entire Global Security for individual Securities pursuant to this subsection (c), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of individual Securities of authorized denominations.

 

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(ii) The owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall be entitled to receive an individual Security in exchange for such interest if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon receipt by the Security Custodian and Registrar of instructions from the Holder of a Global Security directing the Security Custodian and Registrar to (x) issue one or more individual Securities in the amounts specified to the owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security and (y) debit or cause to be debited an equivalent amount of beneficial interest in such Global Security, subject to the rules and regulations of the Depositary:

(A) the Security Custodian and Registrar shall notify the Company and the Trustee of such instructions, identifying the owner and amount of such beneficial interest in such Global Security;

(B) the Company shall promptly execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver to such beneficial owner individual Securities in an equivalent amount to such beneficial interest in such Global Security; and

(C) the Security Custodian and Registrar shall decrease such Global Security by such amount in accordance with the foregoing. In the event that the individual Securities are not issued to each such beneficial owner promptly after the Registrar has received a request from the Holder of a Global Security to issue such individual Securities, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 7.07, the right of any beneficial Holder of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial Holder’s Securities as if such individual Securities had been issued.

(iii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for individual Securities of such series on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

(A) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new individual Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and

(B) to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of individual Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

 

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(iv) In any exchange provided for in clauses (i) through (iii), the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver individual Securities in registered form in authorized denominations.

(v) Upon the exchange in full of a Global Security for individual Securities, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Individual Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

(d) All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered for such registration of transfer or exchange.

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

(f) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Company’s own expense or without expense or charge to the Holders.

(g) The Company shall not be required to (i) register, transfer or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 calendar days before the day of the transmission of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 4.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmission, or (ii) register, transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

(h) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer or exchange of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar, any co-Registrar or any of their agents may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for all purposes whatsoever, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar, any co-Registrar or any of their agents shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

 

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(i) In case a successor Company (“ Successor Company ”) has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article XIV, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered pursuant to such transaction may, from time to time, at the request of the Successor Company, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the Successor Company with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Company Order of the Successor Company, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such Company Order for the purpose of such exchange. If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a Successor Company pursuant to this Section 3.06 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such Successor Company, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities at the time Outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.

(j) Each Holder of a Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder’s Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities laws.

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

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

Section 3.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

(a) If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to them to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, then the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding, and neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from such exchange or substitution.

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

(c) Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.07, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) in connection therewith.

 

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

(e) The provisions of this Section 3.07 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

Section 3.08 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

(a) Interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the Record Date. Payment of interest on Securities shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01) or, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Register or, in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.

(b) Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Record Date by virtue of his, her or its having been such a Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “ Special Record Date ”), which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Company, in consultation with the Trustee, shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 calendar days and not less than 10 calendar days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 calendar days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly thereafter, in the name and at the expense of

 

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the Company, cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be transmitted to the Holders of such Securities at their addresses as they appear in the Register, not less than 10 calendar days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been transmitted as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii).

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such Securities may be quoted, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or quotation system, as applicable, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

(c) Subject to the foregoing provisions in this Section 3.08, each Security delivered under this Indenture in exchange or substitution for, or upon registration of transfer of, any other Security shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

Section 3.09 Cancellation . Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or credit against any sinking fund or otherwise shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and shall be promptly cancelled by it and, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all cancelled Securities held by it in accordance with its then customary procedures, unless otherwise directed by a Company Order, and deliver a certificate of such disposal to the Company upon its request therefor. The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 3.10 Computation of Interest . Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Section 3.11 Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities .

(a) The Company may provide pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series that (i) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or U.S. Dollars (the “ Designated

 

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Currency ”) as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of such Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (ii) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other Currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency) immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (iii) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (iv) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, Securities of such series shall be made in U.S. Dollars.

(b) If the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security is payable in a Foreign Currency and such Currency is not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by making such payment in U.S. Dollars in an amount equivalent of the amount payable in such other Currency at the Exchange Rate as determined pursuant to clause (d) below. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary herein, any payment made under such circumstances in U.S. Dollars where the required payment is in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars shall not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.

(c) For purposes of any provision of the Indenture where the Holders of Outstanding Securities may perform an action that requires that a specified percentage of the Outstanding Securities of all series perform such action and for purposes of any decision or determination by the Trustee of amounts due and unpaid for the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of all series in respect of which moneys are to be disbursed ratably, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be the amount in U.S. Dollars based upon the Exchange Rate as determined pursuant to clause (d) below (or as specified pursuant to Section 3.01, if applicable) for Securities of such series, as of the date for determining whether the Holders entitled to perform such action have performed it or as of the date of such decision or determination by the Trustee, as the case may be.

(d) Any decision or determination to be made regarding the Exchange Rate shall be made by the Company or an agent appointed by the Company (the Company, in such capacity, or such agent, the “ Currency Determination Agent ”); provided that such agent shall accept such appointment in writing and the terms of such appointment shall, in the opinion of the Company at the time of such appointment, require such agent to make such determination by a method consistent with the method provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for the making of such

 

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decision or determination. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, “ Exchange Rate ” shall mean, for any Currency, the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers for such Currency as the applicable Exchange Rate, as such rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available rate. All decisions and determinations of such agent regarding the Exchange Rate shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee and all Holders of the Securities.

Section 3.12 CUSIP Numbers . The Company in issuing any Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption or exchange, as a convenience to Holders, with respect to such series; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers.

ARTICLE IV

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section 4.01 Applicability of Right of Redemption . Redemption of Securities (other than pursuant to a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision) permitted by the terms of any series of Securities shall be made (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article; provided , however , that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

Section 4.02 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .

(a) If the Company shall at any time elect to redeem all or any portion of the Securities of a series then Outstanding, it shall at least 15 calendar days (or such shorter period acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the date the notice of redemption is to be delivered to Holders, notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary and may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. In any case where more than one Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security of such series.

 

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(b) For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.

Section 4.03 Notice of Redemption .

(a) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, not less than 30 nor more than 60 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date, to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed in whole or in part pursuant to this Article, in the manner provided in Section 16.04; provided that the Trustee be provided with the draft notice at least 15 days prior to sending such notice of redemption. Any notice given in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. Failure to give such notice, or any defect in such notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption, in whole or in part, shall not affect the sufficiency of any notice of redemption with respect to the Holder of any other Security of such series.

(b) All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if available) and shall state:

(i) such election by the Company to redeem Securities of such series pursuant to provisions contained in this Indenture or the terms of the Securities of such series in a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or a supplemental indenture establishing such series, if such be the case;

(ii) the Redemption Date;

(iii) the Redemption Price;

(iv) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the Securities of such series to be redeemed;

(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price shall become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed, and that, if applicable, interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;

(vi) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and

(vii) if applicable, that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

 

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Section 4.04 Deposit of Redemption Price . On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Securities, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 6.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of such Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.

Section 4.05 Securities Payable on Redemption Date . If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, any Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price and from and after such date (unless the Company shall Default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest, and, except as provided in Section 12.07, such Securities shall cease from and after the Redemption Date to be entitled to any benefit or security under the Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the Redemption Price thereof and unpaid interest to the Redemption Date. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price; provided , however , that (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) installments of interest that have a Stated Maturity on or prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities shall be payable according to the terms of such Securities and the provisions of Section 3.08.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal thereof shall, until paid or duly provided for, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

Section 4.06 Securities Redeemed in Part . Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency of the Company as is specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered; provided that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Security or Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.

