UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 29, 2019

 

 

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   1-13991   13-3974868

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

350 Park Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, New York

  10022
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 207-6400

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   MFA   New York Stock Exchange

7.50% Series B Cumulative Redeemable

Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  MFA/PB   New York Stock Exchange
8.00% Senior Notes due 2042   MFO   New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

 

 


Item 1.01.

Material Definitive Agreement.

On June 3, 2019, MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), completed the issuance and sale of $230.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”), including $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued upon exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional Notes, in a public offering pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3ASR (File No. 333-214659) (the “Registration Statement”) and a related prospectus, as supplemented by a preliminary prospectus supplement, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 29, 2019 and a final prospectus supplement filed with the SEC on May 31, 2019 pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

The Notes were sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated as of May 29, 2019, by and between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “Underwriters”), whereby the Company agreed to sell to the Underwriters and the Underwriters agreed to purchase from the Company, subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes. Pursuant to Underwriting Agreement, the Company granted the Underwriter the option to purchase, exercisable within a 30-day period, up to an additional $30.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes solely to cover over-allotments, if any, which option the Underwriters exercised in full on May 30, 2019. The Company made certain customary representations, warranties and covenants concerning the Company and the Registration Statement in the Underwriting Agreement and also agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The Notes were issued at 99% of the principal amount, bear interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per year, payable in cash semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2019, and are expected to mature on June 15, 2024 (the “Maturity Date”), unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. The Company will not have the right to redeem the Notes prior to maturity except to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to preserve the Company’s status as a REIT.

Holders of the Notes will be permitted to convert their Notes into shares of the Company’s common stock at any time prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the Maturity Date. The conversion rate initially equals 125.7387 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $7.95 per share of the Company’s common stock, based on a $1,000 principal amount of the Notes. The conversion rate will be subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events. In addition, following certain corporate events that occur prior to the Maturity Date, which are referred to as a “make-whole fundamental change,” the Company may be required to increase the conversion rate for a holder who elects to convert its Notes in connection with such a corporate event determined by reference to a table included in the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below), based on the effective date of, and the price paid (or deemed paid) per share of the Company’s common stock in, such corporate event. Finally, if the Company undergoes a “fundamental change” (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture), holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or any portion of their Notes at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased,  plus  accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The Notes were issued under the indenture, dated June 3, 2019 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated June 3, 2019 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), among the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company that rank senior in right of payment to any future indebtedness of the Company that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes, equal in right of payment to the Company’s existing and future unsecured indebtedness that is not so subordinated, including the Company’s 8.00% Senior Notes due 2042, effectively junior to any future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and structurally junior to all existing and future indebtedness and any preferred equity of the Company’s subsidiaries as well as to any of the Company’s existing or future indebtedness that may be guaranteed by any of the Company’s subsidiaries (to the extent of any such guarantee).

The Indenture contains customary events of default. If there is an event of default under the Notes, the principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including additional interest, if any), may be declared immediately due and payable, subject to certain conditions set forth in the Indenture. These amounts automatically become due and payable in the case of certain types of bankruptcy or insolvency events of default involving the Company.

The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Notes, after deducting the underwriter’s discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $223.4 million. The Company intends to add the net proceeds from this offering to its general corporate funds, which the Company may use for general working capital purposes, including to invest in additional residential mortgage-related assets, including but not limited to, residential whole loans, MBS, CRT securities and investments related to mortgage servicing rights, and for working capital, which may include, among other things, the repayment of amounts outstanding under the Company’s repurchase agreements.


Copies of the Underwriting Agreement, the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the form of the Notes are attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1, Exhibit 4.1, Exhibit 4.2 and Exhibit 4.3, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing summaries do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the form of the Notes. In connection with the registration of the Notes under the Securities Act, the legal opinions of Venable LLP and Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP relating to the legality of the Notes are attached as Exhibit 5.1 and Exhibit 5.2, respectively, and the legal opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP with respect to tax matters is attached as Exhibit 8.1, to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 2.03.

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

The information set forth in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

Exhibits . The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

 

  1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of May 29, 2019, by and between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs  & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
  4.1    Indenture, dated June 3, 2019, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
  4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 3, 2019, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.
  4.3    Form of 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2024 of the Company (attached as Exhibit A to the First Supplemental Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto)
  5.1    Opinion of Venable LLP regarding the legality of the Notes.
  5.2    Opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP regarding the legality of the Notes.
  8.1    Opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP regarding tax matters.
23.1    Consent of Venable LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
23.2    Consent of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (included in Exhibits 5.2 and 8.1 hereto).


SIGNATURES

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

 

Date: June 3, 2019     MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
    By:  

/s/ Harold E. Schwartz

      Harold E. Schwartz
      Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Exhibit 1.1

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.

$200,000,000

6.25% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2024

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

May 29, 2019

 


UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

May 29, 2019

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, New York 10036

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

200 West Street

New York, NY 10282

Ladies and Gentlemen:

MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell, severally and not jointly, to the several underwriters listed in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”), for whom Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC (“ Morgan Stanley ”) and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as representatives (the “ Representatives ”), $200,000,000 principal amount of its 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “ Firm Securities ”) to be issued pursuant to the provisions of a base indenture, to be dated as of June 3, 2019 (the “ Base Indenture ”), by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (the “ Trustee ”), and a supplemental indenture to be dated as of June 3, 2019 (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), by and between the Company and the Trustee. In addition, the Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters the option to purchase from the Company up to an additional $30,000,000 principal amount of its 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “ Additional Securities ”). The Firm Securities and the Additional Securities are hereinafter collectively sometimes referred to as the “ Securities .” The Securities will be convertible into shares (the “ Underlying Securities ”) of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”). The Securities and the Underlying Securities are described in the Prospectus which is referred to below. To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on Schedule A other than the Representatives, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean the Underwriters, and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the context requires.

The Company has prepared and filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ Securities Act ”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-214659), including a base prospectus, with respect to the Securities and the Underlying Securities, which registration statement incorporates by reference documents which the Company has filed, or will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ Exchange Act ”). Such registration statement has become effective under the Securities Act.

 

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Except where the context otherwise requires, “ Registration Statement ,” as used herein, means the registration statement, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act, as such section applies to the respective Underwriters (the “ Effective Time ”), including (i) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, and (ii) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act, to be part of the registration statement at the Effective Time. References herein to the or this “ Agreement ” refer to this Underwriting Agreement.

The Company has furnished to you, for use by the Underwriters and by dealers in connection with the offering of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof), copies of one or more preliminary prospectus supplements, if any, and the documents incorporated by reference therein, relating to the Securities and the Underlying Securities (or in the case of any such documents incorporated by reference, that have been made available on the Commission’s EDGAR system). Except where the context otherwise requires, “ Pre-Pricing Prospectus ,” as used herein, means each such preliminary prospectus supplement, if any, in the form so furnished, including any basic prospectus (whether or not in preliminary form) furnished to you by the Company and attached to or used with such preliminary prospectus supplement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “ Basic Prospectus ,” as used herein, means any such basic prospectus and any basic prospectus furnished to you by the Company and attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below).

Except where the context otherwise requires, “ Prospectus Supplement ,” as used herein, means the final prospectus supplement, relating to the Securities and the Underlying Securities, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required under the Securities Act), in the form furnished by the Company to you for use by the Underwriters and by dealers in connection with the offering of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof).

Except where the context otherwise requires, “ Prospectus ,” as used herein, means the Prospectus Supplement together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement.

Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses ,” as used herein, means the documents listed on Schedule B attached hereto and each “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act), if any, related to the offering of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof) contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). The Underwriters have not offered or sold and will not offer or sell, without the Company’s consent, any Securities by means of any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that is required to be filed by the Underwriters with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act, other than a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

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Disclosure Package ,” as used herein, means any Pre-Pricing Prospectus or Basic Prospectus, in either case together with any combination of one or more of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any.

Any reference herein to the registration statement, the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein (the “ Incorporated Documents ”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “ amend ,” “ amendment ” or “ supplement ” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of such Basic Prospectus, such Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

As used in this Agreement, “ business day ” shall mean a day on which the New York Stock Exchange (the “ NYSE ”) is open for trading. The terms “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto,” “hereinafter” and similar terms, as used in this Agreement, shall in each case refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph, sentence or other subdivision of this Agreement. The term “or,” as used herein, is not exclusive.

The Company and the Underwriters agree as follows:

1. Sale and Purchase . Upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the respective Underwriters and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule A annexed hereto at a purchase price of 97.25% of the aggregate principal amount thereof (the “ Purchase Price ”). The Company is advised by the Representatives that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a public offering of their respective principal amounts of the Firm Securities as soon as the Underwriters deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered and (ii) initially to offer the Firm Securities upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Underwriters may from time to time increase or decrease the public offering price after the initial public offering to such extent as they may determine in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities Act.

In addition, the Company hereby grants to the several Underwriters the option to purchase, and upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company ratably in accordance with the principal amount of Firm Securities to be purchased by each of them (subject to such adjustment as the Representatives may determine to eliminate fractions), all or a portion of the Additional Securities, at the same purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company for the Firm Securities. This option may be exercised by the Representatives on behalf of the several Underwriters at any time or times on or

 

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before the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate principal amount of Additional Securities as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Additional Securities are to be delivered (such date and time being hereinafter referred to as the “ additional time of purchase ”); provided , however , that the additional time of purchase shall not be (i) earlier than the time of purchase (as defined below) or (ii) later than the tenth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. The principal amount of Additional Securities to be sold to each Underwriter shall be the principal amount which bears the same proportion to the aggregate principal amount of Additional Securities being purchased as the principal amount of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities (subject to such adjustments to eliminate denominations of less than $1,000 as the Representatives may determine), subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 8 hereof.

2. Payment and Delivery . Payment for the Firm Securities shall be made to the Company by federal funds wire transfer to such bank account or accounts as the Company shall designate to the Underwriters at least two business days prior to the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be against delivery of such Firm Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on June 3, 2019 (unless another time shall be agreed to by the Representatives and the Company or unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 hereof). The time at which such payment and delivery are actually made is hereinafter sometimes called the “ time of purchase .”

Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at the additional time of purchase in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Securities.

The Company shall deliver to the Underwriters one or more certificates representing the Firm Securities and Additional Securities, as the case may be, in definitive form, registered in such names and denominations as the Underwriters may request, against payment by the Underwriters of the purchase price set forth in this Section 2 above. The certificates representing the Securities in definitive form shall be made available to the Underwriters for inspection at the New York City offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (or such other place as shall be reasonably acceptable to you) not later than 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the business day immediately preceding the time of purchase and any additional time of purchase. Firm Securities or Additional Securities to be represented by one or more definitive global securities in book entry form will be deposited at the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, by or on behalf of the Company, with The Depositary Trust Company (“ DTC ”) or its designated custodian, and registered in the name of Cede & Co.

Deliveries of the documents described in Section 6 hereof with respect to the purchase of the Securities shall be made at the offices of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP at Four Times Square, New York, New York, 10036, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date of the closing of the purchase of the Firm Securities or the Additional Securities, as the case may be.

 

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3. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to and, where applicable, agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

(a) The Registration Statement, as amended, has heretofore become effective under the Securities Act; no stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended, has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission.

(b) The Registration Statement complied each time it became effective, complies as of the date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, at the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof), will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act; the conditions to the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof) as contemplated hereby have been satisfied; the Registration Statement constitutes an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act); the Company has not received, from the Commission, a notice, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act, of objection to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement form; as of the determination date applicable to the Registration Statement (and any amendment thereof) and the offering contemplated hereby, the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; the Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof) as contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5) under the Securities Act, if applicable); the Registration Statement did not, as of the Effective Time, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; each Pre-Pricing Prospectus complied, at the time it was filed with the Commission, and complies as of the date hereof, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act; at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of such Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the date such Pre-Pricing Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the time of purchase did or will any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at no time during such period did or will any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, together with any combination of one or more of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each Basic Prospectus complied or will comply, as of its date and the date it was or will be filed with the Commission, complies as of the date hereof (if filed with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof) and, at the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the

 

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Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof), will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act; at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of such Basic Prospectus and the date such Basic Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the time of purchase did or will any Basic Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at no time during such period did or will any Basic Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, together with any combination of one or more of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each of the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus will comply, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of the Prospectus Supplement, the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof), in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act (in the case of the Prospectus, including, without limitation, Section 10(a) of the Securities Act); at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and the date the Prospectus Supplement is filed with the Commission and ends at the later of the time of purchase, the latest additional time of purchase, if any, and the end of the period during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof) did or will any Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; at no time during the period that begins on the date of such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and ends at the time of purchase did or will any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided , however , that the Company makes no representation or warranty in this Section 3(b) with respect to any statement contained in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information concerning an Underwriter and furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus; each Incorporated Document, at the time such document was filed with the Commission or at the time such document became effective, as applicable, complied, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Exchange Act and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(c) Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Securities by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof), in each case other than any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; the Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus except in compliance with Rule 163 or with Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act; assuming that such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus is so sent or given after the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission (and after such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus was, if required pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, filed with the Commission), the sending or giving, by any Underwriter, of any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus will satisfy the provisions of Rule 164 and Rule 433 under the Securities Act (without reliance on subsections (b), (c) and (d) of Rule 164); assuming a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) is sent or given, the conditions set forth in one or more of subclauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of Rule 433(b)(1) under the Securities Act are satisfied, and the registration statement relating to the offering of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof) contemplated hereby, as initially filed with the Commission, includes a prospectus that, other than by reason of Rule 433 or Rule 431 under the Securities Act, satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act; the Company is not disqualified, by reason of subsection (f) or (g) of Rule 164 under the Securities Act, from using, in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof), “free writing prospectuses” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act; the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof) contemplated by the Registration Statement; and the parties hereto agree and understand that the content of any and all “road shows” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) related to the offering of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon the conversion thereof) contemplated hereby is solely the property of the Company.

(d) The consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, set forth or included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in financial position, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods therein specified are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein). The selected financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, present fairly the information shown therein and, to the extent based upon or derived from the financial statements, have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein. Any pro forma financial statements of the Company, and the related notes thereto, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules

 

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and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The Company and the Significant Subsidiaries (as defined below) do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. No other financial statements are required to be set forth or to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, under the Securities Act.

(e) The Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering will be identical to the versions of the Prospectus created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(f) The Company has been duly formed and incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”) and has full corporate power and authority necessary to own, hold, lease and/or operate its assets and properties, to conduct the business in which it is engaged and as described in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by any jurisdictions in which it owns or leases property or conducts business.

(g) The Company has no “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act) other than MFA Securities Holdings LLC, MFA Securitization Holdings LLC, MFResidential Assets I, LLC, MFResidential Assets Holding Corp., Diplomat Property Holdings Corp. and MFA Kittiwake Investments Limited (collectively, the “ Significant Subsidiaries ”) and, except for the equity of its consolidated subsidiaries, does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity, except (a) that it owns the securities comprising the Investment Portfolio (as defined below); (b) that it owns a $5,000,000 junior note and 64,102 shares of common stock of South Street Securities Funding LLC, (c) that it owns 1,500 Class A Common Units and 17,000,000 Class C Preferred Units in Lima One Holdings, LLC and (d) as otherwise disclosed in (or incorporated by reference into) the Registration Statement and/or Prospectus. Complete and correct copies of the articles of incorporation and of the bylaws or other formation documents of the Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries, as applicable, and all amendments thereto have been made available to the Representatives and/or their counsel. Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly formed and incorporated or organized and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation or

 

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organization, and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect and each Significant Subsidiary has full corporate, partnership or limited liability power and authority, as applicable, necessary to own, hold, lease and/or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business in which it is engaged and as described in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, and, each Significant Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by jurisdictions in which it owns or leases property or conducts business; all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests, as the case may be, of each of the Significant Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right and are not subject to any security interest, other encumbrance or adverse claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligation into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Significant Subsidiaries are outstanding.

(h) Neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (i) its respective charter, bylaws, certificate of formation, partnership agreement or limited liability company agreement, as the case may be, or (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which breach, violation or default under this clause (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities or the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon conversion of the Securities) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with, result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under) (i) the charter, bylaws, certificate of formation, partnership agreement or limited liability company agreement, as the case may be, of the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, or (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which breach, violation or default under this clause (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries.

 

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(i) As of March 31, 2019, as of the date of this Agreement, as of the time of purchase, and as of the additional time of purchase, the Company had, has and will have, as applicable, an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus (and any similar sections or information, if any, contained in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus) (subject to, in the case of the additional time of purchase, the issuance of Additional Securities to the Underwriters). All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right.

(j) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 9 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.

(k) The descriptions of the Indenture, the Securities and the Underlying Securities, set forth under the heading “Description of the Notes” in any Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Common Stock and Preferred Stock” in the Basic Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the Indenture, the Securities and the Underlying Securities, provide a fair summary of such provisions.

(l) When executed, the Indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and 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. At the time of purchase, the Indenture will be duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. When executed and delivered, the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(m) The Securities have each been duly and validly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability. When executed and delivered, the Securities will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture.

 

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(n) The Underlying Securities issuable upon conversion of the Securities have been duly authorized and reserved and, when issued upon conversion of the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Underlying Securities will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights. The Underlying Securities conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(o) No approval, authorization, consent, qualification or order of or filing with any national, state or local governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon conversion of the Securities) or the consummation by the Company of the transaction contemplated hereby or the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities other than (i) registration of the Securities and the Underlying Securities under the Securities Act, which has been effected, (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities and Underlying Securities are being offered by the Underwriters and (iii) such approvals obtained in connection with the approval of the listing of the Underlying Securities on the NYSE.

(p) Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) no person, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a “ Person ”), has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue or sell to such Person any of the Securities, the Underlying Securities or shares of any capital stock or other securities of the Company, (ii) no Person has any preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase any of the Securities, the Underlying Securities or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, and (iii) no Person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities or the Underlying Securities, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Securities or the Underlying Securities as contemplated thereby or otherwise, no Person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to require the Company to register under the Securities Act any of the Securities, the Underlying Securities or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, or to include any such securities or other securities in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby, whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Securities or the Underlying Securities as contemplated thereby or otherwise.

(q) KPMG LLP, whose reports on the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018 and the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting are filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus, is the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and by the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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(r) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary has all necessary licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals and has made all necessary filings required under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, and has obtained all necessary permits, authorizations, consents and approvals from other Persons, in order to conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus except such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is in violation of, or in default under, any such license, permit, authorization, consent or approval or any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, order or judgment applicable to the Company or such Significant Subsidiary, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not required by any applicable law to obtain accreditation or certification from any governmental agency or authority in order to provide the products and services which it currently provides or which it proposes to provide as set forth in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, except such accreditations or certifications that the Company has already obtained.

(s) The descriptions in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of the legal or governmental proceedings, affiliate transactions, off-balance sheet transactions, contracts, leases and other legal documents therein described present fairly the information required to be shown, and there are no legal or governmental proceedings, affiliate transactions, off-balance sheet transactions, contracts, leases, or other documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required. All agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

(t) There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which either the Company or any Significant Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors is a party or of which any of their respective properties or other assets is subject at law or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency which could result in a judgment, decree or order having individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect or prevent, or interfere in any material respect with, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Securities.

(u) During the 24 calendar months prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company has timely filed with the Commission all documents and other material required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15(d) under the Exchange Act. During the 36 calendar months preceding the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company filed all reports required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15(d) under the Exchange Act. Without prejudice to the representations and warranties contained in Section 3(b), as of the date of this Agreement, the aggregate market value of the Company’s voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Company was equal to or greater than $150 million.

 

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(v) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development which in the Company’s reasonable judgment is likely to cause a material adverse change, in the business, properties, management or assets described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or the results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), net worth, business or operations of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent (including off-balance sheet obligations), which is material to the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) other than issuances of capital stock pursuant to the Company’s Discount Waiver, Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan, any change in the capital stock or, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course, outstanding indebtedness of the Company or (v) except for regular quarterly dividends on the shares of 7.50% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, in amounts per share that are consistent with past practice any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock. The Company has no material contingent obligation (including off-balance sheet obligations) which is not disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus.

(w) The Company (i) does not have any issued or outstanding preferred stock other than the 7.50% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (liquidation preference $25.00 per share) and (ii) has not defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not filed a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the filing of its last Annual Report on Form 10-K, indicating that it (i) has failed to pay any dividend or sinking fund installment on preferred stock or (ii) has defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or the Common Stock.

(y) At the time of purchase, the Company will have submitted to the NYSE an application for listing the Underlying Securities thereon. The Company has not received any notice from the NYSE regarding the delisting of the Common Stock, from the NYSE.

 

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(z) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or has any other association with (within the meaning of Article I of the Bylaws of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”)) any member firm of the FINRA.

(aa) The Company has not relied upon the Representatives or legal counsel for the Underwriters for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon conversion thereof).

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

(cc) As of December 31, 2018, the investment portfolio (the “ Investment Portfolio ”) of the Company consisted of the investments described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. As of the date of this Agreement and except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has no plan or intention to materially alter its stated investment policies and operating policies and strategies, as such are described in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all properties and assets owned directly by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and defects (except for any security interest, lien encumbrance or claim that may otherwise exist under any applicable repurchase agreement or as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus), except such as do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such asset or property by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be; the Company does not directly own any real property; any real property and buildings held under lease directly by the Company are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with such exceptions, liens, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and defects, as are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company.

(dd) The Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries has filed on a timely basis (taking into account all applicable extensions) all necessary federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns, if any such returns were required to be filed, through the date hereof and have paid all taxes shown as due thereon; and no tax deficiency has been asserted against the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries, nor does the Company know of any tax deficiency which is likely to be asserted against any such entity which, if determined adversely to any such entity, could have a Material Adverse Effect; all tax liabilities, if any, are adequately provided for on the books of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries.

(ee) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary owns or possesses adequate license or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, manufacturing processes, other intangible property rights and know-how, if any (collectively “ Intangibles ”), necessary to entitle the

 

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Company and each Significant Subsidiary to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has received notice of infringement of or conflict with (and knows of no such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

(ff) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries has authorized or conducted or has knowledge of the generation, transportation, storage, presence, use, treatment, disposal, release, or other handling of any hazardous substance, hazardous waste, hazardous material, hazardous constituent, toxic substance, pollutant, contaminant, asbestos, radon, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum product or waste (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), natural gas, liquefied gas, synthetic gas or other material defined, regulated, controlled or potentially subject to any remediation requirement under any environmental law (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”), on, in, under or affecting any real property currently leased or owned or by any means controlled by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, including any real property underlying any loan held by any Significant Subsidiary (collectively, the “ Real Property ”), except in material compliance with applicable laws; to the knowledge of the Company, the Real Property, and the Company’s and the Significant Subsidiaries’ operations with respect to the Real Property, are in compliance with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and other governmental requirements relating to pollution, control of chemicals, management of waste, discharges of materials into the environment, health, safety, natural resources, and the environment (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), and the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries are in material compliance with, all licenses, permits, registrations and government authorizations necessary to operate under all applicable Environmental Laws; except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Significant Subsidiaries has received any written or oral notice from any governmental entity or any other Person and there is no pending or threatened claim, litigation or any administrative agency proceeding that: alleges a violation of any Environmental Laws by the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries; or that the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is a liable party or a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 9601, et seq., or any state superfund law; has resulted in or could result in the attachment of an environmental lien on any of the Real Property; or alleges that the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries is liable for any contamination of the environment, contamination of the Real Property, damage to natural resources, property damage, or personal injury based on their activities or the activities of their predecessors or third parties (whether at the Real Property or elsewhere) involving Hazardous Materials, whether arising under the Environmental Laws, common law principles, or other legal standards.