 

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ARTICLE V

SINKING FUNDS

Section 5.01 Applicability of Sinking Fund .

(a) Redemption of Securities permitted or required pursuant to a sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series by the terms of such series of Securities shall be made in accordance with such terms of such series of Securities and this Article, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series; provided , however , that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.

(b) The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “ Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment ,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “ Optional Sinking Fund Payment .” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 5.02.

Section 5.02 Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation . The Company may, at its option, satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, in whole or in part, with respect to a particular series of Securities by (a) delivering to the Trustee Securities of such series in transferable form theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or redeemed at the election of the Company pursuant to Section 4.03 or (b) receiving credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall credit such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation with an amount equal to the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment shall be reduced accordingly. If the Company shall elect to so satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 calendar days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date a written notice signed on behalf of the Company by any of its Authorized Officers, which shall designate the Securities (and portions thereof, if any) so delivered or credited and which shall be accompanied by such Securities (to the extent not theretofore delivered) in transferable form. In case of the failure of the Company, at or before the time so required, to give such notice and deliver such Securities, the Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation shall be paid entirely in moneys.

Section 5.03 Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price . In addition to the sinking fund requirements of Section 5.02, to the extent, if any, provided for by the terms of a particular series of Securities, the Company may, at its option, make an Optional Sinking Fund Payment with respect to such Securities. Unless otherwise provided by such terms, (a) to the extent that the right of the Company to make such Optional Sinking Fund Payment is not exercised in any year, it shall not be cumulative or carried forward to any subsequent year, and (b) such optional payment shall operate to reduce the amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation as to Securities of the same series. If the Company intends to exercise its right to make such optional payment in any year, it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 calendar days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date a certificate signed by any of its Authorized Officers, stating that the Company shall exercise such optional right, and specifying the amount which the Company shall pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Such certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

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Section 5.04 Application of Sinking Fund Payment .

(a) If the sinking fund payment or payments made in funds pursuant to either Section 5.02 or 5.03 with respect to a particular series of Securities plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in funds with respect to such series shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request, or such equivalent sum for Securities denominated other than in U.S. Dollars), it shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date next following the date of such payment; provided that, if the date of such payment shall be a sinking fund payment date, such payment shall be applied on such sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the Redemption Price specified pursuant to Section 4.03(b). The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 4.02, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date, a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said funds, as nearly as may be, and shall, at the expense and in the name of the Company, thereupon cause notice of redemption, prepared by the Company, of the Securities to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 4.03(a) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company, except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Securities are being redeemed for the sinking fund. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next sinking fund payment received in funds by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.04. Any and all sinking fund moneys held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

(b) On or prior to each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee a sum equal to all interest accrued to but not including the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 5.04.

(c) The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or deliver any notice of redemption of Securities of such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on any Securities of such series or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) of which the Trustee has actual knowledge, except that if the notice of redemption of any Securities of such series shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities if funds sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Article. Except as above provided, any moneys in the sinking fund at the time any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of all the Securities of such series; provided , however , that in case such Default or Event of Default shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date on which such moneys are required to be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.04.

 

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ARTICLE VI

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

The Company hereby covenants and agrees as follows:

Section 6.01 Payments of Principal, Premium and Interest . The Company, for the benefit of each series of Securities, shall duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, each series of Securities, at the dates and place and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture.

Section 6.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency; Paying Agent .

(a) The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, if any, an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

(b) The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies where the Securities of any series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and of any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency. The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Paying Agent.

Section 6.03 To Hold Payment in Trust .

(a) If the Company or an Affiliate thereof shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, then, on or before the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption shall become payable, the Company or such Affiliate shall segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest which shall have so become payable until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act in that regard.

Upon any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state bankruptcy laws with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof, if the Company or such Affiliate is then acting as Paying Agent, the Trustee shall promptly replace the Company or such Affiliate as Paying Agent.

 

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(b) If the Company shall appoint, and at the time have, a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any series of Securities, then prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series shall become payable as above provided, whether by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption, the Company shall deposit with such Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee), the Company or any other obligor of such Securities shall promptly notify the Trustee of its payment or failure to make such payment.

(c) If the Paying Agent shall be other than the Trustee, the Company shall cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 6.03, that such Paying Agent shall:

(i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as Paying Agent;

(ii) hold all moneys held by it for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

(iii) give to the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series in the making of any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series; and

(iv) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

(d) Anything in this Section 6.03 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a release, satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee as required by this Section 6.03, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent and, upon such payment by a Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

(e) Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Order along with any interest that has accumulated thereon as a result of such money being invested at the direction of the Company (or, if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust), and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured

 

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general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such amounts without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 calendar days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.

Section 6.04 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets . Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities:

(a) The Company shall not consolidate with any other entity or accept a merger of any other entity into the Company or permit the Company to be merged into any other entity, or sell other than for cash or lease all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to another entity, unless (i) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and shall expressly assume, by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered by such entity prior to or simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, sale or lease, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all other obligations to the Holders and the Trustee under this Indenture or under the Securities to be performed or observed by the Company; and (ii) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale or lease, the Company or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) would not be in Default in the performance of any covenant or condition of this Indenture.

(b) Upon any consolidation with or merger into any other entity, or any sale other than for cash, or any conveyance or lease, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with this Section 6.04, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which the Company is sold or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and from time to time such entity may exercise each and every right and power of the Company under this Indenture, in the name of the Company, or in its own name; and any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture required or permitted to be done by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company may be done with like force and effect by the like board of directors or officer of any entity that shall at the time be the successor of the Company hereunder. In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company (or any successor entity which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Section 6.04) shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may thereupon be dissolved and liquidated.

 

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Section 6.05 Compliance Certificate . The Company shall furnish to the Trustee annually, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or treasurer as to his or her knowledge of the Company’s compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture (which compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) and, in the event of any Default, specifying each such Default and the nature and status thereof of which such person may have knowledge. Such certificates need not comply with Section 16.01 of this Indenture.

Section 6.06 Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities . Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may fail or omit in any particular instance to comply with a covenant or condition set forth herein with respect to any series of Securities if the Company shall have obtained and filed with the Trustee, prior to the time of such failure or omission, evidence (as provided in Article VIII) of the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series affected by such waiver and at the time Outstanding, either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, or impair any right consequent thereon and, until such waiver shall have become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 6.07 Statement by Officers as to Default . The Company shall deliver to the Trustee as soon as possible and in any event within 30 calendar days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

ARTICLE VII

REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 7.01 Events of Default . Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term “ Event of Default ” as used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series shall mean one of the following described events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated in Section 3.01:

(a) the failure of the Company to pay any installment of interest on any Security of such series when and as the same shall become payable, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 calendar days;

(b) the failure of the Company to pay the principal of and premium, if any, on any Security of such series, when and as the same shall become payable, whether at Maturity as therein expressed, by call for redemption (otherwise than pursuant to a sinking fund), by declaration as authorized by this Indenture or otherwise;

 

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(c) the failure of the Company to pay a sinking fund installment, if any, when and as the same shall become payable by the terms of a Security of such series, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 calendar days;

(d) the failure of the Company, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, to perform any covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture, including any indenture supplemental hereto pursuant to which the Securities of such series were issued as contemplated by Section 3.01 (other than a covenant or agreement which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series and other than a covenant or agreement a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section 7.01 specifically addressed), which failure shall not have been remedied, or without provision deemed to be adequate for the remedying thereof having been made, for a period of 90 calendar days after written notice shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or shall have been given to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such failure, requiring the Company to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a “ Notice of Default ” hereunder;

(e) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (i) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar law or (ii) a decree or order adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal, state or foreign law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator, or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs (or any similar relief granted under any foreign laws), and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive calendar days;

(f) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief with respect to the Company under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator, or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property pursuant to any such law, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

(g) the occurrence of any other Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 3.01.