(gg) Neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for any prohibited transaction or accumulated funding deficiency or any complete or partial withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit sharing or other plan which is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), to which the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries make a contribution and in which any employee of the Company or any such Significant Subsidiary is or has ever been a participant, which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to such plans, the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA, except where the failure to so comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(hh) The Company has established and maintains and evaluates “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act (collectively, “ Internal Controls ”)); except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus, such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; such system of internal control over financial reporting provides reasonable assurance that the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto; the principal executive officers (or their equivalents) and principal financial officers (or their equivalents) of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission, and the statements contained in each such certification are complete and correct; the Company, the Significant Subsidiaries and the Company’s directors and officers are each in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and the NYSE promulgated thereunder.

(ii) The Company and each of the Significant Subsidiaries maintains insurance (issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility) of the types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate, if any, for their respective businesses and consistent with insurance coverage maintained by similar companies in similar businesses, including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.

(jj) Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is in violation, and none of them has received notice of any violation with respect to, any applicable environmental, safety or similar law applicable to its business and which, in the case of the Significant Subsidiaries, could reasonably expect to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Significant Subsidiary have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable federal and state occupational safety and health and environmental laws and regulations to conduct their businesses, and the Company and each Significant Subsidiary is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except any such violation of law or regulation, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals which could not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(kk) The Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.

(ll) There are no existing or threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary which are likely to have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect.

(mm) None of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any employee or agent of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, has made any payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation or of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any affiliate of any of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, that is not so described.

(nn) The Company has been, and upon the sale of the Securities will continue to be, organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a “real estate investment trust” (a “ REIT ”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), for all taxable years commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1998. The proposed method of operation of the Company as described in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and no actions have been taken (or not taken which are required to be taken) which would cause such qualification to be lost.

(oo) Neither the Company, nor the Significant Subsidiaries, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

(pp) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any affiliate of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or directors of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, on the other hand, which is required by the rules of the FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, which is not so described. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus, there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any affiliate of them to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any of the members of the families of any of them.

 

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(qq) Neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the last audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus any loss or interference with its respective business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree.

(rr) None of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any director of officer thereof, or to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ FCPA ”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA, the Company, its Significant Subsidiaries and to the knowledge of the Company, their affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith. None of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon conversion thereof) in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any anti-corruption laws, including the FCPA.

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

(tt) None of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any director or officer thereof, or, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is, or is owned or controlled by one or more persons that are, (i) currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “ Sanctions ”) or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria), and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint

 

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venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any person (including any person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). For the past five years, the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

(uu) Neither the Company nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of the Significant Subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities (including the issuance of the Underlying Securities upon conversion thereof).

(vv) The Company has a signed copy of the Registration Statement, as initially filed with the Commission, and of all amendments thereto (including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein).

(ww) The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “ IT Systems ”) are reasonably believed by the Company to be adequate in all material respects for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries as currently conducted and, to the Company’s knowledge, are free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“ Personal Data ”)) used in connection with the business of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no material breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except for such failures as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(xx) The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the “ Group ”), is, and immediately upon consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in any Pre-Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus will be, Solvent. As used herein, the term “Solvent” means, with respect to the Group, on a particular date, that on such date (a) the fair

 

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market value of the assets of the Group is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Group, (b) the present fair salable value of the assets of the Group is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of the Group on its debt as they become absolute and mature, (c) the Group is able to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities (including contingent obligations) as they mature, and (d) the Group does not have unreasonably small capital.

4. Certain Covenants of the Company . The Company hereby covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

(a) The Company will furnish such information as may be required and otherwise will cooperate in qualifying the Securities and Underlying Securities for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions (both domestic and foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and the Underlying Securities, provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to consent to the service of process under the laws of any such jurisdiction (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Securities). The Company will promptly advise the Representatives of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities and the Underlying Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

(b) The Company will make available to the Underwriters in New York City, as soon as practicable after this Agreement becomes effective, and furnish to the Underwriters, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto after the effective date of the Registration Statement) as the Underwriters may request from time to time for the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act; in case any Underwriter is required to deliver (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Securities, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, promptly upon request such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as the case may be.

(c) The Company will advise the Representatives immediately, confirming such advice in writing, of (i) the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (ii) any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, or for additional information with respect thereto, (iii) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, (iv) the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, (v) the initiation, threatening or contemplation of any proceedings for any of

 

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such purposes and, if the Commission or any other governmental agency or authority should issue any such order, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the lifting or removal of such order as soon as possible, for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, including by filing any documents that would be incorporated therein by reference and, for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities, to file no such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives shall, after discussion with the Company, reasonably object in writing.

(d) If, at the time this Agreement is executed and delivered, it is necessary or appropriate for a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement to be filed with the Commission and become effective before the Securities may be sold, the Company will use its best efforts to cause such post-effective amendment or such Registration Statement to be filed and become effective, and will pay any applicable fees in accordance with the Securities Act, as soon as possible; and the Company will advise you promptly and, if requested by you, will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when such post-effective amendment or such Registration Statement has become effective, and (ii) if Rule 430A under the Securities Act is used, when the Prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (which the Company agrees to file in a timely manner in accordance with such Rules).

(e) If, at any time during the period when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities, the Registration Statement shall cease to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act with respect to eligibility for the use of the form on which the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission or the Registration Statement shall cease to be an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) or the Company shall have received, from the Commission, a notice, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2), of objection to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission, the Company will (i) promptly notify you, (ii) promptly file with the Commission a new registration statement under the Securities Act, relating to the Securities, or a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, which new registration statement or post-effective amendment shall comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and shall be in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such new registration statement or post-effective amendment to become effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness and (v) take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus; all references herein to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include each such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, if any.

(f) If the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement (within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(5) under the Securities Act) shall occur at any time during the period when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Securities, the Company will file with the Commission, prior

 

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to such third anniversary, a new registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the Securities, which new registration statement shall comply with the requirements of the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act) and shall be in a form satisfactory to you; such new registration statement shall constitute an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act); provided , however , that if the Company is not then eligible to file an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), then such new registration statement need not constitute an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), but the Company shall use its best efforts to cause such new registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable, but in any event within 180 days after such third anniversary and promptly notify you of such effectiveness; the Company shall take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the Prospectus; all references herein to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to include each such new registration statement, if any.

(g) The Company will pay the fees applicable to the Registration Statement in connection with the offering of the Securities and the Underlying Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act (without reliance on the proviso to Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Act) and in compliance with Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act.

(h) The Company will advise the Underwriters promptly of the happening of any event known to the Company within the time during which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) under the Securities Act which would require the making of any change in the Prospectus then being used, or in the information incorporated by reference therein, so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law. If within the time during which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act any event shall occur or condition shall exist which, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, the Representatives or its respective counsel, would require the making of any change in the Prospectus then being used, or in the information incorporated by reference therein, so that the Prospectus would not include an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company will promptly prepare and furnish to the Underwriters copies of the proposed amendment or supplement before filing any such amendment or supplement with the Commission and thereafter promptly furnish, at the Company’s own expense, to the Underwriters and to dealers copies in such quantities and at such locations as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law.

 

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(i) The Company will make generally available to its stockholders as soon as practicable, and in the manner contemplated by Rule 158 of the Securities Act but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period beginning after the date upon which the Prospectus Supplement is filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder and will advise the Underwriters in writing when such statement has been made available.

(j) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities in the manner set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus Supplement.

(k) The Company will furnish to the Representatives, not less than two business days before a filing with the Commission during the period referred to in paragraph (e) above, a copy of any amendment to the Registration Statement following the date hereof and a copy of any document proposed to be filed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and during such period will file all such documents in a manner and within the time periods required by the Exchange Act.

(l) During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to and including 60 days after the time of purchase (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, contract to purchase, pledge, register, grant any option to purchase, enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership in, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of its Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for shares of Common Stock without the prior written consent of the Representatives; provided , however , that this Section 4(l) shall not apply to (i) grants of restricted common stock pursuant to the Company’s Equity Compensation Plan, provided that such securities will not vest or become exercisable, as applicable, during the Lock-Up Period without the Representatives’ prior written consent, or (ii) the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan.

(m) Any listing of the Underlying Securities on the NYSE and any registration thereof under the Exchange Act.

(n) The Company will engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Securities.

(o) The Company will pay all expenses, fees and taxes (other than any transfer taxes and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, except as set forth under Section 5 hereof or in clause (iii) or (iv) below) in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company, (iii) the qualification, if any, of the Securities for offering and sale under state laws and the determination of their eligibility for investment under state law as aforesaid (the

 

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legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) and the printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys or legal investment surveys to the Underwriters and to dealers, (iv) the filing, if any, for review of the public offering of the Securities by the FINRA, (v) any fees charged by the rating agencies for the rating of the Securities, (vi) the costs and charges of any trustee, its counsel, transfer agent, paying agent, registrar or depositary, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to presentations or meetings undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering and sale of the Securities to prospective investors and the Underwriters’ sales forces, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged by the Company in connection with the road show presentations, travel, lodging and other expenses incurred by the officers of the Company and any such consultants and (viii) the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder.

(p) The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, the full number of Underlying Securities issuable upon conversion of the Securities.

(q) The Company will comply with Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 164(b) under the Securities Act) and with Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act with respect to any free-writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

(r) The Company will not (i) take, directly or indirectly, prior to termination of the underwriting syndicate contemplated by this Agreement, any action designed to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which may cause or result in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company, to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sell, bid for, purchase or pay any Person (other than as contemplated by the provisions hereof) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities or (iii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period or any applicable waiver thereof granted after the date hereof, pay or agree to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting any order to purchase any other securities of the Company, excluding any such compensation relating to the Company’s existing Discount Waiver, Director Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan.

(s) The Company will, and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with all applicable provisions of Regulation M.

(t) The Company will not invest in futures contracts, options on futures contracts or options on commodities unless the Company is exempt from the registration requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, or otherwise complies with the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended. In addition, the Company will not engage in any activities which might be subject to the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, unless such activities are exempt from that act or otherwise comply with that act or with an applicable no-action letter to the Company from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission.

(u) The Company will comply with all of the provisions of any undertakings in the Registration Statement.

 

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(v) The Company will use its best efforts to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2019, and for its subsequent taxable years unless, in each case, the Company’s Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interest of the Company to be so qualified.

(w) The Company has retained KPMG LLP as its qualified accountants and qualified tax experts (i) to test procedures and conduct annual compliance reviews designed to determine compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code and (ii) to otherwise assist the Company in monitoring appropriate accounting systems and procedures designed to determine compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code.

(x) The Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.

(y) The Company will maintain a system of internal controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are being prepared.

(z) The Company will comply with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

5. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses . If the Securities are not delivered for any reason other than the termination of this Agreement pursuant to the default by one or more of the Underwriters in its or their respective obligations hereunder, the Company shall, in addition to paying the amounts described in Section 4(n) hereof, reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company on the date hereof and at the time of purchase (and the several obligations of the Underwriters at the additional time of purchase are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company on the date hereof, at the time of purchase (unless previously waived) and at the additional time of purchase, as the case may be), the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

 

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(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to at the time of purchase 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 any of the securities of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

(b) The Company shall furnish to the Representatives at the time of purchase and at the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, an opinion and letter of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, special counsel for the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, with reproduced copies for each of the other Underwriters and in form satisfactory to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 attached hereto.

(c) The Company shall furnish to the Representatives at the time of purchase and at the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, an opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, tax counsel for the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, with reproduced copies for each of the other Underwriters and in form satisfactory to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 attached hereto.

(d) The Company shall furnish to the Representatives at the time of purchase and at the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, an opinion of Venable LLP, special Maryland counsel for the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, with reproduced copies for each of the other Underwriters and in form satisfactory to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 attached hereto.

(e) The Company shall furnish to the Representatives at the time of purchase and at the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, an opinion of Harold E. Swartz, General Counsel of the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, with reproduced copies for each of the other Underwriters and in form satisfactory to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-4 attached hereto.

(f) The Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP letters dated the date of this Agreement and the time of purchase and the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters (with reproduced copies for each of the Underwriters) in the forms heretofore approved by the Representatives relating to the financial statements, including any pro forma financial statements of the Company and such other matters customarily covered by comfort letters issued in connection with a registered public offering.

 

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In the event that the letters referred to above set forth any such changes, decreases or increases, it shall be a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters that (i) such letters shall be accompanied by a written explanation from the Company as to the significance thereof, unless the Representatives deem such explanation unnecessary, and (ii) such changes, decreases or increases do not, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase and delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any.

(g) The Representatives shall have received at the time of purchase and at the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, an opinion and the favorable letter of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, addressed to the Underwriters, dated the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, with respect to such matters as the Representatives shall reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably require to enable them to pass upon such matters. In rendering their opinion, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP may rely as to matters of Maryland law upon the opinion of Venable LLP, referred to in Section 6(c).

(h) No amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including documents deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, shall be filed to which the Underwriters object in writing.

(i) Prior to the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, (i) no stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings initiated under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act; (ii) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and (iii) none of the Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and no amendment or supplement thereto, or modification thereof shall contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; (iv) no Disclosure Package, and no amendment or supplement thereto, shall include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and (v) none of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, shall include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(j) All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed by the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

 

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(k) Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, (i) no material and unfavorable change, financial or otherwise (other than as referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus on the date hereof), in the business, condition, net worth or prospects of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall have occurred or become known that makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus, and (ii) no transaction which is material and unfavorable to the Company shall have been entered into by the Company.

(l) The Company will, at the time of purchase or additional time of purchase, as the case may be, deliver to the Representatives a certificate of two of its executive officers to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of each such date, that the Company shall perform such of its obligations under this Agreement as are to be performed at or before the time of purchase and at or before the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in paragraphs (i) and (k) of this Section 6 have been met.

(m) The Representatives shall have received a copy of an executed Lock-up Agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto from each of the persons listed in Schedule C hereto, and the Company shall have issued appropriate stop transfer instructions to the transfer agent and shall have delivered a copy of such instructions to the Representatives.

(n) The Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of the Effective Time and as of the time of purchase, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.

(o) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such other documents and certificates, including as to the accuracy and completeness of any statement in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of the time of purchase and the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(p) An application for the listing of the Underlying Securities shall have been submitted to the NYSE at or prior to the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be.

(q) The FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

7. Termination . The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, at any time prior to the time of purchase or, if applicable, the additional time of purchase, (i) if any of the conditions specified in Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, (ii) if any material adverse and unfavorable change (financial or otherwise) or any development involving a material adverse and unfavorable change (financial or otherwise) (in each case, other than disclosed, or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus or the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, on the date hereof), in the operations, business, net worth, financial condition or prospects of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole shall have occurred which would, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, make it impracticable to market the Securities on the

 

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terms and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus, (iii) if the United States shall have declared war in accordance with its constitutional processes or there has occurred an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic, political or other conditions the effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement, any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses and the Prospectus or enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, (iv) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended by the Commission or by the NYSE, or if trading generally on the NYSE has been suspended (including an automatic halt in trading pursuant to market-decline triggers other than those in which solely program trading is temporarily halted), or limitations on or minimum prices for trading (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by such exchange or the FINRA or Nasdaq or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority, (v) if a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New York or United States authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, (vi) if there shall have occurred any downgrading, or any notice or announcement shall have been given or made of (a) any intended or potential downgrading or (b) any review or possible change that does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded any securities of or guaranteed by the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined in Section 3 under the Exchange Act, (vii) if any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority has been enacted, published, decreed or otherwise promulgated which, in the opinion of the Representatives, materially adversely affects or will materially adversely affect the business or operations of the Company or (viii) if any action has been taken by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which, in the opinion of the Representatives, has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States.

If the Representatives elect to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 7, the Company and each other Underwriter shall be notified promptly by telephone, which shall be promptly confirmed by facsimile.

If the sale to the Underwriters of the Securities, as contemplated by this Agreement, is not carried out by the Underwriters for any reason permitted under this Agreement or if such sale is not carried out because the Company shall be unable to comply with any of the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall not be under any obligation or liability under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Sections 4(n), 5 and 9 hereof), and the Underwriters shall be under no obligation or liability to the Company under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof) or to one another hereunder.

8. Increase in Underwriters’ Commitments . If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation under this Agreement to take up and pay for the Securities to be purchased by it under this Agreement (otherwise than for reasons sufficient to justify the termination of this Agreement under the provisions of Section 7 hereof), the Representatives shall have the right, within 36 hours after such default, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase the principal amount, but not less than the

 

29


principal amount, of the Securities which such Underwriter shall have agreed but failed to take up and pay for (the “ Defaulted Securities ”). Absent the completion of such arrangements within such 36-hour period, (i) if the total principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the total principal amount of Securities to be purchased at the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall take up and pay for (in addition to the principal amount of Securities which it is otherwise obligated to purchase on such date pursuant to this Agreement) the principal amount of Securities agreed to be purchased by all such defaulting Underwriters in such amount or amounts as the Representatives may designate with the consent of each Underwriter so designated or, in the event no such designation is made, such Securities shall be taken up and paid for by all non-defaulting Underwriters pro rata in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities set opposite the names of such non-defaulting Underwriters in Schedule A ; and (ii) if the total principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of such total principal amount of Securities to be purchased at the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and if neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Company shall make arrangements within the five business day period from the date of default for the purchase of such Defaulted Securities, the Representatives may terminate this Agreement by notice to the Company, without liability of any party to any other party, except that the provisions of Sections 4(o), 5 and 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. Nothing in this paragraph, and no action taken hereunder, shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

Without relieving any defaulting Underwriter from its obligations hereunder, the Company agrees with the non-defaulting Underwriters that they will not sell any Securities hereunder unless all of the Securities are purchased by the Underwriters (or by substituted Underwriters selected by the Representatives with the approval of the Company or selected by the Company with the Representatives’ approval).

If a new Underwriter is, or new Underwriters are, substituted for a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Company or the Representatives shall have the right to postpone the time of purchase or the additional time of purchase, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding five business days from the date of substitution in order that any necessary changes in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and other documents may be effected.

The term Underwriter as used in this Agreement shall refer to and include any underwriter substituted under this Section 8 with like effect as if such substituted underwriter had originally been named in Schedule A .

9. Indemnity and Contribution .

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, agents, directors and officers, any Person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or is an affiliate of the Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act, as well as the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including, but not limited to, the reasonable

 

30


cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally, any such Underwriter or any such Person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, federal or state statutory law or regulation, common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Company) or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you (that information being limited to that described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 9(b) hereof) to the Company expressly for use in, the Registration Statement or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in the Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement or was necessary to make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Prospectus (the term Prospectus for the purpose of this Section 9 being deemed to include any Basic Prospectus, any Pre-Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to the foregoing), in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) of the Company, in any “non-deal” roadshow prior to the launch of the offering or in any Prospectus together with any combination of one or more of the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission 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, except, with respect to such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you (that information being limited to that described in the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 9(b) hereof) to the Company expressly for use in, such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

If any action, suit or proceeding (together, a “ Proceeding ”) is brought against an Underwriter or any such Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, such Underwriter or such Person shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided , however that the omission to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have to any Underwriter or any such Person or otherwise. Such Underwriter or such Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such

 

31


case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or of such Person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or the Company shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld) but if settled with the written consent of the Company, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any Underwriter and any such Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. 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 sentence of this paragraph, then 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 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the indemnifying party at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified party.

(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its directors and officers and any Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing Persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally, the Company or any such Person may incur under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, federal or state statutory law or regulation, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for use in, the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Company), or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement or

 

32


was necessary to make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information concerning such Underwriter furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you to the Company expressly for use in, a Prospectus or a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Prospectus or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The statements set forth in the fifth and thirteenth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” in any Pre-Pricing Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Disclosure Package (to the extent such statements relate to the Underwriters) constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter to the Company for purposes of Section 3(b) hereof and this Section 9.

If any Proceeding is brought against the Company or any such Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the Company or such Person shall promptly notify such Underwriter in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and such Underwriter shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided , however , that the omission to so notify such Underwriter shall not relieve such Underwriter from any liability which such Underwriter may have to the Company or any such Person or otherwise. The Company or such Person shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company or such Person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by such Underwriter in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or such Underwriter shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to or in conflict with those available to such Underwriter (in which case such Underwriter shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties, but such Underwriter may employ counsel and participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such Underwriter and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that such Underwriter shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). No Underwriter shall be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without the written consent of such Underwriter but if settled with the written consent of such Underwriter, such Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and any such Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. 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 sentence of this paragraph, then 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 60 business days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given

 

33


the indemnifying party at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable to an indemnified party under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 9 or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless with respect to any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then in order to provide just and equitable contribution in such circumstance, each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, 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 shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the shares. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission 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 amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this subsection shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any claim or Proceeding.

(d) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (c) above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be liable or responsible for, or be required to contribute, any amount pursuant to this Section 9 in excess of the amount of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and not joint.

 

34


(e) The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 9 and the covenants, warranties and representations of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, its directors and officers or any Person (including each partner, officer or director of such Person) who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or is an affiliate of an Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, or by or on behalf of the Company, its directors or officers or any Person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Securities. The Company and each Underwriter agree promptly to notify each other upon the commencement of any Proceeding against it and, in the case of the Company, against any of the Company’s officers or directors in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities, or in connection with the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

10. Notices . Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by facsimile and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Attn: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department 1585 Broadway New York, NY, with a copy to: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Four Times Square, New York, New York, 10036-6522, Attention: David J. Goldschmidt, Esq. (or in any case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing); and Goldman Sachs  & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, Attention: Registration Department , and if to the Company, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to the Company at the offices of the Company at 350 Park Ave., 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attention: General Counsel, Facsimile: 212-207-6420.

11. Governing Law; Construction . This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement (a “ Claim ”), directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.

12. Submission to Jurisdiction . Except as set forth below, no Claim may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in The City and County of New York or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. The Company hereby consents to personal jurisdiction, service and venue in any court in which any Claim arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement is brought by any third party against the Representatives or any indemnified party. The Representatives and the Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. The Company agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Company is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.