 

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Section 7.02 Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment .

(a) Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, if any one or more of the above-described Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f)) shall happen with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, during the continuance of any such Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the principal amount of all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any declaration or any other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become due and payable immediately. Upon payment of such amounts in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 3.11 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01), all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of such series shall terminate.

(b) At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Event of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if:

(i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 3.11 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay:

(A) all amounts owing to the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a) ( provided , however , that all sums payable under this clause (A) shall be paid in U.S. Dollars);

(B) all arrears of interest, if any, upon all the Securities of such series (with interest, to the extent that interest thereon shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue installment of interest at the rate borne by such Securities at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities); and

(C) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon;

 

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(ii) every other Default and Event of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 7.06.

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

(d) For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.

Section 7.03 Other Remedies . If the Company shall fail for a period of 30 calendar days to pay any installment of interest on the Securities of any series or shall fail to pay the principal of and premium, if any, on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity, or by call for redemption (other than pursuant to the sinking fund), by declaration as authorized by this Indenture, or otherwise, or shall fail for a period of 30 calendar days to make any required sinking fund payment as to a series of Securities, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Paying Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series then Outstanding, the whole amount which then shall have become due and payable on all the Securities of such series, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (so far as the same may be legally enforceable) on the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities of such series, and all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a).

In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, wherever situated, in the manner provided by law. Every recovery of judgment in any such action or other proceeding, subject to the payment to the Trustee of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a), shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of such series of Securities which shall be the subject of such action or proceeding. All rights of action upon or under any of the Securities or this Indenture may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities and without the production of any thereof at any trial or any proceeding relative thereto.

 

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Section 7.04 Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact . The Trustee is hereby appointed, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have appointed the Trustee, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of such Holder, with authority to make or file (whether or not the Company shall be in Default in respect of the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any of the Securities), in its own name and as trustee of an express trust or otherwise as it may deem advisable, in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or to their respective creditors or property, any and all claims, proofs of claim, proofs of debt, petitions, consents, other papers and documents and amendments of any thereof, as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of the Holders of the Securities allowed in any such proceeding and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to execute and deliver any and all other papers and documents and to do and perform any and all other acts and things, as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to enforce in any such proceeding any of the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of any of such Holders in respect of any of the Securities; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor in any such proceeding is hereby authorized, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have authorized any such receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor, to make any such payment or delivery only to or on the order of the Trustee, and to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a); provided , however , that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower the Trustee to consent to or accept or adopt, on behalf of any Holder of Securities, any plan of reorganization or readjustment affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize or empower the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of any Securities in any such proceeding. In no event shall the foregoing attorney-in-fact authorization be construed as imposing any duty or obligation on the Trustee.

Section 7.05 Priorities . Any moneys or properties collected by the Trustee, or, after an Event of Default, any moneys or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture, in either case with respect to a series of Securities under this Article VII shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or properties and, in the case of the distribution of such moneys or properties on account of the Securities of any series, upon presentation of the Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

First: To the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee and any predecessor trustee under Section 11.01(a).

Second: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest on the Securities of such series, in the chronological order of the Maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto.

 

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Third: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have become due, by declaration or otherwise, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon the Securities of such series for principal and premium, if any, and interest, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities of such series, and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and premium, if any, and interest without preference or priority of principal and premium, if any, over interest, or of interest over principal and premium, if any, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest, or of any Security of such series over any other Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest.

Fourth: Any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Company, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be so entitled.

Section 7.06 Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults . The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee hereunder, or of exercising any trust or power hereby conferred upon the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series; provided , however , that, subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to any declaration accelerating the Maturity of the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a Default in the payment of interest or any premium on or the principal of the Securities of such series or a Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under Section 14.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected. Upon any such waiver, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; provided that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 7.06, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

Section 7.07 Limitation on Suits . No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity for the execution of any trust hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder, in each case with respect to an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities, unless (i) such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of one or more of the Events of Default herein specified with respect to such series of Securities, (ii) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have requested the Trustee in writing to take action in respect of the matter complained of, (iii) there

 

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shall have been offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and (iv) the Trustee, for 60 calendar days after receipt of such notification, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and such notification, request and offer of indemnity are hereby declared in every such case to be conditions precedent to any such action, suit or proceeding by any Holder of any Security of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of the Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by his, her, its or their action to enforce any right hereunder, except in the manner herein provided, and that every action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal benefit of all Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series; provided , however , that nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of such series to the respective Holders of such Securities at the respective due dates in such Securities stated, or affect or impair the right, which is also absolute and unconditional, of such Holders to institute suit to enforce the payment thereof.

Section 7.08 Undertaking for Costs . All parties to this Indenture and each Holder of any Security, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed that any court may in its discretion require, in any action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any action, suit or proceeding against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding of an undertaking to pay the costs of such action, suit or proceeding, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding, 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 7.08 shall not apply to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee, to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any one or more Holders of Securities holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any series Outstanding, or to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any Holder of Securities of any series for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or the interest on, any of the Securities of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities.

Section 7.09 Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver . No remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of any series is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy or remedies, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of the Securities of any series to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article VII to the Trustee and to the Holders of Securities of any series, respectively, may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities of such series, as the case may be. In case the Trustee or any Holder of Securities of any series shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and the proceedings for the enforcement thereof shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of

 

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waiver or for any other reason, or shall have been adjudicated adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder of Securities, then and in every such case, subject to any determinations in such proceedings, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall severally and respectively be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and thereafter all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken, except as to any matters so waived or adjudicated.

ARTICLE VIII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 8.01 Evidence of Action of Securityholders . Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage or a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage or majority have joined therein may be evidenced by (a) any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Securityholders in person, by an agent or by a proxy appointed in writing, including through an electronic system for tabulating consents operated by the Depositary for such series or otherwise (such action becoming effective, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, when such instruments or evidence of electronic consents are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company), or (b) by the record of the Holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Securityholders.

Section 8.02 Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities . Proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his, her or its agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument may be proved (i) by the certificate of any notary public or other officer in any jurisdiction who, by the laws thereof, has power to take acknowledgments or proof of deeds to be recorded within such jurisdiction, that the Person who signed such instrument did acknowledge before such notary public or other officer the execution thereof, or (ii) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution sworn to before any such notary or other officer. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.

(b) The ownership of Securities of any series shall be proved by the Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.

(c) The record of any Holders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.

 

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(d) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.02 as it shall deem appropriate or necessary, so long as the request is a reasonable one.

(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities of any series any action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Company’s discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of such series have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be computed as of such record date.

Section 8.03 Persons Deemed Owners .

(a) The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the Register as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest, if any, on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, 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. All payments made to any Holder, or upon his, her or its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon such Security.

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

Section 8.04 Effect of Consents . After an amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective as to any series of Securities, a consent to it by a Holder of such series of Securities is a continuing consent conclusive and binding upon such Holder and every subsequent Holder of the same Securities or portion thereof, and of any Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in place thereof, even if notation of the consent is not made on any such Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.