 

35


13. Parties at Interest . The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Section 9 hereof, the Persons, directors and officers referred to in such Section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, from any of the Underwriters) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.

14. No Fiduciary Relationship . The Company hereby acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting solely as underwriters in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities. The Company further acknowledges that the Underwriters are acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis, and in no event do the parties intend that the Underwriters act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company, its management, stockholders or creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that the Underwriters may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities, either before or after the date hereof. The Underwriters hereby expressly disclaim any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and the Underwriters agree that they are each responsible for making their own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions and that any opinions or views expressed by the Underwriters to the Company regarding such transactions, including, but not limited to, any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions.

15. Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties.

16. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their successors and assigns and any successor or assign of any substantial portion of the Company’s and any of the Underwriters’ respective businesses and/or assets.

17. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United State.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

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For purposes of this Section a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

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

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

37


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding among the Company and the Underwriters, please so indicate in the space provided below for the purpose, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the Underwriters, severally.

 

Very truly yours,
MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
By:  

/s/ Craig L. Knutson

  Name: Craig L. Knutson
  Title: Chief Executive Officer and President

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written, on behalf of itself and the other several Underwriters named in Schedule A

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC
By:  

/s/ Leslie Kabla

  Name: Leslie Kabla
  Title: Vice President
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC
By:  

/s/ Adam Greene

  Name: Adam Greene
  Title: Managing Director

[ Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement ]


SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter

   Principal
Amount of Firm
Securities to be
Purchased
     Maximum
Principal
Amount of
Additional
Securities to
be Purchased
 

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

   $ 70,000,000      $ 10,500,000  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

   $ 50,000,000      $ 7,500,000  

Barclays Capital Inc.

   $ 40,000,000      $ 6,000,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

   $ 40,000,000      $ 6,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 200,000,000      $ 30,000,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Sch A

 


SCHEDULE B

1. Pricing Term Sheet, dated May 29, 2019

Sch B

 

Exhibit 4.1

MFA FINANCIAL, INC., as Issuer,

-and-

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of June 3, 2019

Debt Securities

 


CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

  

Indenture Section

310(a)(1)    607
      (a)(2)    607
      (a)(3)      N.A.
      (a)(4)      N.A.
      (a)(5)    607
  (b)    608
  (c)      N.A.
311(a)        611
  (b)    611
  (c)      N.A.
312(a)               701, 702
  (b)    702
  (c)    702
313(a)        703
  (b)              703, 1501
  (c)    703
  (d)    703
314(a)                  704, 1107
  (b)      N.A.
(c)(1)    102
(c)(2)    102
(c)(3)      N.A.
  (d)      N.A.
  (e)    101
  (f)      N.A.
315(a)        601
  (b)    602
  (c)    503
  (d)    601
  (e)    515
316(a)(1)(A)            502, 512
(a)(1)(B)    513
(a)(2)      N.A.
  (b)    508
  (c)    104
317(a)(1)    503
(a)(2)    504
  (b)    1003
318(a)    108

N.A. means not applicable. * This Cross-Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

         PAGE  
ARTICLE ONE

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 101.

  Definitions      1  

Section 102.

  Compliance Certificates and Opinions      8  

Section 103.

  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      8  

Section 104.

  Acts of Holders      9  

Section 105.

  Notices, etc, to Trustee and Company      10  

Section 106.

  Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver      10  

Section 107.

  Language of Notices      11  

Section 108.

  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act      11  

Section 109.

  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      11  

Section 110.

  Successors and Assigns      11  

Section 111.

  Separability Clause      11  

Section 112.

  Benefits of Indenture      11  

Section 113.

  Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction and Service      11  

Section 114.

  Legal Holidays      12  

Section 115.

  Counterparts      12  

Section 116.

  Judgment Currency      12  

Section 117.

  Extension of Payment Dates      12  

Section 118.

  Immunity of Shareholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Company      12  

Section 119.

  Force Majeure      13  

Section 120.

  Patriot Act      13  
ARTICLE TWO  
SECURITIES FORMS  

Section 201.

  Forms Generally      13  

Section 202.

  Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      14  

Section 203.

  Securities in Global Form      14  
ARTICLE THREE  
THE SECURITIES  

Section 301.

  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      14  

Section 302.

  Currency; Denominations      17  

Section 303.

  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating      17  

Section 304.

  Temporary Securities      18  

Section 305.

  Registration, Transfer and Exchange      19  

Section 306.

  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      21  

Section 307.

  Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved      21  

Section 308.

  Persons Deemed Owners      22  

Section 309.

  Cancellation      22  

Section 310.

  Computation of Interest      23  

 

i


ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section 401.

  Satisfaction and Discharge      23  

Section 402.

  Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance      24  

Section 403.

  Application of Trust Money      27  

Section 404.

  Reinstatement      27  
ARTICLE FIVE  
REMEDIES  

Section 501.

  Events of Default      27  

Section 502.

  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      29  

Section 503.

  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      30  

Section 504.

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      30  

Section 505.

  Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities      31  

Section 506.

  Application of Money Collected      31  

Section 507.

  Limitations on Suits      31  

Section 508.

  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts      32  

Section 509.

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      32  

Section 510.

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      32  

Section 511.

  Delay or Omission Not Waiver      32  

Section 512.

  Control by Holders of Securities      32  

Section 513.

  Waiver of Past Defaults      33  

Section 514.

  Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws      33  

Section 515.

  Undertaking for Costs      33  
ARTICLE SIX  
THE TRUSTEE  

Section 601.

  Certain Rights of Trustee      34  

Section 602.

  Notice of Defaults      35  

Section 603.

  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      36  

Section 604.

  May Hold Securities      36  

Section 605.

  Money Held in Trust      36  

Section 606.

  Compensation and Reimbursement      36  

Section 607.

  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility      37  

Section 608.

  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      37  

Section 609.

  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      38  

Section 610.

  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business      39  

Section 611.

  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company      39  

Section 612.

  Appointment of Authenticating Agent      39  
ARTICLE SEVEN  
HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY  

Section 701.

  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      40  

Section 702.

  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      41  

Section 703.

  Reports by Trustee      41  

Section 704.

  Reports by Company      41  

 

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ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES

 

Section 801.

  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms      41  

Section 802.

  Successor Person Substituted for Company      42  
ARTICLE NINE  
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES  

Section 901.

  Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders      42  

Section 902.

  Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders      43  

Section 903.

  Execution of Supplemental Indentures      44  

Section 904.

  Effect of Supplemental Indentures      45  

Section 905.

  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      45  

Section 906.

  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      45  
ARTICLE TEN  
COVENANTS  

Section 1001.

  Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts      45  

Section 1002.

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      45  

Section 1003.

  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      46  

Section 1004.

  Additional Amounts      47  

Section 1005.

  Legal Existence      47  

Section 1006.

  Waiver of Certain Covenants      47  

Section 1007.

  Company Statement as to Compliance      47  

Section 1008.

  Calculation of Original Issue Discount      47  
ARTICLE ELEVEN  
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES  

Section 1101.

  Applicability of Article      47  

Section 1102.

  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      47  

Section 1103.

  Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed      48  

Section 1104.

  Notice of Redemption      48  

Section 1105.

  Deposit of Redemption Price      49  

Section 1106.

  Securities Payable on Redemption Date      49  

Section 1107.

  Securities Redeemed in Part      50  
ARTICLE TWELVE  
SINKING FUNDS  

Section 1201.

  Applicability of Article      50  

Section 1202.

  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      50  

Section 1203.

  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      51  

 

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ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 1301.

  Applicability of Article      51  
ARTICLE FOURTEEN  
SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES  

Section 1401.

  Applicability of Article      51  
ARTICLE FIFTEEN  
SECURITY  

Section 1501.

  Security      52  

 

 

iv


INDENTURE, dated as of June 3, 2019 (this “Indenture”), between MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at 350 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York, 10022 and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association duly organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America (hereinafter called the “Trustee”).

RECITALS

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of senior unsecured and secured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “Securities”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture. All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder that are required to be part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, shall be governed by such provisions.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as herein defined) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section  101. Definitions .

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture:

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

(2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

(4) the words “herein”, “hereof”, “hereto” 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;

(5) the word “or” is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both”, not “either A or B but not both”);

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(7) the term “merger” includes a statutory share exchange and the terms “merge” and “merged” have correlative meanings;

 

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(8) the masculine gender includes the feminine and the neuter; and

(9) references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments and supplements thereto.

Certain terms used principally in certain Articles hereof are defined in those Articles.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture, references to the conversion or exchange of any Securities for or into other securities (other than Securities of the same series) or property shall not include the exchange of Securities of any series for other Securities of the same series.

“Act”, when used with respect to any Holders, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required by this Indenture or by any Security, or by the terms of any Security established pursuant to Section 301, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified herein or therein.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct 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” means the Trustee or any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 611 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper, in an official language of the place of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each day that is a Business Day in the place of publication, whether or not published on days that are not Business Days in the place of publication, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same place meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any day that is a Business Day in the place of publication.

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

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any committee of that board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Company hereunder. The term “board of directors” means the board of directors of the Company and does not include committees of the board of directors.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more 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, delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to the Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which trust companies or banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close; provided that such term shall mean, when used with respect to any payment of principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of any series to be made at any Place of Payment for such Securities, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Securities, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which trust companies or banking institutions in such Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

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“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Common Shares” means the common shares of the Company as such common shares exist on the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have no preference in respect of dividends or similar distributions or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided that, solely in the case of any Securities that are convertible into Common Shares, unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series, if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable on conversion of such Securities shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person and any other obligor upon the Securities.

“Company Request” and “Company Order” mean, respectively, a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or a Vice President and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Conversion Event” means (i) with respect to any Foreign Currency other than the Euro, the cessation of use of such Foreign Currency both by the government of the country or the confederation which issued such Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community or (ii) in the case of the Euro, the cessation of use of the Euro both within the European Monetary System and for the settlement of transactions by public institutions of or within the European Union.

“Corporate Trust Office” means (a) with respect to the Trustee, the corporate trust office which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at Wilmington Trust, National Association, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attn: MFA Financial, Inc. Administrator, or any other address that the Trustee may designate with respect to itself from time to time by notice to the Company and the Holders and (b) with respect to any other party, the office designed in the supplemental indenture for a particular Series.

The term “Corporation” includes corporations, partnerships, associations, limited liability companies and other companies, and business trusts. The term “corporation” means a corporation and does not include partnerships, associations, limited liability companies or other companies or business trusts.

“Currency”, with respect to any payment, deposit or other transfer in respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, means Dollars or the Foreign Currency, as the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer is required to be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and, with respect to any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or contemplated by the terms hereof or such Security, means Dollars.

“CUSIP number” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a Security by Standard & Poor’s, CUSIP Service Bureau.

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

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“Depository” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more global Securities, the Person designated as depository by the Company in or pursuant to this Indenture, and, unless otherwise provided with respect to any Security, any successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depository” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the depository which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.

“Dollars” or “$” means a dollar or other equivalent unit of legal tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of America.

“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

“Euro” means the currency introduced at the start of the third stage of European economic and monetary union pursuant to the Treaty establishing European Community, as amended by the Treaty on European Union.

“European Monetary System” means the European Monetary System established by the Resolution of December 5, 1978 of the Council of the European Community.

“European Union” means the participating member states that adopt a single currency in accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community, as amended by the Treaty on European Union.

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the Euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such government.

“GAAP” and “generally accepted accounting principles” mean, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 301, such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States of America as of the date or time of any computation required hereunder.

“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

“Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on the relevant Security or any Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of such government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government or governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depository 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 or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

4


“Holder” means the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with respect to any Security, by the terms and provisions of such Security established pursuant to Section 301 (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof), provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established pursuant to Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted.

“Indexed Security” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

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

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

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

“Maturity”, with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, upon redemption at the option of the Company, upon repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holder or otherwise, and includes a Redemption Date for such Security and a date fixed for the repurchase or repayment of such Security at the option of the Holder.

“New York Banking Day” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

“Non-recourse Debt” means an obligation for indebtedness that can only be satisfied out of the collateral securing the obligations and not out of the debtor’s other assets.

“Office” or “Agency”, with respect to any Securities, means an office or agency of the Company maintained or designated in a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or any other office or agency of the Company maintained or designated for such Securities pursuant to Section 1002 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 1002 in lieu of such office or agency, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or a Vice President and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, that complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee and the Paying Agents, if applicable, and which shall not be at the expense of the Trustee and that, if required by the Trust Indenture Act, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

5


“Original Issue Discount Security” means a Security issued pursuant to this Indenture which provides for an amount less than the principal face amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 502.

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

(a) any such Security theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or the Security Registrar or delivered to the Trustee or the Security Registrar for cancellation;

(b) any such Security for whose payment at the Maturity thereof money in the necessary amount (or, to the extent that such Security is payable at such Maturity in Common Shares or other securities or property, Common Shares or such other securities or property in the necessary amount, together with, if applicable, cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities) has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 402) 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, provided that, if such Securities 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;

(c) any such Security with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, except to the extent provided in Section 402;

(d) any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, unless there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation of the Company; and

(e) any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by this Indenture into Common Shares or other securities or property, if the terms of such Security provide for such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 301;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security would be declared (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 502 at the time of such determination, and (ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and (iii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purposes shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which shall have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee (A) the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and (B) that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate (other than a Trust) of the Company or such other obligor.

 

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“Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, as amended, and signed into law October 26, 2001.

“Paying Agent” means the Trustee and/or any other Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security on behalf of the Company.

“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

“Place of Payment”, with respect to any Security, means the place or places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security.

“Redemption Date”, with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

“Redemption Price”, with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed as determined by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the record date for the payment of such interest.

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

“Responsible Officer” means (a) any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office having direct responsibility for matters pertaining to this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer or employee of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and (b) when used with respect to an Agent, the meaning assigned to such term in the supplemental indenture for a particular series.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities”, with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 305.

“Significant Subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination, a Subsidiary of the Company that would constitute a “significant subsidiary,” as such term is defined under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X of the Commission as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Security means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

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“Stated Maturity”, with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, means the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is, or such Additional Amounts are, due and payable.

“Structured Finance Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary the primary function of which is to act as an issuer, depositor or special purpose entity in connection with issuances of obligations collateralized by loans, bonds, mortgages or other debt obligations issued by third parties.

“Subsidiary” of any Person means (a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity) of which more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests or (b) any partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity of which more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general or limited partnership interests, as applicable, is, in the case of clauses (a) and (b), at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person, (2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.

“Trustee” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument 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 each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person and as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

“United States”, means the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction; and the term “United States of America” means the United States of America.

“United States Alien”, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, means any Person who, for United States Federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a nonresident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”.

Section  102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ 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, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents or any of them is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Section  103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. 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.

 

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Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the opinion with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based is erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company, a governmental official or officers or any other Person or Persons 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, opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

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 or any Security, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

Section  104. Acts of Holders. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in Person or by an agent duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

(1) Without limiting the generality of this Section 104, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a Depository that is a Holder of a global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security through such Depository’s standing instructions and customary practices.

(2) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section.

(3) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(4) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may at its option (but is not obligated to), by Board Resolution fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such 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 for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of Securities shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any

 

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action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken.

(5) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such Act is made upon such Security.

Section  105. Notices, etc , to Trustee and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or

(2) the Company by the Trustee or any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to the attention of its Chief Financial Officer at the address of the Company’s principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

Section  106. Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event,

(1) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice; and

(2) In any case where notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Securities given as provided herein. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In the case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made in a manner acceptable to the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

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 of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, unless otherwise expressly stated in this Indenture or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, if a Depository or its nominee is the Holder of any Security, then any notice given to such Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, in respect of such Security may be given by the Company or the Trustee electronically in accordance with the procedures of such Depository as in effect from time to time in lieu of giving notice to such Depository or such nominee, as the case may be, by mail and all references in this Indenture to the mailing of any such notice shall be deemed to mean, solely as concerns the notice given by the Company or the Trustee to such Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, the electronic transmission of such notice as aforesaid, mutatis mutandis .

 

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Section  107. Language of Notices. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that, if the Company so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.

Section  108. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with any duties under any required provision of the Trust Indenture Act imposed hereon by Section 318(c) thereof, such required provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control.

Section  109. Effect 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  110. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section  111. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or any Security shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section  112. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or any Security, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

Section  113. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction and Service. This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said State, without regard to conflicts of laws or principles thereof.

EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Company hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any federal or state court located in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York in any suit, action or proceeding based on or arising out of or relating to this Indenture or any Securities and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in any such court. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company, and may be enforced in any courts to the jurisdiction of which the Company is subject by a suit upon such judgment, provided, that service of process is effected upon the Company in the manner specified herein or as otherwise permitted by law. The Company hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Harold Schwartz (the “Process Agent”) as its authorized agent for purposes of this section, it being understood that the designation and appointment of the Process Agent as such authorized agent shall become effective immediately without any further action on the part of the Company. The Company further agrees that service of process upon the Process Agent and written notice of said service to the Company, mailed by prepaid registered first class mail or delivered to the Process Agent at its principal office, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments as may be necessary, to continue such designation and appointment of the Process Agent in full force and effect so long as the Company, has any outstanding obligations under this Indenture. To the extent the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, executor or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, the Company hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Indenture to the extent permitted by law.

 

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Section  114. Legal Holidays. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of, or any other day on which a payment is due with respect to, any Security shall be a day which is not a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then payment need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but such payment may be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on any such other payment date, as the case may be, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on such date or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or other payment date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding Business Day.

Section  115. Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section  116. Judgment Currency. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment against it in any court, it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding that on which a final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with clause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which trust companies or banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to be closed. The provisions of this Section 116 shall not be applicable with respect to any payment due on a Security which is payable in Dollars.

Section  117. Extension of Payment Dates .

In the event that (i) the terms of any Security established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Company or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security is due and payable and (ii) the due date for any such payment shall have been so extended, then all references herein to the Stated Maturity of such payment (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to refer to the date as so extended.

Section  118. Immunity of Shareholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Company. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any past, present or future shareholder, incorporator, employee, officer or director, as such, of the Company or any predecessor or successor to the Company, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or 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 of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities; it being expressly understood that, without limitation to the foregoing, this Indenture and the Securities and the obligations created hereunder and thereunder are solely corporate, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership or similar obligations, as the case may be, of the Company and that no such Personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, any past, present or future shareholder, incorporator, employee, officer or director, as such, of the Company or any of its predecessors or successors, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any Security or implied herefrom or therefrom and that any and all such Personal liability of every type and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and

 

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claims against, every such past, present or future shareholder, incorporator, employee, officer or director, as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any Security or implied herefrom or therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Securities. As used in this Section 118, all references to “shareholders” shall be deemed to mean, with respect to any Person, any past, present or future holder or owner of an equity interest in such Person, including, without limitation, owners or holders of capital stock, limited or general partnership interests and limited liability company interests.

Section  119. 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  120. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the Patriot Act.

ARTICLE TWO

SECURITIES FORMS

Section  201. Forms Generally. Each Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by any officer of the Company executing such Security as evidenced by the execution of such Security.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in registered form without coupons.

Definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

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Section  202. Form of Trustee s Certificate of Authentication. Subject to Section 611, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

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

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory

Section  203. Securities in Global Form. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in global form. If Securities of a series shall be issuable in temporary or permanent global form, any such Security may provide that it or any number of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such series (or such lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon or reflected on the books and records of the Trustee and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of any Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 303 or 304 with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 303 and, if applicable, Section 304, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to such Security or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 303 or 304 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officers’ Certificate and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, in the event a global Security is exchangeable for definitive Securities as provided in Section 305, then, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver such global Security to the extent necessary to effect such exchanges, shall endorse such global Security to reflect any decrease in the principal amount thereto resulting from such exchanges and shall take such other actions, all as contemplated by Section 305.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 307, unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 308 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a global Security, the Holder of such global Security.

ARTICLE THREE

THE SECURITIES

Section  301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series.

With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of any Securities of a series,

 

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(1) the title of the Securities of such series;

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 304, 305, 306, 905 or 1107, and except for Securities which, pursuant to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder, upon repayment in part of any Security of such series pursuant to Article Thirteen or upon surrender in part of any Security for conversion or exchange into Common Shares or other securities or property pursuant to its terms), and if such series may not be reopened from time to time for the issuance of additional Securities of such series;

(3) if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form, when any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and (i) whether such Securities are to be issued in temporary or permanent global form or both, (ii) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 305, (iii) the name of the Depository with respect to any such global Security and (iv) if applicable and in addition to the Persons specified in Section 305, the Person or Persons who shall be entitled to make any endorsements on any such global Security and to give the instructions and take the other actions with respect to such global Security contemplated by the first paragraph of Section 203;

(4) the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which the principal and premium, if any, of such Securities is payable;

(5) the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall begin to accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Securities on any Interest Payment Date, the notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(6) if in addition to or other than the place where the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee may from time to time be located, the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities shall be payable, any of such Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served;

(7) whether any of such Securities are to be redeemable at the option of the Company and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(8) if the Company is obligated to redeem or purchase any of such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of any Holder thereof and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of such Securities so redeemed or purchased;

(9) the denominations in which any of such Securities shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof;

(10) whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into and/or exchangeable for Common Shares or other securities or property, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture to permit or to facilitate the issuance of such convertible or exchangeable Securities or the administration thereof;

 

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(11) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any of such Securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

(12) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities shall be payable;

(13) if the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in Dollars or in a Foreign Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities or any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;

(14) if the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method or methods (which index, formula or method or methods may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the method by which such amounts shall be determined and paid or payable;

(15) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to such Securities (whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein), and, if any additional covenants not contained in this Indenture as of its date shall be applicable with respect to such Securities, whether Section 1006 shall be applicable with respect to any such additional covenants;

(16) if any one or more of Section 401 relating to satisfaction and discharge, Section 402(2) relating to defeasance or Section 402(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to the Securities of such series, and any covenants in addition to or other than those covenants, if any, specified in Section 402(3) relating to the Securities of such series which shall be subject to covenant defeasance, and, if the Securities of such series are subject to repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holders thereof pursuant to Article Thirteen, if the Company’s obligation to repurchase or repay such Securities will not be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and, if the Holders of such Securities have the right to convert or exchange such Securities into Common Shares or other securities or property, if the right to effect such conversion or exchange will be subject to satisfaction and discharge pursuant to Section 401 or to defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article Four in respect of the Securities of such series;

(17) if any of such Securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

(18) if any of such Securities are issuable in global form and are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(19) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay Additional Amounts on such Securities to any Holder who is a United States Alien in respect of specified taxes, assessments or other government charges and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts;

 

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(20) if there is more than one Trustee, the identity of the Trustee and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent with respect to such Securities;

(21) the Person to whom any interest on any Security of such series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name the Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security will be paid if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture;

(22) whether the Securities of such series are to be secured by any property, assets or other collateral and, if so, the applicable collateral, any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article Fifteen hereof or any other provisions of this Indenture in connection therewith or in connection with any other instrument or agreement entered into in connection therewith;

(23) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined); and

(24) any other terms of such Securities (whether or not such other terms are consistent or inconsistent with any other terms of this Indenture) and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities.

The terms of the Securities of any series may provide, without limitation, that the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on original issue from time to time upon written order of Persons designated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, pertaining to such series of Securities and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided by the Company as contemplated by this Section 301, a series may be reopened from time to time without the consent of any Holders for issuances of additional Securities of such series.

If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be established by action taken by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, such Board Resolutions shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

Section  302. Currency; Denominations. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities shall be payable in Dollars. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples thereof. Securities not denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture.

Section  303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating. Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents and by its Treasurer, one of its Assistant Treasurers, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries and may (but need not) have its corporate or other seal or a facsimile thereof reproduced thereon. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

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At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication and, provided that the Board Resolution and Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 301 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order and subject to the provisions hereof and of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to the applicable provisions of Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel to the following effect, which Opinion of Counsel may contain such assumptions, qualifications and limitations as such counsel shall deem appropriate:

(a) the form or forms and terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with Sections 201 and 301 of this Indenture; and

(b) all conditions precedent set forth in Sections 201, 301 and 303 of this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been complied with and that such Securities, when completed by appropriate insertions (if applicable), executed by duly authorized officers of the Company, delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication pursuant to this Indenture, and 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 binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be subject to or limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

If all the Securities of any series are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Opinion of Counsel at the time of issuance of each Security, but such opinion, with such modifications as counsel shall deem appropriate, shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series. After any such first delivery, any separate request by the Company that the Trustee authenticate Securities of such series for original issue will be deemed to be a certification by the Company that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to authentication and delivery of such Securities continue to have been complied with. The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate or to cause an Authenticating Agent to authenticate any Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee or if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken.

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

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 the form provided for in Section 202 or 611 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories. Such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section  304. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 303, temporary Securities in lieu thereof which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, 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 of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in global form.

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Indenture or the provisions established pursuant to Section 301, if temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, after the preparation of definitive Securities of the same series

 

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and containing terms and provisions that are identical to those of any temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for such definitive Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at an Office or Agency for such Securities, without charge to any Holder thereof. Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series and containing identical terms and provisions. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a temporary Security, 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.

Section  305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. With respect to the Securities of each series, if any, the Company shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) at an Office or Agency for such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Securities of such series and of transfers of the Securities of such series. Such Office or Agency shall be the “Security Registrar” for that series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, the initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities shall be as specified in the last paragraph of Section 1002. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided that no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at any Office or Agency for such series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series denominated as authorized in or pursuant to this Indenture, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, at the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at any Office or Agency for such series. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Whenever any Securities are surrendered for exchange as contemplated by the immediately preceding two paragraphs, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the global Securities of any series shall be exchangeable for definitive certificated Securities of such series only if (i) the Depository for such global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depository for such global Securities or at any time the Depository for such global Securities ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Exchange Act, if so required by applicable law or regulation, and no successor Depository for such Securities shall have been appointed within 90 days of such notification or of the Company becoming aware of the Depository’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be, (ii) the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that the Securities of such series shall no longer be represented by one or more global Securities and executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such global Securities shall be so exchangeable and notifies the Depository of the same, or (iii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Securities.

If the beneficial owners of interests in a global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for definitive Securities as the result of an event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding paragraph, then without unnecessary delay but in any event not later than the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, the

 

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Company shall deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities in such form and denominations as are required by or pursuant to this Indenture, and of the same series, containing identical terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such global Security, executed by the Company. On or after the earliest date on which such interests may be so exchanged, such global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the Depository (or its custodian) as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto (which the Company agrees to deliver), and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the Depository (which instructions shall be in writing but need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for definitive Securities as described above without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such global Security to be exchanged, which shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as shall be specified by the Depository; provided, however , that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of the same series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depository (or its custodian) or such other Depository (or its custodian) referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above, and the Trustee shall endorse such global Security to reflect the decrease in the principal amount thereof resulting from such exchange. If a Security is issued in exchange for any portion of a global Security after the close of business at the Office or Agency for such Security where such exchange occurs on or after (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Security, but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such global Security shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company evidencing the same debt and entitling the Holders thereof to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

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

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, or any redemption or repayment of Securities, or any conversion or exchange of Securities for other types of securities or property, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 905 or 1107, upon repayment or repurchase in part of any Security pursuant to Article Thirteen, or upon surrender in part of any Security for conversion or exchange into Common Shares or other securities or property pursuant to its terms, in each case not involving any transfer.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of like tenor and terms and of the same series under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security, or portion thereof, so selected for redemption, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder pursuant to Article Thirteen and not withdrawn, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

 

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Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Trustee nor the Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer complies with the registration provisions of or exemptions from the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.

Section  306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 306, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless from and against any and all loss, liability or expense, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and, upon the Company’s request 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 containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 306, in case any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

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

Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute a separate 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 such series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall (to the extent lawful) be 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  307. Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts ; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security which shall be payable, and are 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 as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such Security (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, 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 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 on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause

 

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provided. Thereupon, the Company shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular series, at the option of the Company, interest on Securities that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States of America.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

Section  308. Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any global Security held on its behalf by a Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the applicable Depository, as a Holder, with respect to a global Security or impair, as between such Depository and the owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depository (or its nominee) as the Holder of such global Security.

Section  309. Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities, as well as Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company

 

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may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be cancelled promptly 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 or pursuant to this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be destroyed by the Trustee in accordance with customary procedures.

Section  310. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or in the Securities of any series, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

ARTICLE FOUR

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

Section  401. Satisfaction and Discharge. Unless, pursuant to Section 301, the provisions of this Section 401 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of any series, upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Order, and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

(1) either

(a) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series 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 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

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

(i) have become due and payable, or

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

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

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, money in the Currency in which such Securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest on, and, to the extent that the Securities of such series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by the Company (in the exercise by the Company of its sole and absolute discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity thereof, as the case may be;

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series; and

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

 

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In the event there are Securities of two or more series Outstanding hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 606 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section, the respective obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Sections 305, 306, 403, 404, 1002 and 1003, any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into Common Shares or other securities or property, and, if expressly provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series, any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of such Holders as contemplated by Article Thirteen hereof, shall survive, and, if the Securities of such series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, the Company will remain obligated, following satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, to the extent (and only to the extent) that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section.

Section 402. Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance.

(1) Unless, pursuant to Section 301, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (2) of this Section 402 or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under clause (3) of this Section 402 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 402 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of or within such series, elect to have Section 402(2) or Section 402(3) be applied to such Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 402. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, defeasance under clause (2) of this Section 402 and covenant defeasance under clause (3) of this Section 402 may be effected with respect to any or all of the Outstanding Securities of any series. To the extent that the terms of any Security established in or pursuant to this Indenture permit the Company or any Holder thereof to extend the date on which any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Security is due and payable, then unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301, the right to extend such date shall terminate upon defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be.

(2) Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of clause (5) of this Section 402 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) of this paragraph, and shall be deemed to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely (except as provided in clause (ii) below) from the trust fund described in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 and as more fully set forth in this Section 402 and Section 403, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities when such payments are due, (ii) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Sections 305, 306, 1002 and 1003 and, if applicable to the Securities of such series, any rights of Holders of such Securities (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) to convert or exchange, and the obligations of the Company to convert or exchange, such Securities into Common Shares or other securities or property, and, if expressly provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to

 

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the Securities of such series, any rights of Holders of the Securities of such series to require the Company to repurchase or repay, and the obligations of the Company to repurchase or repay, such Securities at the option of such Holders as contemplated by Article Thirteen hereof, and, if the Securities of such series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, the Company will remain obligated, following defeasance of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, to pay Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 1004, to the extent (and only to the extent) that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to clause 4(a) of this Section 402, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 402 and Sections 403 and 404. The Company may exercise its option under this Section 402(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 402(3) with respect to such Securities.

(3) Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 402(3) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenants applicable to such Securities which are specified pursuant to Section 301 as being subject to covenant defeasance on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 402 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or such other covenant or by reason of reference in any such Section or such other covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 501(5) or 501(11) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

(4) The following shall be the conditions to application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 402 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 607 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 402 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity or, if such defeasance or covenant defeasance is to be effected in compliance with subsection (f) below, on the relevant Redemption Date, as the case may be) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and, to the extent that such Securities provide for the payment of Additional Amounts thereon and the amount of any such Additional Amounts which are or will be payable with respect to the Securities of such series is at the time of deposit reasonably determinable by the Company (in the exercise by the Company of its sole and absolute discretion), any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Outstanding Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest or the applicable Redemption Date, as the case may be, and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.

(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture.

 

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(c) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, and, solely in the case of defeasance under Section 402(2), no Event of Default with respect to the Company under clauses (8), (9) or (10) of Section 501 with respect to such Securities or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Company under clauses (8), (9) or (10) of Section 501 with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at any time during the period ending on and including the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition to defeasance under Section 402(2) shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

(d) In the case of defeasance pursuant to Section 402(2), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of independent counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred; or, in the case of covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 402(3), the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of independent counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, under this Indenture have been complied with.

(f) If the monies or Government Obligations or combination thereof, as the case may be, deposited under clause (a) above are sufficient to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and, to the extent provided in such clause (a), Additional Amounts with respect to, such Securities provided such Securities are redeemed on a particular Redemption Date, the Company shall have given the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Securities on such date and to provide notice of such redemption to Holders as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 402(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 301.

(5) Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 301) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee—collectively for purposes of this Section 402(5) and Section 403, the “Trustee”) pursuant to clause (4)(a) of Section 402 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (other than the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest and Additional Amounts, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, if, after a deposit referred to in Section 402(4)(a) has been made, (a) the Holder of a Security in respect of which such deposit was made is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to Section 301 or the terms of such Security to receive payment in a Currency other than that in which the deposit pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made in respect of such Security, or (b) a Conversion Event occurs in respect of the Foreign Currency in which the deposit pursuant to Section 402(4)(a) has been made, the indebtedness represented by such Security shall be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Security as the same becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by

 

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converting (from time to time as specified below in the case of any such election) the amount or other property deposited in respect of such Security into the Currency in which such Security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the case of payments made pursuant to clause (a) above, the applicable market exchange rate for such Currency in effect on the second Business Day prior to each payment date, or (y) with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for such Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 402 or the principal or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Section 402 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4)(a) of this Section 402 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 402.

Section  403. Application of Trust Money. Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all money and Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or 402 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts for whose payment such money has or Government Obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

Section  404. Reinstatement. If the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee appointed pursuant to Section 402(4)(a)) or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any moneys or Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 401(1) or 402(4)(a) to pay any principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to the Securities of the applicable series by reason of any legal proceeding or any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no such deposit had occurred, until such time as the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such moneys and Government Obligations to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series as contemplated by Sections 401 or 402 as the case may be, and Section 403; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, in respect of the Securities of such series following the reinstatement of its obligations as aforesaid, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the funds held by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE FIVE

REMEDIES

Section  501. Events of Default . Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body) unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to this Indenture:

 

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(1) default in the payment of any interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of any interest, if any, on, any of the Securities of such series when such interest or such Additional Amounts, as the case may be, become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(2) default in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any of the Securities of such series when due (whether at Maturity or otherwise and whether payable in cash or in Common Shares or other securities or property); or

(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment or payment under any analogous provision when due with respect to any of the Securities of such series; or

(4) default in the delivery when due of any securities, cash or other property (including, without limitation, any Common Shares) when required to be delivered upon conversion of any convertible Security of such series or upon the exchange of any Security of such series which is exchangeable for Common Shares or other securities or property (other than an exchange of Securities of such series for other Securities of the same series); or

(5) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty applicable to the Company in this Indenture or any Security of such series (other than a covenant or warranty for which the consequences of breach or nonperformance are addressed elsewhere in this Section 501 or a covenant or warranty which has expressly been included in this Indenture, whether or not by means of a supplemental indenture, solely for the benefit of Securities of a series other than such series), and continuance of such default or breach (without such default or breach having been cured or waived in accordance of the provisions of this Indenture) for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(6) default after the expiration of any applicable grace period in the payment of principal when due, or resulting in acceleration of, other indebtedness (other than Non-recourse Debt of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or indebtedness of any Structured Finance Subsidiary) for borrowed money where the aggregate principal amount with respect to which the default or acceleration has occurred exceeds $100.0 million and such indebtedness has not been discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration has not been cured or rescinded, prior to written notice of acceleration of the Outstanding Securities of such series; or

(7) failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay final judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction aggregating in excess of $100.0 million, which judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 30 days after such judgments become final and nonappealable; or

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

(i) commences a voluntary case or proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property; or

(ii) consents to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it; or

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

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

 

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(9) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or

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

(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding; or

(ii) appoints a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or any substantial part of their respective properties; or

(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company;

and, in each case in this clause (11), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or

(11) any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series.

Section  502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses (8), (9) or (10) of Section 501 with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing with respect to Securities of any series, then either the Trustee may, or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series may, declare the principal of all the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser amount, as the case may be, and such accrued and unpaid interest shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (8), (9) or (10) of Section 501 with respect to the Company occurs with respect to the Securities of any series, then the principal of all of the Securities of such series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, and accrued an unpaid interest, if any, thereon shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities of such series. For purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that references in this Indenture to an Event of Default specified in clauses (8), (9) or (10) of Section 501 with respect to the Company shall not include any Event of Default specified in clauses (8), (9) or (10) of Section 501 with respect to any Significant Subsidiary of the Company.

At any time after Securities of any series have been accelerated (whether by declaration of the Trustee or the Holders or automatically) and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay (or, to the extent that the terms of the Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 301 expressly provide for payment to be made in Common Shares or other securities or property, Common Shares or other securities or property, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares or securities to the extent required pursuant to the terms of such Securities, sufficient to pay)

(a) all overdue installments of any interest on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto,

(b) the principal of and any premium on any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest thereon at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities,

 

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(c) to the extent permitted by applicable law, interest upon installments of any interest, if any, which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for in or with respect to such Securities, or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities, and

(d) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the compensation, fees and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606; and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series other than the non-payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

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

Section  503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee . The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any interest on, any Security when such interest or Additional Amounts, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

(2) default is made in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any Security at its Maturity, or

(3) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due,

the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities, with interest upon the overdue principal, any premium and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, provided for or with respect to such Securities or, if no such rate or rates are so provided, at the rate or respective rates, as the case may be, of interest borne by such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount of money as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 606.

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

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

Section  504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of any overdue principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

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

(2) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of Securities to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders of Securities, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the compensation, fees and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606.

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

Section  505. Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery or judgment, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of each and every Holder of a Security in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section  506. Application of Money Collected. Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to the Securities of any series shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal, or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts, upon presentation of such Securities, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under this Indenture;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money or property has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts;

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

Section  507. Limitations on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

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

 

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(2) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

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

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

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holders or Holders of Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

Section  508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium, if any, and (subject to Sections 305 and 307) interest, if any, on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security, on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities therefor specified in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof at the option of such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such repayment is due) and, in the case of any Security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange, as the case may be, such Security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and any such right to convert or exchange, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

Section  509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and each such Holder shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and each such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section  510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. To the extent permitted by applicable law and except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to each and every Holder of a Security is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law, shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section  511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to any Holder of a Security may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by such Holder, as the case may be.

Section  512. Control by Holders of Securities. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that

 

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(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or with the Securities of any such series,

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

(3) such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of Securities of such series not joining in such action.

Section  513. Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series may waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except

(1) a default in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series, or

(2) in the case of any Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares or other securities or property, a default in any such conversion or exchange, or

(3) a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section  514. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants that (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law or any usury law or any other law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which would prohibit or forgive the Company from paying all or any portion of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Securities as contemplated herein and therein or which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee or the Holders, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

Section  515. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of any undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 515 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, and, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder pursuant to Article Thirteen hereof, on or after the date for repayment) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security into Common Shares or other securities in accordance with its terms.

 

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ARTICLE SIX

THE TRUSTEE

Section 601. Certain Duties and Rights of Trustee.

(1) Duties of the Trustee. Subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

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

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

(a) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(b) in the absence of bad faith or negligence on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided, however , that the Trustee will examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether they conform to the requirements set forth in this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of any mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein).

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

 

  (1)

this sub-section (b)  does not limit the effect of the remainder of this Section  601 ;

 

  (2)

the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

  (3)

the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section  512 hereof, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture absent negligence or willful misconduct.

(2) Rights of the Trustee:

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

(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order (in each case, other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

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

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

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

(f) 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, coupon or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Company, Personally or by agent or attorney;

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

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

(i) The Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for punitive, special, indirect, 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 actions;

(j) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the execution of the trusts and powers under this Indenture;

(k) Any permissive right of the Trustee to take or refrain from taking actions enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty; and

(l) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.

Section  602. Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 703(3), notice of such default hereunder, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided , however , that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund installment with respect to, any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided , further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(5) or 501(11) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

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Section  603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, 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. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

Section  604. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee or the Company, 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 Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person.

Section  605. Money Held in Trust. Except as provided in Section 403 and Section 1003, money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law and shall be held uninvested. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

Section  606. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees:

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct; and

(3) to indemnify the Trustee and its agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or reasonable expense (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee’s agents, legal counsel, accountants and experts) incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent that any such loss, liability or expense was due to the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct.

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, or premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities.

Any compensation or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified by Section 501(8), (9) or (10) is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “Trustee” for purposes of this Section 606 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 606. The provisions of this Section 606 shall, to the extent permitted by law, survive any termination of this Indenture (including, without limitation, termination pursuant to any Bankruptcy Laws) and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

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Section  607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Corporation, organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, eligible under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000 subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

Section 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(1) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee pursuant to Section 609.

(2) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 609 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

(3) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and the Company.

(4) If at any time:

(a) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company or any Holder of a Security of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months, or

(b) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 607 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or

(c) 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 or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series 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 of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(5) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees 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 particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 609. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so

 

37


appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 609, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 609, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(6) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Securities of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

Section 609. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(1) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 1003, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606.

(2) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, and, upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor relates and subject to Section 1003 shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject to its claim, if any, provided for in Section 606.

 

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(3) Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section, as the case may be.

(4) No Person shall accept its appointment hereunder as a successor Trustee unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Person shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

Section  610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any Corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder (provided that such Corporation shall otherwise be qualified and eligible under this Article), without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any such successor to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities in either its own name or that of its predecessor Trustee.

Section  611. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any such other obligor).

Section  612. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint one or more Authenticating Agents acceptable to the Company with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of that or those series issued upon original issue, exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption, partial repayment, partial conversion or exchange for Common Shares or other securities or property, or pursuant to Section 306, and 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. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.

Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall at all times be a Corporation that would be permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

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

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and 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 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, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to

 

39


the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. 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.

The Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section. If the Trustee makes such payments, it shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 606.

The provisions of Sections 308, 603 and 604 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

If an Authenticating Agent is appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

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

 

[Name of Authenticating Agent],

as Authenticating Agent

By:  

         

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

         

  Authorized Signatory

If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officers’ Certificate of the Company), shall appoint in accordance with this Section an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

ARTICLE SEVEN

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

Section  701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders. In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

(1) semi-annually with respect to Securities of each series not later than 15 days after each Regular Record Date or upon such other dates as are set forth in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto authorizing such series, a list, in each case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders as of the applicable date, and

(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, provided , however , that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.

 

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Section  702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders. The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that none of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 703. Reports by Trustee.

(1) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 301, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Sections 313(a) and 313(b)(2) which may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.

(2) The Trustee shall transmit the reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

(3) Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted in the manner and to the Persons required by Sections 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section  704. Reports by Company. The Company, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, shall:

(1) deliver to the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall deliver to the Trustee and file with the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

(2) deliver to the Trustee and file with the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(3) transmit within 30 days after the delivery thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES

Section  801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms . The Company shall not, in any transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of its property and assets to, or merge with or into, any Person unless:

 

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(1) either (A) the Company shall be the continuing Person (in the case of a merger) or (B) the successor Person (if other than the Company) formed by or resulting from the consolidation or merger or which shall have received the transfer of assets shall be an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, all Securities Outstanding under this Indenture and the due and punctual performance and observance of all covenants and conditions in such Outstanding Securities and this Indenture to be performed or satisfied by the Company (including, without limitation, the obligation to convert or exchange any Securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture) by a supplemental indenture;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) either the Company or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or other conveyance and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Section  802. Successor Person Substituted for Company. In the case of any such consolidation, sale, lease, conveyance or merger in which the Company is not the continuing entity and upon execution and delivery by the successor Person of the supplemental indenture described in Section 801, such successor Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and the predecessor Company shall be automatically released and discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE NINE

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section  901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders. Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities; or

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company with respect to all or any series of Securities issued under this Indenture (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures); or

(3) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated or global form, provided any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding; or

(4) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301, including, without limitation, any conversion or exchange provisions applicable to Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, and to make any deletions from or additions or changes to this Indenture in connection with any matters referred to in this clause (4) (provided that any such deletions, additions and changes shall not be applicable to any other series of Securities then Outstanding); or

 

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(5) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 609; or

(6) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding in any material respect; or

(7) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture); or

(8) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance, covenant defeasance and/or satisfaction and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article Four, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of a Security of such series and or any other Security in any material respect; or

(9) to add guarantees or guarantors in respect of all or any Securities under this Indenture, and to evidence the release and discharge of any guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee of any or all Securities and its obligations under this Indenture in respect of any or all Securities in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(10) to secure or, if applicable, to provide additional security for all or any Securities issued under this Indenture and all or any guarantees, if any, of all or any such Securities and to provide for any and all matters relating thereto, and to provide for the release of any collateral as security for all or any Securities or all or any guarantees, if any, of all or any Securities in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; or

(11) to make any change in this Indenture or any Securities to conform the terms thereof to the terms reflected in any prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or similar offering document used in connection with the initial offering or sale of any Securities; or

(12) in the case of any series of Securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares or other securities or property, to safeguard or provide for the conversion or exchange rights, as the case may be, of such Securities in the event of any reclassification or change of outstanding Common Shares (or any other securities of the Company into which such Securities are convertible or for which such Securities are exchangeable), or in the event of any merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or combination of the Company with or into another Person or any sale, lease, assignment, transfer, disposition or other conveyance of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company to any other Person or other similar transactions, if expressly required by the terms of such series of Securities established pursuant to Section 301; or

(13) to amend or supplement any provision contained herein, in any supplemental indenture or in any Securities (which amendment or supplement may apply to one or more series of Securities or to one or more Securities within any series as specified in such supplemental indenture), provided that such amendment or supplement does not apply to any Outstanding Security issued prior to the date of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefits of such provision.