ARTICLE IX

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

Section 9.01 Purposes of Meetings . A meeting of Securityholders of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX for any of the following purposes:

(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article VIII;

 

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(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article XI;

(c) to consent to the execution of an Indenture or of indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.02; or

(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any one or more or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

Section 9.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee . The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of all Securityholders of all series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken, to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders of a series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as they shall appear on the Register. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 90 calendar days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

Section 9.03 Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders . In case at any time the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a series (or of all series, as the case may be) then Outstanding that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders of such series (or of all series), by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.

Section 9.04 Qualifications for Voting . To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities affected by the action proposed to be taken at the meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a Holder of one or more such Securities. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

Section 9.05 Regulation of Meetings .

(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem fit.

 

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(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chair. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.

(c) At any meeting of Securityholders of a series, each Securityholder of such series of such Securityholder’s proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series Outstanding held or represented by him or her; provided , however , that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Securities of such series held by him or her or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him or her as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. At any meeting of the Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or 9.03, the presence of Persons holding or representing Securities in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action upon the business for the transaction of which such meeting was called shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, and any such meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 9.06 Voting . The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Securityholders of a series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts of the Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 9.02. The record shall show the principal amounts of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee.

Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

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Section 9.07 No Delay of Rights by Meeting . Nothing contained in this Article IX shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Securityholders of any series or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders of such series under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of such series.

ARTICLE X

REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS

Section 10.01 Reports by Trustee .

(a) So long as any Securities are Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided therein. If required by Section 313(a) of the TIA, the Trustee shall, within 60 calendar days after each January 15, following the date of this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such January 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a), beginning in January 2017.

(b) The Trustee shall, at the time of the transmission to the Holders of Securities of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01, file a copy of such report with each securities exchange upon which the Securities are listed or each automated quotation system on which the Securities are quoted, if any, and also with the SEC in respect of a Security listed and registered on a national securities exchange or automated quotation system, if any. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when, as and if the Securities become listed or delisted on any securities exchange or admitted to trading on any automated quotation system and of any delisting thereof.

The Company shall reimburse the Trustee for all expenses incurred in the preparation and transmission of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01 and of Section 10.02.

Section 10.02 Reports by the Company . The Company shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that, any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 30 calendar days after the same is filed with the SEC; provided further that the filing of the reports specified in Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act by an entity that is the direct or indirect parent of the Company shall satisfy the requirements of this Section 10.02 so long as such entity is an obligor or guarantor on the Securities; provided further that the reports of such entity shall not be required to include condensed consolidating financial information for the Company in a footnote to the financial statements of such entity.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled

 

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to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). It is expressly understood that materials transmitted electronically by the Company to the Trustee or filed pursuant to the SEC’s EDGAR system (or any successor electronic filing system) shall be deemed filed with the Trustee and transmitted to Holders for purposes of this Section 10.02.

Section 10.03 Securityholders’ Lists . The Company covenants and agrees that it shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semi-annually, within 15 calendar days after each Record Date, but in any event not less frequently than semi-annually, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to which such Record Date applies, as of such Record Date, and

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

provided , however , that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.

ARTICLE XI

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 11.01 Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity . The Trustee accepts the trusts created by this Indenture upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the parties hereto and the Holders from time to time of the Securities agree:

(a) The Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (including in any agent capacity in which it acts). The compensation of the Trustee shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee (including the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance caused by its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.

The Company also agrees to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee hereunder for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim, or expense incurred without its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the performance of its duties (including in any agent capacity in which it acts), as well as the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except those caused by its own negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim of which the Trustee has received written notice and for which it may seek indemnity; provided , however , that the failure to so notify the Company shall not affect the obligations of the Company hereunder to indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

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As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 11.01(a), the Trustee shall have a lien upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust by the Trustee to pay principal of and interest on any Securities. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the Trustee under this Section 11.01(a) shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, any satisfaction and discharge under Article XII , the payment of any Securities and the termination of this Indenture for any reason. In addition to and without prejudice to its other rights hereunder, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.

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

(c) The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of the recitals herein or in the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon) contained, all of which are made solely by the Company; and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon), and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Securities, or the proceeds of any Securities.

(d) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and, subject to Section 11.02, the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by the Trustee hereunder in reliance thereon.

(e) The Trustee, subject to Section 11.02, may rely upon the certificate of the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company as to the adoption of any Board Resolution or resolution of the stockholders of the Company, and any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by, and whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee may rely upon, an Officer’s Certificate of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed).

 

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(f) Subject to Section 11.04, the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the TIA, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have had if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

(g) Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on or investment of any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

(h) Any action taken by the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof at the request or with the consent of any Person who at the time is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding in respect of such Security upon all future Holders thereof or of any Security or Securities which may be issued for or in lieu thereof in whole or in part, whether or not such Security shall have noted thereon the fact that such request or consent had been made or given.

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

(j) The Trustee shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of the Securities, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, unless one or more of the Holders of the Securities shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it therein or thereby.

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

(l) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or be charged with notice of any Default or Event of Default with respect to any Securities unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless the Holders of not less than 25% of the Outstanding Securities notify the Trustee thereof by a written notice to the Trustee that is received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office and such notice references such Securities and this Indenture.

(m) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document; provided , however , that the Trustee, may, but shall not be required to, make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation.

 

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(n) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other person employed to act hereunder.

(o) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive, or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

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

(q) The permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking action hereunder shall not be construed as a duty.

Section 11.02 Duties of Trustee .

(a) If one or more of the Events of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened, then, during the continuance thereof, the Trustee shall, with respect to such Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and shall use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(b) Unless and until an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened which at the time is continuing,

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties with respect to the Securities of that series as are specifically set out in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, whose duties and obligations shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture; and

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

 

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(c) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as relieving the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that, anything in this Indenture contained to the contrary notwithstanding,

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

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of Securityholders given as provided in Section 7.06, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to it or exercising any trust or power conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(iii) none of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it; and

(iv) this subsection (c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (b) of this Section 11.02.

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 11.02.

Section 11.03 Notice of Defaults . Within 90 calendar days after the occurrence thereof and if known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to the Holders of the Securities of a series notice of each Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series known to the Trustee, by transmitting such notice to Holders at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term “ Default ” being hereby defined to be the events specified in Section 7.01, which are, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, Events of Default as defined in said Section). Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become payable, or to make any sinking fund payment as to Securities of the same series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice, if and so long as a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series.

Section 11.04 Eligibility; Disqualification .

(a) The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of Section 310(a) of the TIA. The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition, and shall have a Corporate Trust Office. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.04, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

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(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the TIA; provided , however , that there shall be excluded from the operation of Section 310(b)(i) of the TIA any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are Outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(i) of the TIA are met. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the TIA, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. If Section 310(b) of the TIA is amended any time after the date of this Indenture to change the circumstances under which a Trustee shall be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series or to change any of the definitions in connection therewith, this Section 11.04 shall be automatically amended to incorporate such changes.

Section 11.05 Resignation and Notice; Removal . The Trustee, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts hereby created with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving to the Company notice in writing. Such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Trustee. Any Trustee hereunder may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by the filing with such Trustee and the delivery to the Company of an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective.

If at any time:

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the TIA after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 11.04 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

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

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by written notice to the Trustee may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the TIA, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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Upon its resignation or removal, any Trustee shall be entitled to the payment of reasonable compensation for the services rendered hereunder by such Trustee and to the payment of all reasonable expenses incurred hereunder and all moneys then due to it hereunder. The Trustee’s rights to indemnification and its lien provided in Section 11.01(a) shall survive its resignation or removal, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture for any reason.