Section  902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of such series or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, that no such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall

 

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(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or premium, if any, or any installment of interest, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the premium, if any, thereon or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate) of interest thereon, or reduce the amount payable upon redemption thereof, whether such redemption is mandatory or at the option of the Company, or upon repayment thereof at the option of the Holder, or reduce any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, or change the obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(1) and permitted by Section 901(1)), or reduce the amount of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504, or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any Holder as contemplated by Article Thirteen, or change the Place of Payment where or the Currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment pursuant to Article Thirteen at the option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment) in each case as such Stated Maturity, Redemption Date or date for repayment may, if applicable, be extended in accordance with the terms of such Security, or in the case of any Security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, impair the right to institute suit to enforce the right to convert or exchange such Security in accordance with its terms, or

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such 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 Section 513 or 1006 of this Indenture, or

(3) make any change that adversely affects the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security for Common Shares or other securities or property in accordance with its terms, or

(4) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1006, 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.

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which shall have 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.

Anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, if more than one series of Securities is Outstanding, the Company shall be entitled to enter into a supplemental indenture under this Section 902 with respect to any one or more series of Outstanding Securities without entering into a supplemental indenture with respect to any other series of Outstanding Securities.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

Section  903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such supplemental indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of, the Company, subject to customary exceptions. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Section  904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of a Security theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

Section  905. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

Section  906. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

ARTICLE TEN

COVENANTS

Section  1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each series that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series, whether payable in cash, Common Shares or other securities or property, in accordance with the terms thereof and this Indenture.

Section  1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an Office or Agency where Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of such series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series relating thereto and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such Office or Agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Office or Agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee; provided, however, the Trustee shall not be deemed an agent of the Company for service of process.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other Offices or Agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided , however , that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain an Office or Agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other Office or Agency.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series), the Company hereby designates the place where the Trustee shall from time to time maintain its Corporate Trust Office as the Company’s Office or Agency for such purpose and initially appoints the Trustee as the Security Registrar for each series of Securities and, if the Securities of any series are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Shares or other securities or property, initially appoints the Trustee as conversion or exchange agent, as the case may be, for the Securities of such series. The Company may subsequently appoint a different or additional Office or Agency and, as provided in Section 305, may remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar.

 

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Section  1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency or Currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the principal, any premium, interest and Additional Amounts, as the case may be, so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, on or prior to each due date of the principal of, or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Securities of such series, deposit with any Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency or Currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest and Additional Amounts, as the case may be, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities other than the Trustee 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, that such Paying Agent shall:

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture;

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series; and

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

To the extent that the terms of any Securities established pursuant to Section 301 provide that any principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any such Securities is or may be payable in Common Shares or other securities or property, then the provisions of this Section 1003 shall apply, mutatis mutandis , to such Common Shares or other securities or property.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property laws and except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, 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, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or such premium or interest or Additional Amount shall have become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may, not later than 30 days after the Company’s request for such repayment, at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series or to be mailed to Holders of Securities of such series, or both, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing nor shall it be earlier than two years after such principal and any premium or interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section  1004. Additional Amounts. If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts by the Company, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Security Additional Amounts as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Securities. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

Section  1005. Legal Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence as any type of Corporation (it being understood that nothing in this Section 1005 shall prohibit the Company from changing its legal form from one type of Corporation to another type of Corporation).

Section  1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Sections 801, 802, 1002, 1003 or 1005 with respect to the Securities of any series and, if expressly provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series, any additional covenants applicable to the Securities of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either shall waive such compliance in such instance or generally shall have waived compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

Section  1007. Company Statement as to Compliance. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company, stating whether or not, to the best of his or her knowledge, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to notice requirements or periods of grace) and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which he or she may have knowledge.

Section  1008. Calculation of Original Issue Discount .

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

Section  1101. Applicability of Article. Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Company as permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto) this Article.

Section  1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, in the event that the Company shall determine that the Securities of any series to be redeemed shall be selected from Securities of such series having the same issue date, interest rate or interest rate formula, Stated Maturity and other terms (the “Equivalent Terms”), the Company shall notify the Trustee of such Equivalent Terms.

 

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In the case of any redemption of Securities (A) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture or (B) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

Section  1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed . If less than all of the Securities of any series are to be redeemed or if less than all of the Securities of any series with Equivalent Terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series or from the Outstanding Securities of such series with Equivalent Terms, as the case may be, not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal amount of Securities of such series; provided , however , that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of such series established herein or pursuant hereto.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

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 Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series or in a notice of redemption, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted or exchanged for Common Shares or other securities or property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted or exchanged portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

Section  1104. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portions thereof.

Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date,

(2) the Redemption Price or, if applicable, the manner in which the Redemption Price will be determined,

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed,

 

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(4) that, in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

(5) that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price shall become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, (subject, if applicable, to the provisos to the first paragraph of Section 1106), and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

(6) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case,

(8) in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Shares or other securities or property, the then current conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such series to be redeemed will commence or terminate, as applicable, and the place or places where and the Persons to whom such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange,

(9) the CUSIP number of such Securities, if any, and

(10) if the Redemption Price or any portion thereof shall be payable, at the option of the Company, in cash or in Common Shares or other securities or property (or a combination thereof), a statement as to whether the Company has elected to pay the Redemption Price in cash or Common Shares or other securities or property or a combination thereof and, if applicable, the portion of the Redemption Price that is to be paid in cash, Common Shares or other securities or property.

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not identify particular Securities to be redeemed.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company 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, so long as the above information is provided to the Trustee at the time the notice is given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 1102.

Section  1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit, with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to Section 1104, 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 1003) an amount of money in the applicable Currency or, if the Redemption Price shall be payable in cash, securities and/or other property, an amount of money in the applicable Currency, securities and/or other property, as the case may be, sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date, except that, if the Securities of such series are convertible or exchangeable into Common Shares or other securities or property, no such deposit shall be required (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) with respect to any such Securities (or portions thereof) which have been converted or exchanged prior to such Redemption Date.

Section  1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed (except, in the case of Securities which are convertible or exchangeable into Common Shares or other securities or property, any such Securities which shall have been so converted or exchanged prior to the applicable Redemption Date) shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, 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. 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, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of such series, installments of interest on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

49


If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium, until paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security or, if no rate is prescribed therefor in the Security, at the rate of interest, if any, borne by such Security.

Section  1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his 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, containing identical terms and provisions, 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. If a Security in global form is so surrendered, the Company shall, if so requested by the Trustee, execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depository for such Security in global form as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security in global form so surrendered.

ARTICLE TWELVE

SINKING FUNDS

Section  1201. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

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 such series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series and this Indenture.

Section  1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Company), and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 1202, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Company Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company.

 

50


Section  1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 75 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officers’ Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.

ARTICLE THIRTEEN

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

Section  1301. Applicability of Article. Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 309, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such Securities be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 1301, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the applicable repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

Unless otherwise expressly stated in this Indenture or pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this Indenture to the repayment of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof (and all references of like import) shall be deemed to include a reference to the repurchase or redemption of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof.

ARTICLE FOURTEEN

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

Section  1401. Applicability of Article. Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency, in the absence of any provision to the contrary in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of such series, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Currency other than Dollars shall be treated for any such action, determination or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Securities of such series (if any) for such action, determination or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such distribution) as the Company may specify in a written notice to the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE FIFTEEN

SECURITY

Section  1501. Security. If so provided pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series may be secured by such property, assets or other collateral as may be specified in or pursuant to Section 301. Any and all terms and provisions applicable to the security for the Securities of such series shall also be provided in or pursuant to Section 301, which may include, without limitation, provisions for the execution and delivery of such security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral agreements and other similar or related agreements as the Company may elect and which may provide for the Trustee to act as collateral agent or in a similar or other capacity. The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(a)(5) and (6) and 313(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and the Company shall comply with Sections 314(b), 314(c) and 314(d) of the Trust Indenture Act, in each case in respect of any secured Securities that may be outstanding hereunder from time to time.

* * * * *

 

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This instrument 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.

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

 

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
By:   /s/ Stephen Yarad
  Name: Stephen Yarad
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:   /s/ Jane Schweiger
  Name: Jane Schweiger
  Title: Vice President

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

MFA Financial, Inc.

and

Wilmington Trust, National Association

as Trustee

First Supplemental Indenture

Dated as of June 3, 2019

to the Indenture

Dated as of June 3, 2019

6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

Article 1 DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

     2  

Section 1.01

  Scope of Supplemental Indenture      2  

Section 1.02

  Definitions      2  

Article 2 THE SECURITIES

     9  

Section 2.01

  Title and Terms; Payments      9  

Section 2.02

  Forms      10  

Section 2.03

  Transfer and Exchange      11  

Section 2.04

  Payments on the Securities      14  

Article 3 REDEMPTIONS AND PURCHASES

     15  

Section 3.01

  Amendments to the Base Indenture      15  

Section 3.02

  Purchase at Option of Holders upon a Fundamental Change      16  

Section 3.03

  Effect of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice      19  

Section 3.04

  Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice      19  

Section 3.05

  Deposit of Fundamental Change Purchase Price      20  

Section 3.06

  Securities Purchased in Whole or in Part      20  

Section 3.07

  Covenant To Comply with Applicable Laws upon Purchase of Securities      20  

Section 3.08

  Repayment to the Company      20  

Article 4 CONVERSION

     20  

Section 4.01

  Right To Convert      20  

Section 4.02

  Conversion Procedures      21  

Section 4.03

  Settlement Upon Conversion      23  

Section 4.04

  Adjustment of Conversion Rate      24  

Section 4.05

  Adjustments of Prices and Voluntary Adjustments      34  

Section 4.06

  Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion in Connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change      34  

Section 4.07

  Effect of Recapitalization, Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale      36  

Section 4.08

  Stock Issued Upon Conversion      37  

Section 4.09

  Responsibility of Trustee      38  

Section 4.10

  Notice to Holders      38  

Article 5 PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

     39  

Section 5.01

  Payment of Principal, Interest and Fundamental Change Purchase Price      39  

Section 5.02

  Maintenance of Office or Agency      39  

Section 5.03

  Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office      40  

Section 5.04

  Provisions as to Paying Agent      40  

Section 5.05

  Reports      41  

Section 5.06

  Statements as to Defaults      42  

Section 5.07

  Supplementary Interest Notice      42  

Section 5.08

  Covenant to Take Certain Actions      42  

Article 6 REMEDIES

     42  

Section 6.01

  Amendments to the Base Indenture      42  

 

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         Page  

Section 6.02

  Events of Default      43  

Section 6.03

  Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment      44  

Section 6.04

  Supplementary Interest      44  

Section 6.05

  Waiver of Past Defaults      45  

Section 6.06

  Control by Majority      45  

Section 6.07

  Limitation on Suits      45  

Section 6.08

  Rights of Holders to Receive Payment and to Convert      46  

Section 6.09

  Collection of Indebtedness; Suit for Enforcement by Trustee      46  

Section 6.10

  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities      46  

Section 6.11

  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      46  

Section 6.12

  Restoration of Rights and Remedies      47  

Section 6.13

  Rights and Remedies Cumulative      47  

Section 6.14

  Delay or Omission Not a Waiver      47  

Section 6.15

  Priorities      47  

Section 6.16

  Undertaking for Costs      48  

Section 6.17

  Waiver of Stay, Extension and Usury Laws      48  

Section 6.18

  Notices from the Trustee      48  

Article 7 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     49  

Section 7.01

  Inapplicability of Provisions of Base Indenture; Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture      49  

Section 7.02

  Deposited Monies to Be Held in Trust by Trustee      50  

Section 7.03

  Paying Agent to Repay Monies Held      50  

Section 7.04

  Return of Unclaimed Monies      50  

Section 7.05

  Reinstatement      50  

Article 8 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     50  

Section 8.01

  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      50  

Section 8.02

  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders      51  

Section 8.03

  Notice of Amendment or Supplement      53  

Article 9 SUCCESSOR COMPANY

     53  

Section 9.01

  Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets      53  

Section 9.02

  Company May Consolidate, Etc.      53  

Section 9.03

  Successor Corporation to Be Substituted      53  

Section 9.04

  Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee      54  

Article 10 MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

     54  

Section 10.01

  Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called      54  

Section 10.02

  Call, Notice and Place of Meetings      54  

Section 10.03

  Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings      55  

Section 10.04

  Quorum; Action      55  

Section 10.05

  Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings      56  

Section 10.06

  Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings      57  

Article 11 MISCELLANEOUS

     57  

Section 11.01

  Effect on Successors and Assigns      57  

Section 11.02

  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial      57  

Section 11.03

  No Security Interest Created      58  

Section 11.04

  Trust Indenture Act      58  

Section 11.05

  Benefits of Supplemental Indenture      58  

Section 11.06

  Calculations      58  

 

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         Page  

Section 11.07

  Execution in Counterparts      59  

Section 11.08

  Notices      59  

Section 11.09

  Ratification of Base Indenture      59  

Section 11.10

  The Trustee      59  

Section 11.11

  No Recourse Against Others      59  

SCHEDULE

  

Schedule A Additional Shares

  

EXHIBIT

  

Exhibit A Form of Security

  

 

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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of June 3, 2019, between MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Company ”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association (the “ Trustee ”), a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee under the Indenture dated as of June 3, 2019, between the Company and the Trustee (as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the “ Base Indenture ”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

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

WHEREAS, Section 901(4) of the Base Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into supplemental indentures to the Base Indenture to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as contemplated by Articles Two and Three of the Base Indenture;

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

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture, the Company has authorized the creation and issuance under this Supplemental Indenture of its 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “ Securities ”), the form and substance of such Securities and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture; and

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

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


ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.01     Scope of Supplemental Indenture . The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall govern only the terms of (and only the rights of the Holders and the obligations of the Company with respect to), the Securities, which may be issued from time to time, and shall not apply to any other securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture (or govern the rights of the Holders or the obligations of the Company with respect to any such other securities) unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements. The provisions of this Supplemental Indenture shall, with respect to the Securities, supersede any corresponding provisions in the Base Indenture. Subject to the preceding sentence, and except as otherwise provided herein, the provisions of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Securities and govern the rights of the Holders of the Securities and the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect thereto.

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

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

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

Additional Shares ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(a) hereof.

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

Applicable Dividend or Distribution ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(d) hereof.

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

Averaging Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(e) hereof.

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

Business Day ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which the Trustee or the

 

2


Federal Reserve Bank of New York is authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close or to be closed and, when used with respect to payments, any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which trust companies or banking institutions in the place of payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close or to be closed.

Capital Stock ” means, for any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

Clause A Distribution ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(c) hereof.

Clause B Distribution ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(c) hereof.

Clause C Distribution ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(c) hereof.

Close of Business ” means 5:00 p.m., New York City time.

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

Common Stock ” means, subject to Section 4.07, the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company authorized at the date of this instrument as originally executed or shares of any class or classes of common stock resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof; provided , however , that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares so issuable on conversion of Securities shall include shares of all such classes, and the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications. “Common Stock” includes any stock of any class of Capital Stock which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the issuer thereof and which is not subject to redemption by the issuer thereof.

Company ” has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Supplemental Indenture, and subject to the provisions of Section 9.02, shall include its successors and assigns.

Continuing Director ” means a director who either was a member of the Company’s board of directors on the date of the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement or who becomes a member of the Company’s board of directors subsequent to that date and whose election, appointment or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders is duly approved by a majority of the “Continuing Directors” on the Company’s board of directors at the time of such approval, either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement issued by the Company on behalf of the Company’s entire board of directors in which such individual is named as nominee for director.

 

3


Conversion Agent ” means the office or agency designated by the Company where Securities may be presented for conversion as specified in Section 5.02.

Conversion Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.02(b) hereof.

Conversion Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.02(b)(1) hereof.

Conversion Obligation ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.03(a) hereof.

Conversion Price ” means, in respect of each Security, as of any date, $1,000 divided by the Conversion Rate in effect on such date.

Conversion Rate ” means initially 125.7387 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Securities, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, this Indenture shall be principally administered, which office as of the date of this instrument is located at Wilmington Trust, National Association, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attn: MFA Financial, Inc. Administrator, or, such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company.

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

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

Dividend Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(d) hereof.

Dividend Threshold Amount ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(d) hereof.

Effective Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(b) hereof.

Event of Default ” has the meaning, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, specified in Section 6.02 hereof.

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

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

Form of Assignment and Transfer ” means the “Form of Assignment and Transfer” attached as Attachment 3 to the Form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A .

 

4


Form of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice ” means the “Form of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice” attached as Attachment 2 to the Form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A .

Form of Notice of Conversion ” means the “Form of Notice of Conversion” attached as Attachment 1 to the Form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A .

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

(1)    a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company, its wholly owned Subsidiaries and the employee benefit plans of the Company and its wholly owned Subsidiaries, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of the Company’s Common Equity representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s Common Equity;

(2)    the consummation of (A) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of us pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of the Company’s wholly owned Subsidiaries; provided , however , that a transaction described in clause (B):

(i) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction or

(ii) effected solely to change the Company’s jurisdiction of incorporation or to form a holding company for us and that results in a share exchange or reclassification or similar exchange of the outstanding Common Stock solely into common stock of the surviving entity

shall not be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (2);

(3)    Continuing Directors cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors;

(4)    the Company’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company (other than in a transaction described in clause (2) above); or

(5)    the Common Stock ceases to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (or any of their respective successors;

 

5


provided , however , that in the case of a transaction or transactions described in clause (1) or (2) above, if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of the Common Stock (excluding cash payments for fractional shares) in the transaction or transactions that would otherwise constitute a “Fundamental Change” consists of shares of common stock or common equity interests that are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Select Market or the Nasdaq Global Market (or any of their respective successors) or that will be so traded when issued or exchanged in connection with the transaction or transactions that would otherwise constitute a “Fundamental Change” under clause (1) or (2) above (“ Publicly Traded Securities ”), and as a result of such transaction or transactions, the Securities become convertible into or by reference to such Publicly Traded Securities, excluding cash payments for fractional shares (subject to settlement in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4.03, 4.04 and 4.06 hereof), such transaction or transactions will not be a “Fundamental Change.”

Fundamental Change Company Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(b) hereof.

Fundamental Change Expiration Time ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a)(1) hereof.

Fundamental Change Purchase Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a) hereof.

Fundamental Change Purchase Notice ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a)(1) hereof.

Fundamental Change Purchase Price ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.02(a) hereof.

Global Security ” means a Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered to the Depository or its nominee, all in accordance with the Indenture and pursuant to a Company Order, which shall be registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee and which shall represent the amount of uncertificated Securities as specified therein.

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

Indenture ” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, the Base Indenture, as originally executed and as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, each as may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Interest Payment Date ” means, with respect to the payment of interest on the Securities and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, each June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2019.

Issue Date ” means, with respect to the Securities, June 3, 2019.

 

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Last Reported Sale Price ” of the Common Stock for any date means the closing sale price per share (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices) on that date as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock is traded. If the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange on the relevant date, the “Last Reported Sale Price” will be the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the relevant date as reported by OTC Markets Group Inc. or a similar organization. If the Common Stock is not so quoted, the “Last Reported Sale Price” will be the average of the mid-point of the bid and ask prices for the Common Stock on the relevant date from each of at least three nationally recognized independent investment banking firms selected by the Company for this purpose, which may include the underwriters.

Make-Whole Fundamental Change ” means any event that (i) is a Fundamental Change or (ii) would be a Fundamental Change, but for the exclusion in section (i) of clause (2) of the definition thereof.

Maturity Date ” means, with respect to any Security and the payment of the principal amount thereof, June 15, 2024.

Merger Event ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Notice of Default ” has the meaning, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Base Indenture, specified in Section 6.02(f) hereof.

Offer Expiration Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(e) hereof.

Open of Business ” means 9:00 a.m., New York City time.

Outstanding ” means, with respect to the Securities, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, any Securities authenticated by the Trustee except (i) Securities cancelled by it, (ii) Securities delivered to it for cancellation and (iii)(A) Securities replaced pursuant to Section 306 of the Base Indenture, on and after the time such Security is replaced (unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that such Security is held by a bona fide purchaser), (B) Securities converted pursuant to Article 4 hereof, on and after their Conversion Date, (C) any and all Securities, as of the Maturity Date, if the Paying Agent holds, in accordance with this Indenture, money sufficient to pay all of the Securities then payable, and (D) any and all Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, except that in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver or other action that is to be made by a requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities, for purposes of clause (D) only those Securities identified to the Trustee pursuant to an Officer’s Certificate shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding.

Paying Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture and shall be the Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal amount of, interest on, or Fundamental Change Purchase Price of, any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

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

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement ” means the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement of the Company, dated May 29, 2019 and relating to the offering and sale of the Securities, to the Prospectus of the Company dated November 16, 2016.

Publicly Traded Securities ” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Fundamental Change” in this Section 1.02.

Record Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(i) hereof.

Redemption Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a) hereof, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture.

Redemption Price ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a) hereof, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture.

Reference Property ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a) hereof.

Regular Record Date ” means, with respect to any Interest Payment Date, June 1 (whether or not a Business Day) or December 1 (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.

Reporting Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04(a) hereof.

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

Spin-Off ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(c) hereof.

Stock Price ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.06(b) hereof.

Stock Transfer Agent ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.08(c) hereof.

Successor Company ” has the meaning specified in Section 9.02(a) hereof.

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

Supplementary Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 6.04(a) hereof.

 

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Trading Day ” means a day on which (i) trading in the Common Stock (or other security for which a closing sale price must be determined) generally occurs on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock (or such other Security) is not then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other U.S. national or regional securities exchange on which the Common Stock (or such other Security) is then listed or, if the Common Stock (or such other Security) is not then listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, on the principal other market on which the Common Stock (or such other Security) is then traded, and (ii) a Last Reported Sale Price for the Common Stock (or closing sale price for such other Security) is available on such securities exchange or market. If the Common Stock (or such other Security) is not so listed or traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

Trigger Event ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(c) hereof.

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

Unit of Reference Property ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.07(a) hereof.

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

Valuation Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 4.04(c)(3) hereof.

Section 1.03     References to Interest . Any reference to interest on, or in respect of, any Security in the Indenture shall be deemed to include Supplementary Interest if, in such context, Supplementary Interest is, was or would be payable pursuant to Section 6.04. Any express mention of the payment of Supplementary Interest in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Supplementary Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

ARTICLE 2

THE SECURITIES

Section 2.01     Title and Terms; Payments .

(a)     Establishment; Designation. Pursuant to Section 301 of the Base Indenture, there is hereby established and authorized a new series of Securities under the Indenture, which series of Securities shall be designated the “6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024.”