Section 11.06 Successor Trustee by Appointment .

(a) In case at any time the Trustee shall resign, or shall be removed (unless the Trustee shall be removed as provided in Section 11.04(b), in which event the vacancy shall be filled as provided in Section 11.04(b)), or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or if a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or if any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation with respect to the Securities of one or more series, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series) may be appointed by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that or those series then Outstanding, by an instrument or instruments in writing signed in duplicate by such Holders and filed, one original thereof with the Company and the other with the successor Trustee; provided that, until a successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of Securities of that or those series as herein authorized, the Company, or, in case all or substantially all the assets of the Company shall be in the possession of one or more custodians or receivers lawfully appointed, or of trustees in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (including a trustee or trustees appointed under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code), or of assignees for the benefit of creditors, such receivers, custodians, trustees or assignees, as the case may be, by an instrument in writing, shall appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11.04 and 11.05, upon the appointment as above provided of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series shall cease to be Trustee hereunder. After any such appointment other than by the Holders of Securities of that or those series, the Person making such appointment shall forthwith cause notice thereof to be mailed to the Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register but any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series so appointed shall, immediately and without further act, be superseded by a successor Trustee appointed by the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner above prescribed, if such appointment be made prior to the expiration of one year from the date of the mailing of such notice by the Company, or by such receivers, trustees or assignees.

(b) If any Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall resign or be removed and a successor Trustee shall not have been appointed by the Company or by the Holders of the Securities of such series or, if any successor Trustee so appointed shall not have accepted its appointment within 30 calendar days after such appointment shall have been

 

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made, the resigning Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. If in any other case a successor Trustee shall not be appointed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.06 within three months after such appointment might have been made hereunder, the Holder of any Security of the applicable series or any retiring Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, in any such case, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.

(c) Any successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee and to the Company, or to the receivers, trustees, assignees or court appointing it, as the case may be, an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations with respect to such series of such predecessor Trustee with like effect as if originally named as Trustee hereunder, and such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to pay over, and such successor Trustee shall be entitled to receive, all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee as Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a). Nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee or of the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its said charges and disbursements, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee upon the trusts herein expressed all the rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor Trustee and shall assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a); and, upon request of any such successor Trustee and the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations.

Section 11.07 Successor Trustee by Merger . Any Person into which the Trustee or any successor to it in the trusts created by this Indenture shall be merged or converted, or any Person with which it or any successor to it shall be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee or any such successor to it shall be a party, or any Person to which the Trustee or any successor to it shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any successor to such Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to such Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor Trustee hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this

 

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Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided , however , that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

Section 11.08 Right to Rely on Officer’s Certificate . Subject to Section 11.02, and subject to the provisions of Section 16.01 with respect to the certificates required thereby, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate with respect thereto delivered to the Trustee, and such Officer’s Certificate, in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

Section 11.09 Appointment of Authenticating Agent . The Trustee may appoint an agent (the “ Authenticating Agent ”) reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities, and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.

Each Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50 million and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Article XI, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Article XI, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article XI.

Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Article XI, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

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An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.09, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 11.09.

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 11.09.

Section 11.10 Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders . Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the TIA with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the TIA with respect to such communications.

ARTICLE XII

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

Section 12.01 Applicability of Article . If, pursuant to Section 3.01, provision is made for the defeasance of Securities of a series and if the Securities of such series are denominated and payable only in U.S. Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01), then the provisions of this Article shall be applicable except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series. Defeasance provisions, if any, for Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01.

Section 12.02 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series (if all series issued under this Indenture are not to be affected), shall, upon Company Order, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, such Securities) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when,

(a) either:

(i) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07 and (B) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 6.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

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

(A) have become due and payable, or

(B) shall become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

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

and in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; provided , however , in the event a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, is filed with respect to the Company within 91 days after the deposit and the Trustee is required to return the moneys then on deposit with the Trustee to the Company, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such Securities shall not be deemed terminated or discharged;

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

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 11.01 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (a)(i) of this Section 12.02, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 12.07 and Section 6.03(e) shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

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Section 12.03 Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations. At the Company’s option, either (a) the Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged from its obligations with respect to Securities of any series on the first day after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied or (b) the Company shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 6.04 with respect to Securities of any series (and, if so specified pursuant to Section 3.01, any other restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such series pursuant to Section 3.01) at any time after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied:

(a) The Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in an amount, or (ii) Government Obligations that through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms shall provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments) of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due; provided , that the Trustee shall have the right (but not the obligation) to require the Company to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of a nationally recognized public accounting firm expressed in written certification, or other evidence satisfactory to the Trustee, as to the sufficiency of deposits made by the Company pursuant to this Section 12.03;

(b) No Default with respect to the Securities of such series 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 beneficial owners of the Securities of such series shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Company’s exercise of its option under this Section 12.03 and shall 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 action had not been exercised and, in the case of the Securities of such series being Discharged, accompanied by a ruling to that effect received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service.

Discharged ” means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities of such series (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except (A) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (a) above, payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to Securities of such series under Sections 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 6.02, 6.03, 12.06 and 12.07 and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.

Section 12.04 Repayment to Company . The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company (or to its designee) upon Company Order any excess moneys or Government Obligations held by them at any time, including any such moneys or Government Obligations held by the Trustee under any escrow trust agreement entered into pursuant to Section 12.06. The provisions of the last paragraph of Section 6.03 shall apply to any moneys or Government Obligations held by the Trustee or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which moneys or Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 12.03.

Section 12.05 Indemnity for 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 Government Obligations or the principal or interest received on such Government Obligations.

 

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Section 12.06 Deposits to Be Held in Escrow . Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 12.03 above shall be irrevocable (except to the extent provided in Sections 12.04 and 12.07) and shall be made under the terms of an escrow trust agreement. As contemplated under this Article XII, if any Outstanding Securities of a series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund requirement, the applicable escrow trust agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company. The agreement shall provide that, upon satisfaction of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment requirements, whether by deposit of moneys, application of proceeds of deposited Government Obligations or, if permitted, by delivery of Securities, the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess moneys pursuant to Section 12.04 all funds or obligations then held under the agreement and allocable to the sinking fund payment requirements so satisfied.

If Securities of a series with respect to which such deposits are made may be subject to later redemption at the option of the Company or pursuant to Optional Sinking Fund Payments, the applicable escrow trust agreement may, at the option of the Company, provide therefor. In the case of an optional redemption in whole or in part, such agreement shall require the Company to deposit with the Trustee on or before the date notice of redemption is given funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Securities to be redeemed together with all unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Upon such deposit of funds, the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess funds pursuant to Section 12.04 all funds or obligations then held under such agreement and allocable to the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of exercise of Optional Sinking Fund Payment rights by the Company, such agreement shall, at the option of the Company, provide that upon deposit by the Company with the Trustee of funds pursuant to such exercise the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess funds pursuant to Section 12.04 all funds or obligations then held under such agreement for such series and allocable to the Securities to be redeemed.

Section 12.07 Application of Trust Money .

(a) Neither the Trustee nor any other paying agent shall be required to pay interest on any moneys deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, except such as it shall agree with the Company in writing to pay thereon. Any moneys so deposited for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after the date of the maturity of the Securities of such series or the date fixed for the redemption of all the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding, as the case may be, shall be repaid by the Trustee or such other paying agent to the Company upon its written request and thereafter, anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, any rights of the Holders of Securities of such series in respect of which such moneys shall have been deposited shall be enforceable only against the Company, and all liability of the Trustee or such other paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereafter cease.