(b)     Initial Issuance. Subject to Section 2.01(c) hereof, the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be authenticated and delivered on the date hereof is limited to $230,000,000. In addition, the Company may execute, and the Trustee may authenticate and deliver, in each case, in accordance with Section 303 of the Base Indenture, an unlimited aggregate principal amount of additional Securities upon the transfer, exchange, purchase or conversion of Securities pursuant to Sections 304, 305 and 306 of the Base Indenture and Sections 3.06 and 4.02 hereof.

 

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(c)     Further Issues. The Company may, without the consent of the Holders, issue additional Securities under the Indenture with the same terms and the same CUSIP number as the Securities initially issued under the Indenture in an unlimited aggregate principal amount; provided , that the Company may issue such additional Securities only if they are part of the same issue (and part of the same series) as the Securities initially issued hereunder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such additional Securities will, for all purposes of the Indenture, including waivers, amendments and offers to purchase, be treated as part of the same series as the Securities initially issued under the Indenture.

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

(e)     Denominations. Pursuant to Sections 301 and 302 of the Base Indenture, the Securities will be issued only in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Section 2.02     Forms .

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

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

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

The terms and provisions contained in the Securities will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. However, to the extent that any provision of any Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of this Indenture will govern and control.

 

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

So long as the Securities are eligible for book-entry settlement with the Depository, unless otherwise required by law, and except to the extent provided in Section 2.03(c)(1) through (3) hereof, all Securities will be represented by one or more Global Securities.

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

Only the Trustee, or the Custodian holding such Global Security for the Depository, at the direction of the Trustee, may endorse a Global Security to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities represented thereby, and whenever the Holder of a Global Security delivers instructions to the Trustee to increase or decrease the aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities represented by a Global Security in accordance with the Indenture and the Applicable Procedures, the Trustee, or the Custodian holding such Global Security for the Depository, at the direction of the Trustee, will endorse such Global Security to reflect such increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities represented thereby. None of the Trustee, the Company or any agent of the Trustee or the Company will have any responsibility or bear any liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of the ownership of any beneficial interest in a Global Security or with respect to maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interest.

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

Section 2.03     Transfer and Exchange .

(a)     In General . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article Three of the Base Indenture, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Securities or portions thereof that have been surrendered for purchase in accordance with Article 3 hereof (unless the related Fundamental Change Purchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with the

 

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provisions of Section 3.04) or for conversion in accordance with Article 4 hereof, and a written form of transfer substantially in the form of the Form of Assignment and Transfer will be deemed to be a written instrument of transfer satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(3)    If the Company notifies the Depository and Trustee that the Securities shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and the beneficial owners of the majority of the principal amount of such Global Security (or portion thereof) consent to an exchange of Global Securities for Physical Securities, the Company may exchange all beneficial interests in such Global Security (or portion thereof) for Physical Securities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Section 2.04     Payments on the Securities .

(a)     In General. Each Security will accrue cash interest at a rate equal to 6.25% per annum from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, or, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for, the Issue Date. Interest on a Security will cease to accrue upon the earliest of the Maturity Date, subject to the provisions of Article 3 hereof, any Fundamental Change Purchase Date for such Security, and subject to the provisions of Article 4 hereof, any Conversion Date for such Security. Interest on any Security will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date, beginning December 15, 2019, to the Holder of such Security as of the Close of Business on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. As provided in Section 310 of the Base Indenture, interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months and, for partial months, on the basis of the number of days actually elapsed in a 30-day month.

 

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The Securities will mature on the Maturity Date, and on the Maturity Date, each Holder of a then Outstanding Security will be entitled on such date to receive $1,000 in cash for each $1,000 in principal amount of then Outstanding Securities held, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Maturity Date on such then Outstanding Securities.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the Maturity Date or any Interest Payment Date or Fundamental Change Purchase Date or any Conversion Date falls, or if any payment, delivery, notice or other action by the Company is otherwise due, on a day that is not a Business Day, then any action to be taken on such date need not be taken on such date, but may be taken on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if taken on such date, and no additional interest will accrue and no Default shall occur on account of such delay.

(b)     Method of Payment . The Company shall pay the principal of, the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, and any cash in lieu of delivering any fractional shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of, any Physical Security to the Holder of such Security in cash at the designated office of the Paying Agent in the United States, prior to 10:00 a.m. on the relevant payment or settlement date, as the case may be. Interest on any Physical Security will be payable by the Company (i) to Holders having an aggregate principal amount of $2,000,000 or less, by check mailed to the Holders of such Security and (ii) to Holders having an aggregate principal amount of more than $2,000,000, either by check mailed to each Holder or, upon application by such a Holder to the Security Registrar not later than the relevant Regular Record Date, by wire transfer in immediately available funds to that Holder’s account within the United States, which application will remain in effect until the Holder notifies, in writing, the Security Registrar to the contrary.

The Company shall pay the principal of, interest on, the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, and any cash in lieu of delivering any fractional shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of, any Global Security to the Depository by wire transfer of immediately available funds on the relevant payment date in accordance with Applicable Procedures.

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

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTIONS AND PURCHASES

Section 3.01     Amendments to the Base Indenture .

(a)     Redemption of Securities to Preserve REIT Status . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article Eleven of the Base Indenture, the Company may not redeem the Securities at its option prior to the Maturity Date, except to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to preserve the Company’s status as a real estate investment trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Company determines that redeeming the Securities is necessary to

 

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preserve such status, then the Company may redeem, on a Business Day (the “ Redemption Date ”) of the Company’s choosing that is no more than 60, nor less than 30, days after the date the related redemption notice is sent pursuant to Section 3.01(b) hereof, all or part (in a principal amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000) of the Securities at a cash price (the “ Redemption Price ”) equal to the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date; provided , however , that if the Redemption Date for a Security is after a Regular Record Date for the payment of interest and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, then (x) the Company shall pay, on or before such Interest Payment Date, the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest payable on such Security on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such Security at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date; and (y) the Redemption Price will not include such accrued and unpaid interest. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.01(a), no Securities may be redeemed on any date if the principal amount of the Securities has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Company in the payment of the applicable Redemption Price with respect to such Securities).

(b)     Notice of Redemption. With the exclusion of the first sentence of Section 1102 of the Base Indenture, Section 1102 of the Base Indenture and the first and last two sentences of Section 1104 of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Securities. The Company shall send to the Trustee, the Paying Agent, if other than the Trustee, and each applicable Holder notice of any Redemption Date pursuant to Section 3.01(a) containing the information set forth in clauses (1) through (6), inclusive, and clauses (8) through (9) of Section 1104 of the Base Indenture.

(c)     Partial Redemptions. If only a portion of a Security is subject to redemption pursuant to Section 3.01(a) and such Security is converted in part, then the converted portion of such Security will be deemed to be from the portion of such Security that was subject to redemption.

(d)     No Sinking Fund. Article Twelve of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Securities.

Section 3.02     Purchase at Option of Holders upon a Fundamental Change .

(a)    If a Fundamental Change occurs, then each Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to purchase for cash all of such Holder’s Securities, or any portion thereof such that the remaining principal amount of each Security that is not purchased in full equals $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, on a date (the “ Fundamental Change Purchase Date ”) specified by the Company that is not less than 20 calendar days or more than 35 calendar days following the date on which the Company delivers the Fundamental Change Company Notice, at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Purchase Date (the “ Fundamental Change Purchase Price ”); provided , however , that if the Company purchases a Security on a Fundamental Change Purchase Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, the Company shall instead pay such accrued and unpaid interest on such Security on the Interest Payment Date to the Holder of record of such Security as of such Regular Record Date.

 

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Purchases of Securities under this Section 3.02 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

(1)    if the Securities to be purchased are Physical Securities, delivery to the Paying Agent by the Holder of a duly completed notice (the “ Fundamental Change Purchase Notice ”) in the form set forth in Attachment 2 to the Form of Security attached hereto as Exhibit A and of the Securities, duly endorsed for transfer, on or before the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, subject to extensions to comply with applicable law (the “ Fundamental Change Expiration Time ”); and

(2)    if the Securities to be purchased are Global Securities, delivery of the Securities, by book-entry transfer, in compliance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository and the satisfaction of any other requirements of the Depository in connection with tendering beneficial interests in a Global Security for purchase, by the Fundamental Change Expiration Time.

The Fundamental Change Purchase Notice in respect of any Securities to be purchased shall state:

(1)    if certificated, the certificate numbers of such Securities;

(2)    the portion of the principal amount of such Securities, which must be such that the principal amount that is not to be purchased of each Security that is not to be purchased in full equals $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof; and

(3)    that such Securities are to be purchased by the Company pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Securities and this Indenture.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any Holder delivering to the Paying Agent the Fundamental Change Purchase Notice contemplated by this Section 3.02 shall have the right to withdraw, in whole or in part, such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice at any time prior to the Fundamental Change Expiration Time by delivery of a notice of withdrawal to the Paying Agent in accordance with Section 3.04.

The Paying Agent shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Purchase Notice or notice of withdrawal given in accordance with Section 3.04.

(b)    On or before the 20th calendar day after the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall provide to all Holders of the Securities, the Trustee, the Conversion Agent and the Paying Agent (in the case of any Paying Agent other than the Trustee) a notice (the “ Fundamental Change Company Notice ”) of the occurrence of such Fundamental Change and of the purchase right at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof. Such notice shall

 

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be sent by first class mail or, in the case of any Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the Depository for providing notices. Simultaneously with providing such Fundamental Change Company Notice, the Company shall publish this information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time.

Each Fundamental Change Company Notice shall specify:

(1)    the events causing the Fundamental Change;

(2)    the date of the Fundamental Change;

(3)    the last date on which a Holder of Securities may exercise the purchase right pursuant to this Article 3;

(4)    the Fundamental Change Purchase Price;

(5)    the Fundamental Change Purchase Date;

(6)    the name and address of the Paying Agent and the Conversion Agent, if applicable;

(7)    the applicable Conversion Rate and any adjustments to the applicable Conversion Rate;

(8)    that the Securities with respect to which a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Purchase Notice in accordance with this Indenture;

(9)    that the Holder shall have the right to withdraw any Securities surrendered for purchase prior to the Fundamental Change Expiration Time; and

(10)    the procedures that Holders must follow to require the Company to purchase their Securities.

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the purchase rights of the Holders of Securities or affect the validity of the proceedings for the purchase of the Securities pursuant to this Section 3.02.

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be no purchase of any Securities pursuant to this Section 3.02 if the principal amount of the Securities has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to the Fundamental Change Purchase Date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price with respect to such Securities). The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Securities held by it during the acceleration of the Securities (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from

 

18


a Default by the Company in the payment of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price with respect to such Securities) and shall deem to be cancelled any instructions for book-entry transfer of the Securities in compliance with the procedures of the Depository, in which case, upon such return or cancellation, as the case may be, the Fundamental Change Purchase Notice with respect thereto shall be deemed to have been withdrawn.

(d)    Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article 3, the Company shall not be required to make an offer to purchase the Securities upon a Fundamental Change if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements in this Indenture and such third party purchases all Securities properly tendered and not validly withdrawn under its offer.

Section 3.03     Effect of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice . Upon receipt by the Paying Agent of a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice specified in Section 3.02, the Holder of the Security in respect of which such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice was given shall (unless such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with Section 3.04) thereafter be entitled to receive solely the Fundamental Change Purchase Price in cash with respect to such Security (and any previously accrued and unpaid interest on such Security). Such Fundamental Change Purchase Price shall be paid to such Holder, subject to receipt of funds by the Paying Agent, on the later of (x) the applicable Fundamental Change Purchase Date ( provided the conditions in Section 3.02 have been satisfied) and (y) the time of delivery or book-entry transfer of such Security to the Paying Agent by the Holder thereof in the manner required by Section 3.02, subject in each case to extensions to comply with applicable law,

Section 3.04     Withdrawal of Fundamental Change Purchase Notice . A Fundamental Change Purchase Notice may be withdrawn (in whole or in part) by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with the Fundamental Change Company Notice at any time prior to the Fundamental Change Expiration Time, specifying:

(1)    the principal amount of the Securities with respect to which such notice of withdrawal is being submitted;

(2)    if Physical Securities have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn Securities; and

(3)    the principal amount, if any, of each Security that remains subject to the Fundamental Change Purchase Notice, which must be such that the principal amount not to be purchased equals $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

provided , however , that if the Securities are Global Securities, the notice must comply with Applicable Procedures of the Depository.

The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the respective Holders thereof any Physical Securities with respect to which a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been withdrawn in compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.04.

 

19


Section 3.05     Deposit of Fundamental Change Purchase Price . Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of either of them is acting as the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust as provided herein) an amount of money (in immediately available funds if deposited on such Business Day) sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Purchase Price of all the Securities or portions thereof that are to be purchased as of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date. If the Paying Agent holds cash sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Purchase Price of the Securities for which a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice has been tendered and not withdrawn in accordance with this Indenture on the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, then as of such Fundamental Change Purchase Date, (a) such Securities will cease to be Outstanding and interest will cease to accrue thereon (whether or not book-entry transfer of such Securities is made or such Securities have been delivered to the Paying Agent) and (b) all other rights of the Holders in respect thereof will terminate (other than the right to receive the Fundamental Change Purchase Price upon delivery or book-entry transfer of such Securities).

Section 3.06     Securities Purchased in Whole or in Part . Any Security that is to be purchased, whether in whole or in part, shall be surrendered at the office of the Paying Agent (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires in the case of Physical Securities, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder’s 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 any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to, and in exchange for, the portion of the principal amount of the Security so surrendered that is not purchased.

Section 3.07     Covenant To Comply with Applicable Laws upon Purchase of Securities . In connection with any offer to purchase Securities under Section 3.02, the Company shall, in each case if required by law, (i) comply with Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable, (ii) file a Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange Act and (iii) otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws applicable to the Company in connection with such purchase offer, in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under Section 3.02 to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in Section 3.02.

Section 3.08     Repayment to the Company . To the extent that the aggregate amount of cash deposited by the Company pursuant to Section 3.05 exceeds the aggregate Fundamental Change Purchase Price of the Securities or portions thereof that the Company is obligated to purchase as of the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, then, following the Fundamental Change Purchase Date, the Paying Agent shall promptly return any such excess to the Company.

ARTICLE 4

CONVERSION

Section 4.01     Right To Convert .

 

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(a) Upon compliance with the provisions of this Indenture, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, the Holder of any Securities not previously repurchased shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert its Securities, or any portion thereof which is a multiple of $1,000, into Common Stock, as provided in Section 4.03, by surrender of such Securities so to be converted in whole or in part, together with any required funds, under the circumstances and in the manner described in this Article 4.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Securities or this Indenture, no Holder of Securities will be entitled to receive Common Stock following conversion of such Securities to the extent that receipt of such Common Stock would cause such Holder to exceed the ownership limits contained in the Company’s charter. If any delivery of shares of Common Stock owed to a Holder upon conversion of Securities is not made, in whole or in part, as a result of the limitations described in this Section 4.01(b), the Company’s obligation to make such delivery will not be extinguished and the Company shall deliver such shares as promptly as practicable after any such converting Holder gives notice to the Company that such delivery would not result in it being the beneficial or being deemed the constructive owner, by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, of more than 9.8% (in value or in number, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Capital Stock. The Trustee shall have no obligation to monitor the ownership limitation described in this Section 4.01(b).

(c) A Security in respect of which a Holder has delivered a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice exercising such Holder’s right to require the Company to purchase such Security pursuant to Section 3.02 may be converted only if such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice is properly withdrawn in accordance with, and within the time periods set forth in, Section 3.04.

Section 4.02     Conversion Procedures .

(a)    Each Security shall be convertible at the office of the Conversion Agent and, if applicable, in accordance with the Applicable Procedures of the Depository.

(b) To exercise the conversion privilege with respect to a beneficial interest in a Global Security, the Holder must complete the appropriate instruction form for conversion pursuant to the Depository’s book-entry conversion program, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents if required by the Company or the Conversion Agent, and pay the funds, if any, required by Section 4.02(f) and any taxes or duties if required pursuant to Section 4.02(g), and the Conversion Agent must be informed of the conversion in accordance with the customary practice of the Depository.

To exercise the conversion privilege with respect to any Physical Securities, the Holder of such Physical Securities shall:

(1)    complete and manually sign a conversion notice in the form set forth in the Form of Notice of Conversion (the “ Conversion Notice ”) or a facsimile of the Conversion Notice;

 

21


(2)    deliver the Conversion Notice, which is irrevocable, and the Security to the Conversion Agent;

(3)    if required, furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents,

(4)    if required, make any payment required under Section 4.02(f); and

(5)    if required, pay all transfer or similar taxes as set forth in Section 4.02(g).

If, upon conversion of a Security, any shares of Common Stock are to be issued to a person other than the Holder of such Security, the related Conversion Notice shall include such other person’s name and address.

If a Security is subject to a Fundamental Change Purchase Notice, such Security may not be converted unless such Fundamental Change Purchase Notice is withdrawn in accordance with Section 3.04 hereof prior to the relevant Fundamental Change Expiration Time.

For any Security, the first Business Day on which the Holder of such Security satisfies all of the applicable requirements set forth above with respect to such Security and on which conversion of such Security is not otherwise prohibited under this Indenture (as determined by the Company) shall be the “ Conversion Date ” with respect to such Security.

Each conversion shall be deemed to have been effected as to any such Securities (or portion thereof) surrendered for conversion at the Close of Business on the applicable Conversion Date, and the person in whose name the certificate for any shares of Common Stock delivered upon conversion is registered shall be treated as a stockholder of record as of the Close of Business on such Conversion Date.

(c)     Endorsement . Any Securities surrendered for conversion shall, unless shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion are to be issued in the same name as the registration of such Securities, be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company duly executed by, the Holder or its duly authorized attorney.

(d)     Physical Securities . If any Securities in a denomination greater than $1,000 shall be surrendered for partial conversion, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of the Securities so surrendered, without charge, new Securities in authorized denominations in an aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of the surrendered Securities.

(e)     Global Securities . Upon the conversion of a beneficial interest in Global Securities, the Security Registrar shall make a notation in its records as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby. The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Security Registrar in writing of any conversions of Securities effected through any Conversion Agent other than the Trustee.

 

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(f)     Interest Due Upon Conversion . If a Holder converts a Security after the Close of Business on a Regular Record Date but prior to the Open of Business on the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, such Holder must accompany such Security with an amount of cash equal to the amount of interest that will payable on such Security on the corresponding Interest Payment Date; provided , however , that a Holder need not make such payment (1) if the Conversion Date follows the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date; (2) if the Company has specified a Fundamental Change Purchase Date that is after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date and the Holder converts its Security after the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Open of Business on such Interest Payment Date; or (3) to the extent of any overdue interest, if any overdue interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Security.

(g)     Taxes Due Upon Conversion . If a Holder converts a Security, the Company shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax due on the issue of any shares of the Common Stock upon the conversion, unless the tax is due because the Holder requests that any shares be issued in a name other than the Holder’s name, in which case the Holder shall pay that tax.

(h)     Cash Payments in Lieu of Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock or scrip certificates representing fractional shares shall be issued upon conversion of Securities. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares that shall be issuable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered. If any fractional share of Common Stock would be issuable upon the conversion of any Security or Securities, the Company shall make a payment therefor in cash to the Holder of Securities equal to the product of (i) such fraction of a share and (ii) the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock on the relevant Conversion Date (or, if such Conversion Date is not a Trading Day, the immediately preceding Trading Day).

Section 4.03     Settlement Upon Conversion .

(a)    Upon conversion of any Securities, subject to Sections 4.01, 4.02 and this Section 4.03, the Company shall satisfy its obligation upon conversion (the “ Conversion Obligation ”) by delivery of the shares (and, if applicable, payment of the cash) described under Section 4.03(b) below.

(b)    Upon conversion of Securities, the Company shall deliver, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Securities tendered for conversion in accordance with their terms:

(1)    a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (a) (i) the aggregate principal amount of Securities being converted divided by (ii) $1,000, multiplied by (b) the applicable Conversion Rate on the Conversion Date; and

 

23


(2)    an amount in cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Common Stock as provided in Section 4.02(h).

(c) Delivery of the shares of Common Stock (and, if applicable, payment of the cash) pursuant to Section 4.03(b) shall be made by the Company on or prior to the second Business Day immediately following the relevant Conversion Date, unless such Conversion Date occurs following the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Maturity Date, in which case the Company shall make such delivery (and payment, if applicable) on the Maturity Date, to the Holder of a Security surrendered for conversion, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, and the Company shall deliver to such Holder, or such Holder’s nominee or nominees, certificates or a book-entry transfer through the Depository for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which such Holder shall be entitled as part of such Conversion Obligation.

(d)     Settlement of Accrued Interest and Deemed Payment of Principal . If a Holder converts a Security, the Company will not adjust the Conversion Rate to account for any accrued and unpaid interest on such Security, and the Company’s delivery of shares of Common Stock (and cash in lieu of delivering any fractional shares, if any) into which a Security is convertible will be deemed to satisfy and discharge in full the Company’s obligation to pay the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, such Security to, but excluding, the Conversion Date; provided , however , that if a Holder converts a Security after a Regular Record Date and prior to the Open of Business on the corresponding Interest Payment Date, the Company shall still be obligated to pay the interest due on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such Security on such Regular Record Date (provided the Holder makes the interest payment upon conversion if so required by Section 4.02(f)).

As a result, except as otherwise provided in the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence, any accrued and unpaid interest with respect to a converted Security will be deemed to be paid in full rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited. In no event will a Holder be entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution with respect to any Common Stock issued on conversion of such Holder’s Securities if the applicable Conversion Date is after the record date for such dividend or distribution.

(e)     Notices . Whenever a Conversion Date occurs with respect to a Security, the Conversion Agent shall, as promptly as possible, and in no event later than the Business Day immediately following such Conversion Date, deliver to the Company and the Trustee, if it is not then the Conversion Agent, notice that a Conversion Date has occurred, which notice will state such Conversion Date, the principal amount of Securities converted on such Conversion Date and the names of the Holders that converted Securities on such Conversion Date.

Section 4.04     Adjustment of Conversion Rate . The Conversion Rate will be adjusted as described in this Section 4.04, except that the Company shall not make any adjustment to the Conversion Rate if Holders participate (other than in the case of (i) a share split or share combination or (ii) a tender or exchange offer), at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock and solely as a result of holding the Securities, in any of the transactions described below without having to convert their Securities, as if they held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the applicable Conversion Rate, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Securities held by such Holder.