 

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(b) Subject to the provisions of clause (a) above, any moneys or Government Obligations which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any of the Securities shall be and are hereby assigned, transferred and set over to the Trustee or such other paying agent in trust for the respective Holders of the Securities for the purpose for which such moneys or Government Obligations shall have been deposited; provided that such moneys or Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section 12.08 Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee under the foregoing provisions of this Article shall be as set forth in the Officer’s Certificate or established in the supplemental indenture under which the Securities of such series are issued.

ARTICLE XIII

IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS

Section 13.01 No Personal Liability . No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, or interest on, any Security or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof or of the Indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor thereto, either directly or through the Company or any successor thereto, whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture and the Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor thereto, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, because of the incurring of the Indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants, promises or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities, or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director is, by the acceptance of the Securities and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities expressly waived and released.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 14.01 Without Consent of Securityholders . Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any one or more of or all the following purposes:

(a) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company, to be observed thereafter and during the period, if any, in such supplemental indenture or indentures expressed, and to add Events of Default, in each case for the protection or benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series as shall be identified therein), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

(b) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide, change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;

(c) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and as to which such supplemental indenture would apply;

(d) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company contained in the Securities of one or more series and in this Indenture or any supplemental indenture;

(e) to secure any series of Securities;

(f) to evidence any changes to this Indenture pursuant to Sections 11.05, 11.06 or 11.07 as permitted by the terms thereof;

(g) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture;

(h) to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act;

(i) to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to any series of Securities;

(j) to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of such Securities;

(k) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to certificated Securities;

 

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(l) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities;

(m) to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; or

(n) to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01, or to authorize the issuance of additional Securities of a series previously authorized or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed.

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.03, the Trustee is authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property or assets thereunder.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 14.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 14.02.

Section 14.02 With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations .

(a) With the consent of the Holders (evidenced as provided in Article VIII) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture voting separately, the Company and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of each such series affected thereby,

(i) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest thereon or any premium payable upon redemption thereof, or change the Currency in which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such Security is denominated or payable, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or materially adversely affect the economic terms of any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01;

 

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(ii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain Defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or

(iii) modify any of the provisions of this Section 14.02, Section 7.06 or Section 6.06, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided , however , that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to the “ Trustee ” and concomitant changes in this Section 14.02 and Section 6.06, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 11.06 and 14.01(f).

(b) A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

(c) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 14.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

(d) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of the Holders of each series of Securities entitled to give a written consent or waive compliance by the Company as authorized or permitted by this Section. Such record date shall not be more than 30 calendar days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or waiver or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 312 of the TIA.

(e) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 14.02, the Company shall mail a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Holders of Securities at their addresses as the same shall then appear in the Register. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

Section 14.03 Trustee Protected . Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by the Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 16.01 stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of consent of the Holders if the supplemental indenture is to be executed pursuant to Section 14.02, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of said supplemental indenture unless said supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into said supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel.

 

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Section 14.04 Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture . Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of all of the Securities or of the Securities of any series affected, as the case may be, shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 14.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities . Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in the form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for the Securities then Outstanding in equal aggregate principal amounts, and such exchange shall be made without cost to the Holders of the Securities.

Section 14.06 Conformity with TIA. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

ARTICLE XV

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

Section 15.01 Agreement to Subordinate . In the event a series of Securities is designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01, and except as otherwise provided in a Company Order, Officer’s Certificate or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, the Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities of such series by his, her or its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest 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. In the event a series of Securities is not designated as subordinated pursuant to Section 3.01(s), this Article XV shall have no effect upon such series of Securities.

Section 15.02 Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities . Subject to Section 15.01, upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state bankruptcy laws):

(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal, premium, if any, or interest thereon before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities; and

 

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(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, on the Securities 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, premium, if any, or 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 in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, whether in cash, property or securities prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, 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 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, premium, if any, or interest 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 XV 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 XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall

 

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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, premium, if any, or interest 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 this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV 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 XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 15.05, 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 XV.

Section 15.03 No Payment on Securities in Event of Default on Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Section 15.01, no payment by the Company on account of principal (or premium, if any), sinking funds or interest, if any, on the Securities shall be made at anytime if: (i) a default on Senior Indebtedness exists that permits the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity and (ii) the default is the subject of judicial proceedings or the Company has received notice of such default. The Company may resume payments on the Securities when full payment of amounts then due for principal (premium, if any), sinking funds and interest on Senior Indebtedness has been made or duly provided for in money or money’s worth.

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.03, such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, but only to the extent that the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 calendar days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on such Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

Section 15.04 Payments on Securities Permitted . Subject to Section 15.01, nothing contained in this 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 15.02 and 15.03, 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, premium, if any, or interest 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.

 

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Section 15.05 Authorization of Securityholders to Trustee to Effect Subordination . Subject to Section 15.01, 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 XV and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

Section 15.06 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 moneys or assets to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities of any series pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Subject to Section 15.01, notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any 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 of, premium, if any, or interest 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 15.06, 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 conclusively 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 XV, 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 XV 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 15.07 Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Section 15.01, the Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Sections 7.05 or 11.01.

 

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Section 15.08 Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness . Subject to Section 15.01, any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the 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 XV or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.

Section 15.09 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent . Subject to Section 15.01, upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, 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 XV.

Section 15.10 Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance . Subject to Section 15.01, moneys and Government Obligations deposited in trust with the Trustee pursuant to and in accordance with Article XII and not, at the time of such deposit, prohibited to be deposited under Sections 15.02 or 15.03 shall not be subject to this Article XV.

Section 15.11 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 XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this 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 XV or otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE XVI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 16.01 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent .

(a) Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 6.05 of this Indenture) shall include (i) a statement that the Person giving such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed view or opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

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

(d) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel to the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent registered public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

 

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(e) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

(f) Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section 16.02 Trust Indenture Act Controls . If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or with a provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of, the TIA, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

Section 16.03 Notices to the Company and Trustee . Any notice or demand authorized or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the Company or the Trustee shall be sufficiently made, given, furnished or filed for all purposes if it shall be mailed, by regular mail or overnight courier, delivered or faxed to:

(a) the Company, at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, with a copy to the Assistant Secretary, Facsimile No.: (650) 887-1790, E-mail Address:securities@google.com or at such other address facsimile number or e-mail address as may have been furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

(b) the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, Attention: Trust Administrator.

Any such notice, demand or other document shall be in the English language. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no such notice or demand shall be effective as to the Trustee unless it is actually received by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, pdf, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have received an incumbency certificate listing persons designated to give such instructions or directions and containing specimen signatures of such designated persons, which such incumbency certificate shall be amended and replaced whenever a person is to be added or deleted from the listing. If the Company elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method), the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties.

 

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Section 16.04 Notices to Securityholders; Waiver . Any notice required or permitted to be given to Securityholders shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided), if to Holders, if given in writing by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such Holders at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Register.

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

(b) Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance on such waiver. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given. In any case where notice to Holders is given by publication, any defect in any notice so published as to any particular Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is published in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.

Section 16.05 Legal Holiday . Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity of any Security of any series shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Securities of that series, then payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day.

Section 16.06 Effects of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 16.07 Successors and Assigns . All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind their respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of their permitted successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 16.08 Severability . If any provision hereof shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable under applicable law, then the remaining provisions hereof shall be construed as though such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision were not contained herein.

 

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Section 16.09 Benefits of Indenture . Nothing in this Indenture expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any Person other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities any benefit or any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.

Section 16.10 Counterparts . This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 16.11 Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury . This 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 said State (without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof).

EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY 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 THIS INDENTURE.

Section 16.12 Force Majeure . In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

Section 16.13. FATCA . The Bank of New York Mellon shall be entitled to deduct or withhold from payments under this Indenture to the extent necessary to comply with an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof (“ FATCA ”). To the extent permitted under applicable privacy law, the Company hereby covenants with the Bank of New York Mellon that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the Bank of New York Mellon with any relevant tax certification in the possession of the Company or other information identified by the Company in its sole discretion as relevant for FATCA withholding tax purposes that may be useful to assist the Bank of New York Mellon to determine whether or not it is obliged, in respect of any payments to be made by it pursuant to this Indenture, to make any withholding or deduction pursuant to FATCA.

[Signatures on following page]

 

69


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

 

ALPHABET INC.,

as Issuer

By:  

/s/ RUTH PORAT

Name:  

Ruth Porat

Title:  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:  

/s/ LAWRENCE M. KUSCH

Name:  

Lawrence M. Kusch

Title:  

Vice President


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF SECURITY

FACE OF NOTE

[ For Inclusion in a Global Security only — UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THE INDIVIDUAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.]

ALPHABET INC.

    % Note Due                     

INITIAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT: $        

CUSIP:                    

No.:                     

ALPHABET INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, which term includes any successor thereto under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to                     , or registered assigns, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, the principal sum of                      dollars (or such other principal amount as shall be set forth in the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Note attached hereto) on                     , in the coin or currency of the United States, and to pay interest, semi-annually on                      and                      of each year, beginning on         , on said principal sum at said office or agency, in like coin or currency, at the rate per annum specified in the title of this Note, from the                      or the                     , as the case may be, next preceding the date of this Note to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, unless the date hereof is a date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, in which case from the date of this Note, or unless no interest has been paid or duly provided for on this Note, in which case from                    , until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly provided for; provided that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Register or by wire transfer as provided in the Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date hereof is after the      day of                      or                     , as the case may be, and before the following                      or                     , this Note shall bear interest from such or ; provided , that if the Company shall default in the payment of interest due on such                      or                     , then this Note shall bear interest from the next

 

A-1


preceding                      or                      , to which interest has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for on this Note, from                    . The interest so payable on any                      or                      shall, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof, be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the                      or                     , as the case may be, next preceding such                      or                     , whether or not such day is a Business Day.

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

This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been manually signed by the Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ALPHABET INC. has caused this Note to be duly executed.

 

ALPHABET INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Date of authentication:                    

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

 

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REVERSE OF NOTE

ALPHABET INC.

    % Note Due                     

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (hereinafter called the “Securities”) of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of February 12, 2016 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered by the Company to The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee), to which the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities. The Securities may be issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions (if any), may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any) and may otherwise vary as in the Indenture provided. This Note is one of a series designated as the     % Notes Due                      of the Company, limited in aggregate principal amount to $        ; provided , however , that the Company, without notice to or consent of the Holders, may issue additional Securities of this series and thereby increase such principal amount in the future, on the same terms and conditions (except for the issue date, public offering price and, if applicable, the date from which interest accrues and the first Interest Payment Date). Any additional Securities shall be issued under one or more separate CUSIP numbers unless: (i) the additional Securities and the outstanding notes of the original series are treated as part of the same “issue” of debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes; (ii) the additional Securities are issued pursuant to a “qualified reopening” of the outstanding notes of the original series for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the additional Securities are, and the outstanding notes of the original series were, issued without original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Interest shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal, premium, if any, and, to the extent lawful, on overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum borne by this Note. If a payment date is not a Business Day as defined in the Indenture at a Place of Payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.

In case an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture) with respect to the     % Notes Due                      shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof and the interest accrued hereon, if any, may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions that provide that the Company and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of amending any provisions of the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to be affected with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series affected by such amendment voting

 

A-5


separately; provided that, without the consent of each Holder of the Securities of each series affected thereby, an amendment may not: (i) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, such Holder’s Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest thereon or any premium payable upon redemption thereof, or change the Currency in which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such Security is denominated or payable, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or materially adversely affect the economic terms of the Holder’s right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided in the Indenture; (ii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or certain Defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in the Indenture; (iii) modify any of the provisions of the Indenture governing amendments or waivers with the consent of Holders except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; or (iv) modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee.

It is also provided in the Indenture that, subject to certain conditions and exceptions, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of a series of Securities at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a Default in the payment of interest or any premium on or the principal of the Securities of such series or a Default in respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series. Upon any such waiver, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights under the Indenture, respectively; provided that no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

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

The Notes are issuable initially in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, and are transferable and exchangeable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture.

[This Note shall not be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to maturity.] [This Note is redeemable prior to maturity                     .] [The Redemption Price is                     .][This Note is entitled to the benefits of a mandatory sinking fund as follows:                     .]

 

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Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, which shall initially be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, a new Note or Notes of authorized denominations for an equal aggregate principal amount shall be issued to the transferee in exchange therefor, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without charge except for any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may deem and treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon), for the purpose of receiving payment of, or on account of, the principal hereof and, subject to the provisions hereof, interest hereon, and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto or in any Note, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator as such, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer, director or employee, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof.

Terms used herein that are defined in the Indenture shall have the respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture.

The laws of the State of New York (without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof) shall govern this Note.

 

A-7


ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

[PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE]

 

 

 

 

[PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE]

 

 

the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing                                          Attorney to transfer such Note on the books of the Issuer, with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

      Signature:
Dated:  

 

   

 

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

 

A-8


SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

[Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.]

 

A-9


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN NOTE*

The initial principal amount of this Note is $        . The following increases or decreases in a part of this Note have been made:

 

Date

 

Amount of
decrease in
principal
amount of this
Note

 

Amount of
increase in
principal
amount of this
Note

 

Principal
amount of this
Note following
such decrease
(or increase)

 

Signature of
authorized
signatory of
Trustee

       
       
       
       

 

* Insert in Global Notes.

 

A-10

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

February 12, 2016

Alphabet Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, California 94043

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Alphabet Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, the “ Registration Statement ”) relating to the offering from time to time, together or separately and in one or more series (if applicable), of (i) debt securities of the Company (the “ Debt Securities ”); (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”); (iii) shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Class A Common Stock ”); (iv) shares of the Company’s Class C capital stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Class C Capital Stock ”); and (v) warrants to purchase debt or equity securities of the Company or other types of securities, property or assets or other warrants (the “ Warrants ”). The Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Class A Common Stock, Class C Capital Stock and Warrants are referred to herein collectively as the “ Securities .”

The Securities being registered under the Registration Statement will have an indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and will be offered on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to the provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

The Debt Securities may be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of February 12, 2016 (as amended or supplemented, the “ February 2016 Indenture ”) between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, or another indenture that may be entered into between the Company and a trustee (the February 2016 Indenture, and such other indenture or indentures, as amended or supplemented, each, an “ Indenture ”). The terms of the Preferred Stock are to be established in one or more certificates of designation, rights and

 

CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP OR AN AFFILIATED ENTITY HAS AN OFFICE IN EACH OF THE CITIES LISTED ABOVE.


Alphabet Inc., p. 2

 

preferences filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (each, a “ Certificate of Designation ”). The Warrants are to be issued from time to time under one or more warrant agreements to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent to be named therein (a “ Warrant Agreement ”).