 

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

 

                           CR 1  = CR 0  x   

OS 1

 
  OS 0  

where,

 

CR 0

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date (as defined below) of such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the Open of Business on the effective date of such share split or share combination, as applicable;

CR 0

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Record Date or immediately after the Open of Business on such effective date, as applicable;

OS 0

    =     the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Close of Business on such Record Date or immediately prior to the Open of Business on such effective date, as applicable, before giving effect to such dividend, distribution, share split or share combination; and

OS 1

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

Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4.04(a) shall become effective immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately after the Open of Business on the effective date for such share split or share combination, as applicable. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 4.04(a) is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately readjusted, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to pay such dividend or distribution to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. For the purposes of this Section 4.04(a), “ effective date ” means the first date on which the shares of Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, reflecting the relevant share split or share combination, as applicable.

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

 

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      CR 1  = CR 0  x   

OS 0  + X

 
  OS 0 +Y  

where,

 

CR 0

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such issuance;

CR 1

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Record Date;

OS 0

    =     the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Close of Business on such Record Date;

X

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

Y

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

Any increase made under this Section 4.04(b) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such issuance. To the extent that shares of Common Stock are not delivered after the expiration of such rights, options or warrants, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such Record Date for such issuance had not occurred.

For purposes of this Section 4.04(b), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders of the Common Stock to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock at a price per share that is less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such issuance, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of the Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable on exercise or conversion thereof, the value of such consideration, if other than cash, to be determined by the Board of Directors.

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

 

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(1)    dividends or distributions or issuances as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 4.04(a) hereof or Section 4.04(b) hereof;

(2)    dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 4.04(d) hereof; and

(3)    Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth in this Section 4.04(c) will apply;

then the Conversion Rate shall be increased based on the following formula:

 

                           CR 1  = CR 0  x   

SP 0

 
  SP 0  – FMV  

where,

 

CR 0

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such distribution;

CR 1

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Record Date;

SP 0

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

FMV

    =     the fair market value (as determined by the Board of Directors) of the shares of the Company’s Capital Stock, evidences the Company’s indebtedness, other assets, or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire the Company’s Capital Stock or other securities distributed with respect to each outstanding share of the Common Stock on the Record Date for such distribution.

Any increase made under the foregoing portion of this Section 4.04(c) above shall become effective immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such distribution. If such distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such distribution had not been declared. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP 0 ” (as defined above), then in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder of a Security shall receive, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount thereof, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of the Common Stock, the amount and kind of the Company’s Capital Stock, evidences of the Company’s indebtedness, other assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire the Company’s Capital Stock or other securities that such Holder would have received as if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Record Date for the distribution.

 

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With respect to an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary of the Company or other business unit of the Company, and such Capital Stock or similar equity interest is listed or quoted (or will be listed or quoted upon the consummation of the distribution) on a United States national securities exchange (a “ Spin-Off ”), the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

      CR 1  = CR 0  x   

FMV 0  + MP 0

 
  MP 0  

where,

 

CR 0

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period (as defined below);

CR 1

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period;

FMV 0

    =     the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Capital Stock or similar equity interest distributed to holders of Common Stock applicable to one share of Common Stock (determined by reference to the definition of the Last Reported Sales Price set forth in Section 1.02 hereof, as if references therein to Common Stock were to such Capital Stock or similar equity interest) over the first ten (10) consecutive Trading Day period after, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “ Valuation Period ”); and

MP 0

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

The adjustment to the applicable Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph of this Section 4.04(c) will be made immediately after the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period, provided that, in respect of any conversion of Securities, if the relevant Conversion Date occurs during the Valuation Period, the references within the portion of this Section 4.04(c) related to “Spin-Offs” to 10 Trading Days will be deemed replaced with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date for such Spin-Off to, and including, the relevant Conversion Date in determining the Conversion Rate.

For purposes of the second adjustment set forth in this Section 4.04(c), (i) the Last Reported Sale Price of any Capital Stock or similar equity interest shall be calculated in a manner analogous to that used to calculate the Last Reported Sale Price of the Common Stock in the definition of “Last Reported Sale Price” set forth in Section 1.02 hereof, (ii) whether a day is

 

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a Trading Day for such Capital Stock or similar equity interest shall be determined in a manner analogous to that used to determine whether a day is a Trading Day for the Common Stock, and (iii) whether a day is a Trading Day to be included in a Valuation Period will be determined based on whether a day is a Trading Day for both the Common Stock and such Capital Stock or similar equity interest.

Subject to Section 4.04(f), for the purposes of this Section 4.04(c), rights, options or warrants distributed by the Company to all holders of the Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Company’s Capital Stock (either initially or under certain circumstances), which rights, options or warrants, until the occurrence of a specified event or events (a “ Trigger Event ”): (1) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of Common Stock; (2) are not exercisable; and (3) are also issued in respect of future issuances of Common Stock, shall be deemed not to have been distributed for purposes of this Section 4.04(c), (and no adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 4.04(c) will be required) until the occurrence of the earliest Trigger Event, whereupon such rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to have been distributed and an appropriate adjustment (if any is required) to the Conversion Rate shall be made under this Section 4.04(c). If any such right, option or warrant, distributed prior to the Issue Date are subject to events, upon the occurrence of which such rights, options or warrants become exercisable to purchase different securities, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, then the date of the occurrence of any and each such event shall be deemed to be the date of distribution and record date of such deemed distribution (in which case the original rights, options or warrants shall be deemed to terminate and expire on such date without exercise by any of the holders). In addition, in the event of any distribution or deemed distribution of rights, options or warrants, or any Trigger Event or other event (of the type described in the preceding sentence) with respect thereto that was counted for purposes of calculating a distribution amount for which an adjustment to the Conversion Rate under this Section 4.04(c) was made, (1) in the case of any such rights, options or warrants which shall all have been redeemed or purchased without exercise by any holders thereof, upon such final redemption or purchase (x) the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights, options or warrants had not been issued and (y) the Conversion Rate shall then again be readjusted to give effect to such distribution, deemed distribution or Trigger Event, as the case may be, as though it were a cash distribution, equal to the per share redemption or purchase price received by holders of Common Stock with respect to such rights, options or warrants (assuming each such holder had retained such rights, options or warrants), made to all holders of Common Stock as of the date of such redemption or purchase, and (2) in the case of such rights, options or warrants which shall have expired or been terminated without exercise by any holders thereof, the Conversion Rate shall be readjusted as if such rights and warrants had not been issued.

For purposes of Section 4.04(a) hereof, Section 4.04(b) hereof and this Section 4.04(c), if any dividend or distribution to which this Section 4.04(c) applies includes one or both of:

(1)    a dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock to which Section 4.04(a) hereof also applies (the “ Clause A Distribution ”); or

(2)    a dividend or distribution of rights, options or warrants to which Section 4.04(b) hereof also applies (the “ Clause B Distribution ”),

 

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then (i) such dividend or distribution, other than the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution, shall be deemed to be a dividend or distribution to which this Section 4.04(c) applies (the “ Clause C Distribution ”) and any Conversion Rate adjustment required to be made under this Section 4.04(c) with respect to such Clause C Distribution shall be made, (ii) the Clause B Distribution, if any, shall be deemed to immediately follow the Clause C Distribution and any Conversion Rate adjustment required by Section 4.04(b) hereof with respect thereto shall then be made, except that, if determined by the Company, (A) the Record Date of the Clause B Distribution and the Clause A Distribution, if any, shall be deemed to be the Record Date of the Clause C Distribution and (B) any shares of Common Stock included in the Clause A Distribution or the Clause B Distribution shall not be deemed to be “outstanding immediately prior to the Open of Business on such Record Date” within the meaning of Section 4.04(b) hereof, and (iii) the Clause A Distribution, if any, shall be deemed to immediately follow the Clause C Distribution or the Clause B Distribution, as the case may be, except that, if determined by the Company, (A) the Record Date of the Clause A Distribution and the Clause B Distribution, if any, shall be deemed to be the Record Date of the Clause C Distribution, and (B) any shares of Common Stock included in the Clause A distribution shall not be deemed to be “outstanding immediately prior to the Open of Business on such Record Date or such effective date” within the meaning of Section 4.04(a) hereof.

(d) If any cash dividend or distribution is made to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock that, together with all prior dividends or distributions made to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock during the calendar quarter in which such dividend or distribution is made (such calendar quarter, the “ Dividend Period ”), exceeds $0.20 per share (the “ Dividend Threshold Amount ”) for such quarter, the Conversion Rate shall be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

      CR 1  = CR 0  x   

SP 0

 
  SP 0  – C  

where,

 

CR 0

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the record date for such dividend or distribution;

CR 1

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the record date for such dividend or distribution;

SP 0

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

C

    =     the amount in cash per share that the Company distributes to all or substantively all holders of the Common Stock (the “ Applicable Dividend or Distribution ”) in excess of the Dividend Threshold Amount, provided that for purposes of this definition of “C” only, the

 

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    Dividend Threshold Amount with respect to any date shall be reduced by the aggregate per share cash dividends or distributions that were previously made to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock during the dividend period for the Applicable Dividend or Distribution, and provided further that, if the result of such reduction is a negative number, the Dividend Threshold Amount shall be deemed to be zero for such dividend period for the purposes of this definition of “C” only.

The Dividend Threshold Amount is subject to adjustment on an inversely proportional basis whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted, other than pursuant to this Section 4.04(d).

Any increase made under this Section 4.04(d) shall become effective immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution. If such dividend or distribution is not so paid, the Conversion Rate shall be decreased, effective as of the date the Board of Directors determines not to make or pay such dividend or distribution, to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder shall receive, for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities it holds, at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of shares of the Common Stock, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder had owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate on the record date for such cash dividend or distribution.

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

 

      CR 1  = CR 0  x   

AC + (SP 1  x OS 1 )

 
  OS 0  x SP 1  

where,

 

CR 0

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

CR 1

    =     the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Offer Expiration Date;

 

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AC

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

OS 0

    =     the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the expiration time of the tender or exchange offer on the Offer Expiration Date (prior to giving effect to the purchase of all shares accepted for purchase or exchange in such tender or exchange offer);

OS 1

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

SP 1

    =     the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the 10 consecutive Trading Day period commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Offer Expiration Date (such period, the “ Averaging Period ”).

The adjustment to the applicable Conversion Rate under the preceding paragraph of this Section 4.04(e) will be given effect at the Close of Business on the 10th Trading Day immediately following, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Offer Expiration Date. For purposes of determining the applicable Conversion Rate, in respect of any conversion during the Averaging Period, references within this Section 4.04(e) to “10” or “10th” will be deemed replaced, solely in respect of that conversion, with such lesser number of Trading Days as have elapsed from, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Offer Expiration Date to, and including, the relevant Conversion Date.

(f)     Poison Pill . Whenever a Holder converts a Security, to the extent that the Company has a rights plan in effect, the Holder converting such Security will receive, in addition to any shares of Common Stock otherwise received in connection with such conversion, the rights under the rights plan unless, prior to conversion the rights have expired, terminated or been redeemed or unless the rights have separated from the Common Stock, in which case, and only in such case, the Conversion Rate will be adjusted at the time of separation as if the Company distributed to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock, shares of Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets, property, rights, options or warrants as described in Section 4.04(c) hereof, subject to readjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.

(g)     Limitation on Adjustments . Except as stated in this Section 4.04, the Company will not adjust the Conversion Rate for the issuance of shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock or the right to purchase shares of the Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities. If, however, the application of the formulas in Sections 4.04(a) through (e) hereof would result in a decrease in the Conversion Rate, then, except to the extent of any readjustment to the Conversion Rate, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made (other than as a result of a reverse share split, share combination or readjustment).

 

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In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted:

(1)    on account of stock repurchases that are not tender offers referred to in Section 4.04(e) hereof, including structured or derivative transactions, or transactions pursuant to a stock repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors or otherwise;

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

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

(4)    upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to any option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security not described in the preceding clause (3) and outstanding as of the date the Securities were first issued;

(5)    for a change in the par value of the Common Stock;

(6)    for accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities, if any; or

(7)    for an event otherwise requiring an adjustment under this Indenture if such event is not consummated.

(h)    For purposes of this Section 4.04, the number of shares of Common Stock at any time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company so long as the Company does not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company, but shall include shares issuable in respect of scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock.

(i) For purposes of this Section 4.04, “ Record Date ” means, with respect to any dividend, distribution or other transaction or event in which the holders of the Common Stock (or other applicable Security) have the right to receive any cash, securities or other property or in which the Common Stock (or such other Security) is exchanged for or converted into any combination of cash, securities or other property, the date fixed for determination of holders of the Common Stock (or such other Security) entitled to receive such cash, securities or other property (whether such date is fixed by the Board of Directors, statute, contract or otherwise).

(j)     Withholding on Adjustments . If, in connection with any adjustment to the Conversion Rate as set forth in this Section 4.04 a Holder shall be deemed for U.S. federal tax purposes to have received a distribution, the Company may set off any withholding tax it

 

33


reasonably believes it is required to collect with respect to any such deemed distribution against cash payments of interest in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 hereof or from cash and Common Stock, if any, otherwise deliverable to a Holder upon a conversion of Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.03 hereof or repurchase of a Security in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 hereof.

Section 4.05     Adjustments of Prices and Voluntary Adjustments .

(a)     Adjustments of Prices . Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Company to calculate the Last Reported Sale Prices or any function thereof over a span of multiple days (including an observation period and the Stock Price for purposes of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change), the Company shall make appropriate adjustments to each to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Effective Date, Ex-Dividend Date, Record Date or Offer Expiration Date of the event occurs, at any time during the period when such Last Reported Sale Prices or function thereof is to be calculated.

(b)     Voluntary Adjustments . To the extent permitted by applicable law and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed, the Company is permitted to increase the Conversion Rate of the Securities by any amount for a period of at least 20 Business Days if the Board of Directors determines that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest. The Company may also (but is not required to) increase the Conversion Rate to avoid or diminish income tax to holders of Common Stock or rights to purchase shares of Common Stock in connection with a dividend or distribution of shares (or rights to acquire shares) or similar event.

Section 4.06     Increase in Conversion Rate Upon Conversion in Connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change .

(a)     Increase in the Conversion Rate . If a Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs and a Holder elects to convert its Securities in connection with such Make-Whole Fundamental Change, the Company shall, under certain circumstances, increase the Conversion Rate for the Securities so surrendered for conversion by a number of additional shares of Common Stock (the “ Additional Shares ”), as described in this Section 4.06. A conversion of Securities shall be deemed for these purposes to be “in connection with” a Make-Whole Fundamental Change if the relevant Conversion Notice is received by the Conversion Agent during the period from, and including, the Effective Date of the Make-Whole Fundamental Change up to, and including, the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately prior to the related Fundamental Change Purchase Date or, if such Make-Whole Fundamental Change is not a Fundamental Change, the 35th Business Day immediately following the Effective Date of such Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

(b)     Determining the Number of Additional Shares . The number of Additional Shares, if any, by which the Conversion Rate will be increased for a Holder that converts its Securities in connection with a Make-Whole Fundamental Change shall be determined by reference to the table attached as Schedule A hereto, based on the date on which the Make-Whole Fundamental Change occurs or becomes effective (the “ Effective Date ”) and the price

 

34


(the “ Stock Price ”) paid (or deemed paid) per share of the Common Stock in the Make-Whole Fundamental Change. If the holders of the Common Stock receive only cash in a Make-Whole Fundamental Change described in clause (2) of the definition of Fundamental Change, the Stock Price will be the cash amount paid per share. Otherwise, the Stock Price will be the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the Effective Date of the relevant Make-Whole Fundamental Change.

(c)     Interpolation and Limits . The exact Stock Prices and Effective Dates may not be set forth in the table in Schedule A , in which case:

(1)    If the Stock Price is between two Stock Prices in the table or the Effective Date is between two Effective Dates in the table, the number of Additional Shares shall be determined by a straight-line interpolation between the number of Additional Shares set forth for the higher and lower Stock Prices and the earlier and later Effective Dates, as applicable, based on a 365-day year.

(2)    If the Stock Price is equal to, or greater than, $11.00 per share (subject to adjustment in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table in Schedule A pursuant to Section 4.06(c)(4) hereof), the Conversion Rate shall not be increased.

(3)    If the Stock Price is less than $7.23 per share (subject to adjustments in the same manner as the Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table in Schedule A pursuant to Section 4.06(c)(4) hereof), the Conversion Rate shall not be increased.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event will the Conversion Rate be increased on account of a Make-Whole Fundamental Change to exceed 138.3125 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Securities, subject to adjustments in the same manner as the Conversion Rate is required to be adjusted as set forth in Section 4.04 hereof.

(4)    The Stock Prices set forth in the column headings of the table in Schedule A hereto shall be adjusted as of any date on which the Conversion Rate of the Securities is otherwise required to be adjusted. The adjusted Stock Prices shall equal the Stock Prices applicable immediately prior to such adjustment, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate immediately prior to such adjustment giving rise to the Stock Price adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate as so adjusted. The number of Additional Shares set forth in such table shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Conversion Rate is required to be adjusted as set forth in Section 4.04.

(d)     Notices . The Company shall notify the Trustee and the Holders of the Effective Date of any Make-Whole Fundamental Change announcing such Effective Date no later than five Business Days after such Effective Date. Such notice shall be sent by first class mail or, in the case of any Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the Depository for providing notices. Simultaneously with providing such notice, the Company shall publish this

 

35


information in a newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York or publish the information on the Company’s website or through such other public medium as the Company may use at that time.

Section 4.07     Effect of Recapitalization, Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale .

(a)     Merger Events . In the case of:

(1)    any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than a change in par value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value, or as a result of a split, subdivision or combination for which an adjustment was made pursuant to Section 4.04(a) hereof);

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

(3)    any sale, lease or other transfer to a third party of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries substantially as an entirety; or

(4)    any statutory share exchange;

and, in each case, as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (any such event, a “ Merger Event ,” any such stock, other securities, other property or assets, “ Reference Property ,” and the amount of kind of Reference Property that a holder of one share of Common Stock (i) is entitled to receive in the applicable Merger Event or (ii) if as a result of the applicable Merger Event, each share of Common Stock is converted into the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), the per-share of Common Stock weighted average of the types and amounts of Reference Property received by the holders of Common Stock that affirmatively make such an election, a “ Unit of Reference Property ”) then, at and after the effective time of such Merger Event, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Securities into a number of shares of the Common Stock equal to the applicable Conversion Rate will, without the consent of the Holders, be changed into a right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Securities into a number of Units of Reference Property equal to the applicable Conversion Rate and, prior to or at the effective time of such Merger Event, the Company or the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture (which shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of execution of such supplemental indenture) providing for such change in the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Securities. With respect to any such Reference Property, the Last Reported Sale Price will, to the extent reasonably possible, be calculated based on the value of a Unit of Reference Property and the definitions of Trading Day shall be determined by reference to the components of a Unit of Reference Property.

If the Merger Event causes the Common Stock to be converted into, or exchanged for, the right to receive more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election) as contemplated by the preceding paragraph such that a Unit of

 

36


Reference Property is comprised of the per-share of Common Stock weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration actually received by the holders of the Common Stock in the Merger Event. The Company shall notify Holders of such weighted average as soon as practicable after such determination is made.

The Company shall not become a party to any Merger Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 4.07. Such supplemental indenture described in the second immediately preceding paragraph shall provide for adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent to the adjustments provided for in this Article 4 in the judgment of the Board of Directors or the board of directors of the successor Person. If, in the case of any such Merger Event, the Reference Property receivable thereupon by a holder of Common Stock includes shares of stock, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) of a Person other than the successor or purchasing Person, as the case may be, in such Merger Event, then such supplemental indenture shall also be executed by such other Person and shall contain such additional provisions to protect the interests of the Holders of the Securities as the Board of Directors shall reasonably consider necessary.

(b)     Notice of Supplemental Indentures . The Company shall cause notice of the execution of such supplemental indenture to be mailed to each Holder, at the address of such Holder as it appears on the register of the Securities maintained by the Security Registrar, within 20 days after execution thereof. Failure to deliver such notice shall not affect the legality or validity of such supplemental indenture. The above provisions of this Section 4.07 shall similarly apply to successive Merger Events and the provisions of this Section 4.07 and Article Nine of the Base Indenture (as modified by Article 8 of this Supplemental Indenture) shall apply to any such successive Merger Events.

Section 4.08     Stock Issued Upon Conversion .

(a)     Reservation of Shares . To the extent necessary to satisfy its obligations under this Indenture, prior to issuing any shares of Common Stock, the Company shall reserve out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to permit the conversion of the Securities.

(b)     Certain other Covenants . The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of Securities shall be newly issued shares or treasury shares, shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and shall be free from preemptive rights and free from any tax, lien or charge (other than those created by the Holder or due to a change in registered owner).

(c)     Stock Transfer Agent . Computershare is, as of the date of the this Supplemental Indenture, the “ Stock Transfer Agent ” for the Common Stock and the Company shall notify the Trustee if the Stock Transfer Agent for the Common Stock is changed. The Company and the Trustee (as Conversion Agent) agree to cooperate with the Stock Transfer Agent for the Common Stock in connection with any conversions of the Securities.

 

37


The Company shall list or cause to have quoted any shares of Common Stock to be issued upon conversion of Securities on each national securities exchange or over-the-counter or other domestic market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted.

Section 4.09     Responsibility of Trustee . The Trustee and any Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities to determine or calculate the Conversion Rate (or any adjustments thereto), to determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or to confirm the accuracy of any such adjustment when made or the appropriateness of the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock or of any other securities or property that may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Securities; and the Trustee and the Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Securities for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article 4. The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including without limitation its right to be compensated, reimbursed, and indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, including its capacity as Conversion Agent.

Section 4.10     Notice to Holders .

(a)     Notice to Holders Prior to Certain Actions . The Company shall deliver notices of the events specified below at the times specified below and containing the information specified below unless, in each case, (i) pursuant to this Indenture, the Company is already required to deliver notice of such event containing at least the information specified below at an earlier time or, (ii) the Company, at the time it is required to deliver a notice, does not have knowledge of all of the information required to be included in such notice, in which case, the Company shall (A) deliver notice at such time containing only the information that it has knowledge of at such time (if it has knowledge of any such information at such time), and (B) promptly upon obtaining knowledge of any such information not already included in a notice delivered by the Company, deliver notice to each Holder containing such information. In each case, the failure by the Company to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of such event. Any notices sent to Holders shall also be sent to the Trustee.

(b)     Issuances, Distributions, and Dividends and Distributions . If the Company (A) announces any issuance of any rights, options or warrants that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 4.04(b) hereof; (B) authorizes any distribution that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 4.04(c) hereof (including any separation of rights from the Common Stock described in Section 4.04(g) hereof); or (C) announces any dividend or distribution that would require an adjustment in the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 4.04(d) hereof, then the Company shall deliver to the Holders, as promptly as possible, but in any event at least 15 calendar days prior to the applicable record date, notice describing such issuance, distribution, dividend or distribution, as

 

38


the case may be, and stating the expected Ex-Dividend Date and record date for such issuance, distribution, dividend or distribution, as the case may be. In addition, the Company shall deliver to the Holders notice if the consideration included in such issuance, distribution, dividend or distribution, or the Ex-Dividend Date or record date of such issuance, distribution, dividend or distribution, as the case may be, changes.