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:

 

  (a) the Registration Statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein;

 

  (b) an executed copy of the February 2016 Indenture, filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, including the form of debt security;

 

  (c) a specimen of the Class A Common Stock;

 

  (d) a specimen of the Class C Capital Stock; and

 

  (e) copies of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-Laws certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the corporate secretary of the Company, respectively.

In addition, we have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of all such corporate records of the Company and such other documents, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed.

Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth below, it is our opinion that:

 

  1. The Debt Securities will be the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the applicable Indenture.

 

  2. The Preferred Stock will be validly issued by the Company, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  3. The Class A Common Stock, including Class A Common Stock to be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with its terms, will be validly issued by the Company, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  4. The Class C Capital Stock, including Class C Capital Stock to be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security in accordance with its terms, will be validly issued by the Company, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

  5. The Warrants will be the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company.


Alphabet Inc., p. 3

 

Insofar as the foregoing opinions relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of any agreement or obligation of the Company, (x) we have assumed that the Company and each other party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied or, prior to the issuance of the Securities, will satisfy those legal requirements that are applicable to it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it and (y) such opinions are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity.

In rendering the opinions expressed above, we have further assumed that (i) prior to the issuance of the Securities, the Company will authorize the offering and issuance of the Securities and will duly authorize, approve and establish the final terms and conditions thereof, which terms will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement and the terms of any agreement governing those Securities, and will not violate any applicable law, conflict with any matter of public policy, result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company or violate any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; (ii) prior to the issuance of the Securities, the Board of Directors of the Company will duly authorize, establish and approve the terms of the Preferred Stock as contemplated by the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company will duly authorize, execute and deliver any agreement necessary with respect to the Securities or contemplated by the Securities, any agreement governing the Securities or the Registration Statement, and the Company will take any other appropriate or necessary corporate action, including the filing of any Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (iii) the Indenture will conform to the February 2016 Indenture filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (iv) any receipts evidencing Warrants and any agreement governing those Securities will be governed by New York law; (v) the Securities will be offered, issued, sold and delivered in compliance with applicable law and any requirements therefor set forth in any corporate action authorizing such Securities and any agreement governing those Securities and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement and the related prospectus describing the Securities and the offering thereof; (vi) the Securities will be offered, sold and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers thereof at the price specified in, and in accordance with the terms of, an agreement or agreements duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, which price, in the case of Class A Common Stock, Class C Capital Stock or Preferred Stock, shall not be less than the respective par value thereof; and (vii) if issued in certificated form, certificates representing the Securities will be duly executed and delivered and, to the extent required by any applicable agreement, duly authenticated and countersigned, and if issued in book-entry form, the Securities will be duly registered to the extent required by any applicable agreement.

In rendering the opinion expressed in paragraph 1 above, we have assumed that each series of Debt Securities will be issued with an original aggregate principal amount (or in the case of Debt Securities issued at original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) of $2,500,000 or more.

We note that any designation in the Securities or any applicable agreement governing those Securities of the U.S. federal courts sitting in New York City as the venue for actions or proceedings relating to such Securities is (notwithstanding any waiver thereof) subject to the power of such courts to transfer actions pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1404(a) or to dismiss such actions or proceedings on the grounds that such a federal court is an inconvenient forum for such an action or proceeding.


Alphabet Inc., p. 4

 

We note that by statute New York provides that a judgment or decree rendered in a currency other than the currency of the United States will be converted into U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment or decree. There is no corresponding federal statute and no controlling Federal court decision on this issue. Accordingly, we express no opinion as to whether a Federal court would award a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars or, if it did so, whether it would order conversion of the judgment into U.S. dollars. In addition, to the extent that any Securities or applicable agreement governing those Securities includes a provision relating to indemnification against any loss in obtaining currency due from a court judgment in another currency, we express no opinion as to the enforceability of such provision.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the law of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

We hereby consent to the use of our name in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement under the heading “Legal Matters” and in any prospectus supplements related thereto, as counsel for the Company that has passed on the validity of the Securities, and to the use of this opinion as a part (Exhibit 5.1) 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 under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder. The opinions expressed herein are rendered on and as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed herein.

 

Very truly yours,
CLEARY GOTTLIEB STEEN & HAMILTON LLP
By:  

/s/ PAMELA L. MARCOGLIESE

 
  Pamela L. Marcogliese, a Partner  

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC

ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of Alphabet Inc. for the registration of its debt securities, preferred stock, Class A common stock, Class C capital stock and warrants and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated February 11, 2016, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Alphabet Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Alphabet Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

San Jose, California

February 11, 2016

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM T-1

 

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

¨ CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON

TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

  95-3571558

(Jurisdiction of incorporation

if not a U.S. national bank)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

400 South Hope Street

Suite 400

Los Angeles, California

  90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

ALPHABET INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   61-1767919

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification no.)

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, California

  94043
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 


1. General information. Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

  (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name

  

Address

Comptroller of the Currency United States Department of the Treasury    Washington, DC 20219
Federal Reserve Bank    San Francisco, CA 94105
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    Washington, DC 20429

 

  (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes.

 

2. Affiliations with Obligor.

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None.

 

16. List of Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

  1. A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., formerly known as The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  2. A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).

 

  3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

- 2 -


  4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-162713).

 

  6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-152875).

 

  7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

- 3 -


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago, and State of Illinois, on the 4th day of February, 2016.

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Lawrence M. Kusch

Name:   Lawrence M. Kusch
Title:   Vice President

 

- 4 -


EXHIBIT 7

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90071

At the close of business September 30, 2015, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

     Dollar amounts
in thousands
 

ASSETS

  

Cash and balances due from depository institutions:

  

Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin

     2,276   

Interest-bearing balances

     244,568   

Securities:

  

Held-to-maturity securities

     0   

Available-for-sale securities

     681,351   

Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:

  

Federal funds sold

     0   

Securities purchased under agreements to resell

     0   

Loans and lease financing receivables:

  

Loans and leases held for sale

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income

     0   

LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses

     0   

Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowance

     0   

Trading assets

     0   

Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)

     11,809   

Other real estate owned

     0   

Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies

     0   

Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures

     0   

Intangible assets:

  

Goodwill

     856,313   

Other intangible assets

     83,975   

Other assets

     124,507   
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 2,004,799   
  

 

 

 

 

1


LIABILITIES   

Deposits:

  

In domestic offices

     502   

Noninterest-bearing

     502   

Interest-bearing

     0   

Not applicable

  

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:

  

Federal funds purchased

     0   

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

     0   

Trading liabilities

     0   

Other borrowed money:

  

(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)

     0   

Not applicable

  

Not applicable

  

Subordinated notes and debentures

     0   

Other liabilities

     279,624   

Total liabilities

     280,126   

Not applicable

  
EQUITY CAPITAL   

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus

     0   

Common stock

     1,000   

Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)

     1,122,404   

Not available

  

Retained earnings

     600,880   

Accumulated other comprehensive income 389

  

Other equity capital components

     0   

Not available

  

Total bank equity capital

     1,724,673   

Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0   

Total equity capital

     1,724,673   
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity capital

     2,004,799   
  

 

 

 

I, Matthew J. McNulty, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

Matthew J. McNulty         )

    CFO      

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

Antonio I. Portuondo, President   )     
William D. Lindelof, Director   )   Directors (Trustees)   
Alphonse J. Briand, Director   )     

 

2