(c)     Voluntary Increases . If the Company increases the Conversion Rate pursuant to Section 4.05(b), the Company shall deliver notice to the Holders at least 15 calendar days prior to the date on which such increase shall become effective, which notice shall state the date on which such increased shall become effective and the amount by which the Conversion Rate will be increased.

(d)     Dissolutions, Liquidations and Winding-Ups . If there is a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Company, the Company shall deliver notice to the Holders at promptly as possible, but in any event at least 15 calendar days prior to the earlier of (i) the date on which such dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, as the case may be, is expected to become effective or occur, and (ii) the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their Common Stock for securities or other property deliverable upon such dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, as the case may be, which notice shall state the expected effective date and record date for such event, as applicable, and the amount and kind of property that a holder of one share of the Common Stock is expected to be entitled, or may elect, to receive in such event. The Company shall deliver an additional notice to Holders, as promptly as practicable, whenever the expected effective date or record date, as applicable, or the amount and kind of property that a holder of one share of the Common Stock is expect to be entitled to receive in such event, changes.

(e)     Notices After Certain Actions and Events . Whenever an adjustment to the Conversion Rate becomes effective pursuant to Sections 4.04, 4.05 or 4.06 hereof, the Company shall (i) file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that such adjustment has become effective, the Conversion Rate, and the manner in which the adjustment was computed and (ii) deliver notice to the Holder’s stating that such adjustment has become effective and the Conversion Rate or conversion privilege as adjusted. Failure to give any such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the validity of any such adjustment.

ARTICLE 5

PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 5.01     Payment of Principal, Interest and Fundamental Change Purchase Price . This Section 5.01 shall replace Section 1001 of the Base Indenture in its entirety. The Company covenants and agrees that it shall cause to be paid the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Purchase Price), and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on each of the Securities at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Securities.

Section 5.02     Maintenance of Office or Agency . This Section 5.02 replaces Section 1002 of the Base Indenture in its entirety and references in the Base Indenture to Section 1002 of the Base Indenture shall be deemed replaced with references to this Section 5.02. The

 

39


Company shall maintain an office of the Paying Agent, an office of the Security Registrar and an office or agency where Securities may be surrendered for conversion (“ Conversion Agent ”). 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 or surrenders may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office; provided, however, the Trustee shall not be deemed an agent of the Company for service of process.

The Company may also from time to time designate coregistrars one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The terms “Paying Agent” and “Conversion Agent” include any such additional or other offices or agencies, as applicable.

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

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

Section 5.03     Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee s Office . The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, shall appoint, in the manner provided in Section 608 of the Base Indenture, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

Section 5.04     Provisions as to Paying Agent . This Section 5.04 shall replace Section 1003 of the Base Indenture in its entirety and references in the Base Indenture to Section 1003 of the Base Indenture shall be deemed replace with references to this Section 5.04.

(a)    If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, the Company shall cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 5.04:

(1)    that it shall hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, the Securities in trust for the benefit of the Holders;

 

40


(2)    that it shall give the Trustee prompt notice of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, or the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, the Securities when the same shall be due and payable; and

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

The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, and Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, the Securities, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal, accrued and unpaid interest, or Fundamental Change Purchase Price, as the case may be, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action, provided that, if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit must be received by the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date.

(b)    If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, or Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, the Securities, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Securities a sum sufficient to pay such principal, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on or Fundamental Change Purchase Price, as the case may be, so becoming due and shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company to make any payment of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest on, or Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, the Securities when the same shall become due and payable.

(c)    Anything in this Section 5.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject to Article 7, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and 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 any Paying Agent hereunder as required by this Section 5.04, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained and upon such payment by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

Section 5.05     Reports .

(a)    The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 15 days after it is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the quarterly and annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports, if any, that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and to otherwise comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any such report, information or document that the Company files with the Commission through the EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee for the purposes of this Section 5.05(a) at the time of such filing through the EDGAR system (or such successor thereto).

 

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(b) Delivery of any such reports, information and documents to the Trustee will be for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such reports, information and documents will not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

Section 5.06     Statements as to Defaults . The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible, and in any event within thirty days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, written notice and an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the details of such Default or Event of Default, its status and the action that the Company proposes to take with respect thereto. Such Officers’ Certificate shall also comply with any additional requirements set forth in Section 102 of the Base Indenture.

Section 5.07     Supplementary Interest Notice . If Supplementary Interest is payable by the Company pursuant to Section 6.04 hereof, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to that effect stating (a) the amount of such Supplementary Interest (in aggregate and per $1,000 principal amount of Securities) and (b) the date on which such interest is payable. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such Supplementary Interest is payable. If the Company has paid Supplementary Interest directly to the Persons entitled to them, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment.

Section 5.08     Covenant to Take Certain Actions . Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment to the Conversion Rate such that the Conversion Price per share of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities would be less than the par value of the Common Stock, the Company shall take all corporate actions that may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary so it may validly and legally issue shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Conversion Rate.

ARTICLE 6

REMEDIES

Section 6.01     Amendments to the Base Indenture .

(a)    The Holders shall not have the benefit of Article Five of the Base Indenture and, with respect to the Securities, this Article 6 supersedes Article Five of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

(b)    All references to Section 602 in the Base Indenture are, with respect to the Securities, hereby deemed replaced by references to Section 6.18 of this Supplemental Indenture.

(c)    The reference to Sections 501(8), 501(9) and 501(10) in Section 606 of the Base Indenture is, with respect to the Securities, hereby deemed replaced by a reference to Section 6.02(h) and Section 6.02(i) of this Supplemental Indenture insofar as Section 6.02(h) and Section 6.02(i) relate to the Company.

 

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(d)    Each reference in the Base Indenture to Section 502 is, with respect to the Securities, hereby deemed replaced by a reference to Section 6.03 hereof.

Section 6.02     Events of Default . Each of the following events (and only the following events) shall be an “Event of Default” wherever used with respect to the Securities:

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

(b)    default in the payment of the principal of any Security (including the Fundamental Change Purchase Price) when due and payable on the Maturity Date, upon any redemption or required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

(c) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article 4 hereof to convert the Securities in accordance with Article 4 hereof upon exercise of a Holder’s conversion right and that failure continues for three (3) Business Days;

(d)    failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article 9 hereof;

(e)    failure by the Company to issue a notice in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.02(b) hereof when due;

(f)    failure by the Company for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding (a copy of which notice, if given by Holders, must also be given to the Trustee) has been received by the Company to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the Securities or this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section 6.02 specifically provided for or that is not applicable to the Securities), which notice will state that it is a “ Notice of Default ” hereunder;

(g)    default by the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to any mortgage, agreement or other instrument under which there may be outstanding, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any indebtedness for money borrowed in excess of $100,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) in the aggregate of the Company and/or any such Subsidiary (other than Non-recourse Debt of any Significant Subsidiary, whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created (i) resulting in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable or (ii) constituting a failure to pay the principal or interest of any such debt when due and payable at its stated maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

(h) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking the liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or such Significant Subsidiary or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or such Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any substantial part of the Company’s or such Significant Subsidiary of the Company’s property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the

 

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appointment of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

(i)    an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to the Company or such Significant Subsidiary of the Company or its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official of the Company or such Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any substantial part of its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of thirty consecutive days; or

(j)    a final judgment or judgments for the payment of $100,000,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent) or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) in the aggregate rendered against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries entered by a court of competent jurisdiction, which judgment is not discharged or stayed within 60 days after (i) the date on which the right to appeal thereof has expired if no such appeal has commenced, or (ii) the date on which all rights to appeal have been extinguished.

Section 6.03     Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment . If one or more Events of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), then, and in each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.02(h) or Section 6.02(i)), unless the principal of all of the Securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), may declare 100% of the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the Securities to be due and payable immediately. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.02(h) or Section 6.02(i) occurs and is continuing, the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all Securities shall be immediately due and payable.

Section 6.04     Supplementary Interest .

(a) Notwithstanding any provisions of the Indenture to the contrary, if the Company so elects, the sole remedy for an Event of Default relating to (i) the Company’s failure to file with the Trustee pursuant to Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act any documents or reports that it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (ii) the Company’s failure to comply with Section 5.05(a) hereof (a “ Reporting Event of Default ”), will consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Securities (the “ Supplementary Interest ”) at a rate per year equal to 0.50% per annum of the Outstanding principal amount of the Securities for each day during such 180-day period as long as such Event of Default is continuing (subject to Section 6.04(b)).

 

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If the Company so elects, such Supplementary Interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Securities. On the 181st day after such Event of Default (if the Reporting Event of Default is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the Securities will be subject to acceleration pursuant to Section 6.03. The provisions of this Section 6.04 will not affect the rights of Holders of Securities in the event of the occurrence of any Event of Default that is not a Reporting Event of Default. In the event the Company does not elect to pay the Supplementary Interest following an Reporting Event of Default in accordance with this Section 6.04(a) or the Company elected to make such payment but does not pay the Supplementary Interest when due, the Securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.03.

(b) In order to elect to pay the Supplementary Interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of a Reporting Event of Default, the Company must notify all Holders of Securities, the Trustee and the Paying Agent of such election prior to the beginning of such 180-day period. Upon the Company’s failure to timely give such notice, the Securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in Section 6.03.

Section 6.05     Waiver of Past Defaults . The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive (including by way of consents obtained in connection with a repurchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, the Securities) all past Defaults or Events of Default with respect to the Securities (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from nonpayment of principal or interest, a failure to deliver consideration due upon conversion or any other provisions that requires the consent of each affected Holder to amend) and rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Securities and its consequences if (i) rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, and interest on, the Securities that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration have been cured or waived.

Section 6.06     Control by Majority . At any time, the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then Outstanding Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or for exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines to be unduly prejudicial to the rights of a Holder or to the Trustee, or that would potentially involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action hereunder at the direction of the Holders, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification and/or security satisfactory to it against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

Section 6.07     Limitation on Suits . Subject to Section 6.08 hereof, no Holder may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

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

 

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

(c)    such Holder or Holders have offered and, if requested, provided to the Trustee indemnity and/or security reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or other expense of compliance with such written request;

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

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

Section 6.08     Rights of Holders to Receive Payment and to Convert . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of the principal of, interest on, Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, its Securities, on or after the respective due date, and to convert its Securities and receive payment or delivery of the consideration due with respect to such Securities in accordance with Article 4 hereof, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment or conversion rights, will not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder and will not be subject to the requirements of Section  6.07 hereof.

Section 6.09     Collection of Indebtedness; Suit for Enforcement by Trustee . If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.02(a), 6.02(b) or 6.02(c) hereof occurs and is continuing, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, interest on, Fundamental Change Purchase Price for and the consideration due upon the conversion of, the Securities, as the case may be, and such further amount as is sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, as well as any other amounts that may be due under Section 606 of the Base Indenture.

Section 6.10     Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities . All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

Section 6.11     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim . The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations,

 

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will be entitled to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee consents to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under the Base Indenture (including Section 606 of the Base Indenture) and this Supplemental Indenture. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606 of the Base Indenture out of the estate in any such proceeding, will be denied for any reason, payment of the same will be secured by a lien on, and is paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding, whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained will be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to, or to accept or to adopt on behalf of any Holder, any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

Section 6.12     Restoration of Rights and Remedies . If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

Section 6.13     Rights and Remedies Cumulative . Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 306 of the Base Indenture, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

Section 6.14     Delay or Omission Not a Waiver . No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article 6 or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee (subject to the limitations contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

Section 6.15     Priorities . If the Trustee collects any money pursuant to this Article 6, it will pay out the money in the following order:

 

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

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

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

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to the Holders pursuant to this Section 6.15. If the Trustee so fixes a record date and a payment date, at least 15 days prior to such record date, the Company shall deliver to each Holder and the Trustee a written notice, which notice will state such record date, such payment date and the amount of such payment.

Section 6.16     Undertaking for Costs . All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder, by such Holder’s acceptance of a Security, shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided , however , that the provisions of this Section 6.16 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on, or Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, any Security on or after the due date expressed or provided for in this Indenture or to any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 hereof.

Section 6.17     Waiver of Stay, Extension and Usury Laws . The Company covenants that, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company, to the extent that it may lawfully do so, hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will instead suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.

Section 6.18     Notices from the Trustee . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Base Indenture, including Section 602 of the Base Indenture (which Section 602 will not apply to the Securities), whenever a Default occurs and is continuing and a Responsible Officer of the

 

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Trustee has received written notice of such Default, the Trustee must deliver notice of such Default to the Holders within 90 days after the date on which such Default first occurred or after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee obtains knowledge of it. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of, interest on, or Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, any Security or of a Default in the payment or delivery, as the case may be, of the consideration due upon conversion of a Security, the Trustee will not be liable in connection with withholding such notice if the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders.

ARTICLE 7

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 7.01     Inapplicability of Provisions of Base Indenture; Satisfaction and Discharge of the Indenture . Article Four of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities. The provisions set forth in this Article 7 shall, with respect to the Securities, supersede in their entirety Article Four of the Base Indenture. The third paragraph of Section 306 of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities.

When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Security Registrar for cancellation all Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered) and not theretofore canceled, or (b) all the Securities not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable (whether on the Maturity Date, on any Redemption Date or on any Fundamental Change Purchase Date, upon conversion or otherwise) and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, an amount of cash, or deliver to the Holders share of Common Stock, if any, as applicable, as the case may be (solely to settle amounts due with respect to outstanding conversions), sufficient to pay all amounts due on all of such Securities (other than any Securities that shall have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to Section 306 of the Base Indenture) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and interest due, accompanied, except in the event the Securities are due and payable solely in cash at the Maturity Date or upon an earlier Fundamental Change Purchase Date, by a verification report as to the sufficiency of the deposited amount from an independent certified public accountant, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to (i) rights hereunder of Holders to receive all amounts owing upon the Securities and the other rights, duties and obligations of Holders, as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the amounts, if any, so deposited with the Trustee and (ii) the rights, obligations and immunities of the Trustee hereunder), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture; the Company, however, hereby agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee, including the fees and expenses of its counsel, and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably and properly rendered by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities.

 

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Section 7.02     Deposited Monies to Be Held in Trust by Trustee . Subject to Section 7.04 hereof, all monies deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 7.01 hereof shall be held in trust for the sole benefit of the Holders of the Securities, and such monies shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company if acting as its own Paying Agent), to the Holders of the particular Securities for the payment or settlement of which such monies have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums or amounts due and to become due thereon for principal and interest, if any.

Section 7.03     Paying Agent to Repay Monies Held . Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all monies then held by any Paying Agent (if other than the Trustee) shall, upon written request of the Company and subject to applicable escheatment law, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such monies.

Section 7.04     Return of Unclaimed Monies . Subject to the requirements of applicable law, any monies deposited with or paid to the Trustee for payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Holders of the Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of or interest, if any, on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee on written demand, and all liability of the Trustee shall thereupon cease with respect to such monies; and the Holder shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment or delivery that such Holder may be entitled to collect unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.

Section 7.05     Reinstatement . If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 7.02 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 7.01 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 7.02; provided , however , that if the Company makes any payment of interest on, principal of or payment or delivery in respect of any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money, if any, held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 8

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 8.01     Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders . Section 901 of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities, and this Section 8.01 shall replace Section 901 of the Base Indenture in its entirety. Without the consent of any Holder, the Company (when authorized by a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

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(a)    to conform the terms of this Indenture or the Securities to the description thereof in the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, as supplemented by the issuer free writing prospectus related to the offering of the Securities filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act of 1933 on May 30, 2019;

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

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

(d)    to secure the Securities;

(e)    to issue additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.01(c);

(f)    in connection with any transaction described in Section 4.07 hereof, to provide that the Securities are convertible into Reference Property, subject to the provisions described in Section 4.03 hereof, and make related changes to the terms of the Securities to the extent expressly required by the Indenture;

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

(h)    to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in this Indenture or the Securities, including to eliminate any conflict with the Trust Indenture Act, or to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder in any material respect;

(i)    to provide for a successor Trustee;

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

(k)    to comply with any requirement of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 8.02     Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders . Section 902 of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities, and this Section 8.02 shall replace Section 902 of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities affected by such supplemental indenture, including without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender or exchange offer for, Securities and by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under this Indenture; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

 

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

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

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

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

(e)    make any change that impairs or adversely affects the conversion rights of any Securities;

(f)    reduce the Redemption Price or the Fundamental Change Purchase Price of any Security or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the rights of the Holders of the Securities the Company’s right to redeem the Securities or its obligation to pay the Fundamental Change Purchase Price, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions related thereto or otherwise;

(g)    impair the right of any Holder of Securities to receive payment of principal of, and interest, if any, on, its Securities, or the right to receive the consideration due upon conversion of its Securities on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment or delivery, as the case may be, with respect to such Holder’s Securities;

(h)    modify the ranking provisions of this Indenture in a manner that is adverse to the rights of the Holders of the Securities; or

(i)    make any change to the provisions of this Article 8 that requires each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions in Section 6.05 of this Supplemental Indenture if such change is adverse to the rights of Holders of the Securities.

It shall not be necessary for any Act or consent of Holders under this Section 8.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act or consent shall approve the substance thereof. The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that, unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Article Nine of the Base Indenture other than Sections 901 and 902 shall remain in effect and continue to apply with respect to the Securities.

 

52


Section 8.03     Notice of Amendment or Supplement . After an amendment or supplement under this Article 8 becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders a notice briefly describing such amendment or supplement. However, the failure to give such notice to all the Holders, or any defect in the notice, shall not impair or affect the validity of the amendment or supplement.

ARTICLE 9

SUCCESSOR COMPANY

Section 9.01     Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets .

(a)    The provisions in Article Eight of the Base Indenture shall not apply with respect to the Securities, and this Article 9 supersedes the entirety thereof.

(b) In addition, the reference to “Article Eight” in Section 1005 of the Base Indenture is, with respect to the Securities, deemed replaced with a reference to this Article 9.

Section 9.02     Company May Consolidate, Etc . on Certain Terms . Subject to the provisions of Section 9.04, the Company shall not amalgamate or consolidate with, merge with or into or convey, sell, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another Person, unless:

(a)    the Company shall be the surviving Person or the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the “ Successor Company ”), if not the Company, shall be organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture as applicable to the Securities; and

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

Section 9.03     Successor Corporation to Be Substituted . In case of any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease and upon the assumption by the Successor Company, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of (including any Fundamental Change Purchase Price), accrued and unpaid interest and accrued and unpaid Supplementary Interest, if any, on all of the Securities, the due and punctual delivery or payment, as the case may be, of any consideration due upon conversion of the Securities and the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company under this Indenture, such Successor Company 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 it had been named herein as the party of the first part. Such Successor Company thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such Successor

 

53


Company instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver, or cause to be authenticated and delivered, any Securities that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities that such Successor Company thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. In the event of any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer (but not in the case of a lease), the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor that shall thereafter have become such in the manner prescribed in this Article 9 may be dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter and, except in the case of a lease, such Person shall be released from its liabilities as obligor and maker of the Securities and from its obligations under this Indenture.

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

Section 9.04     Opinion of Counsel to Be Given to Trustee . In the case of any amalgamation, merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease the Trustee shall receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that any such amalgamation, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and any such assumption and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture complies with the provisions of this Article 9 and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company (subject to customary exceptions and assumptions) and that all conditions precedent thereto have been satisfied.

ARTICLE 10

MEETING OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

Section 10.01     Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called .

(a)    A meeting of Holders of Securities may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article 10 to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities.

Section 10.02     Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

(a)    The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities for any purpose specified in Section 10.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities, 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 given, in the manner provided in Section 106 of the Base Indenture, not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

54


(b)    In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities for any purpose specified in Section 10.01, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in subsection (a) of this Section 10.02.

Section 10.03     Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings .

(a)    To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities, a Person shall be

(1)    a Holder of one or more outstanding Securities, or

(2)    a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more outstanding Securities by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and their respective counsel.

Section 10.04     Quorum; Action .

(a)    The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities; provided , however , that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, the Persons entitled to vote such specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Securities shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at the reconvening of any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days; at the reconvening of any meeting adjourned or further adjourned for lack of a quorum, the Persons entitled to vote 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities shall constitute a quorum for the taking of any action set forth in the notice of the original meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 10.02(a), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.

 

55


(b)    Except as limited by the proviso to Section 8.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities; provided , however , that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 8.02, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the outstanding Securities may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Securities.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities duly held in accordance with this Section 10.04 shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.04, if any action is to be taken at a meeting of Holders of Securities with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in principal amount of all outstanding Securities affected thereby:

(1)    there shall be no minimum quorum requirement for such meeting; and

(2)    the principal amount of the outstanding Securities that vote in favor of such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action shall be taken into account in determining whether such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action has been made, given or taken under this Indenture.

Section 10.05     Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings .

(a)    Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities 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 appropriate.

(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 Holders of Securities as provided in Section 10.02(b), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities represented at the meeting.

 

56


(c)    At any meeting each Holder of such Securities or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of the outstanding Securities held or represented by him; 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, except as a Holder of Securities or proxy.

(d)    Any meeting of Holders of Securities duly called pursuant to Section 10.02 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities represented at the meeting, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

Section 10.06     Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings .

(a)    The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the outstanding Securities 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, at least in duplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities 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 fact, setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 10.02 and, if applicable, Section 10.04. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

ARTICLE 11

MISCELLANEOUS

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

Section 11.02     Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND NEW YORK CIVIL PRACTICE LAWS AND RULES 327(B).

 

57


The Company, the Trustee and, by acceptance of the Securities, each Holder agrees that any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Supplemental Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in any State or Federal court in The City of New York, New York, and waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any suit, action or proceeding.

THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND EACH HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES BY HIS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

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

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

Section 11.05     Benefits of Supplemental Indenture . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 112 of the Base Indenture, nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Securities, expressed or implied, will give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Paying Agent, any Conversion Agent, any Authenticating Agent, any Security Registrar or their successors hereunder or the Holders of the Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Supplemental Indenture.

Section 11.06     Calculations . The Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for under the Securities and this Indenture. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Stock Price, the Last Reported Sale Prices of the Common Stock, accrued interest payable on the Securities and the Conversion Rate (including adjustments thereto). The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations shall be final and binding on Holders of Securities. The Company shall provide a schedule of its calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and Conversion Agent is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of the Company’s calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will forward the Company’s calculations to any Holder upon the request of that Holder at the sole cost and expense of the Company. Neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for determining whether any event has occurred that would cause a Conversion Rate adjustment. The Company shall deliver a notice to the Trustee and the Conversion Agent with respect to any Conversion Rate adjustment, on which notice the Trustee and the Conversion Agent may conclusively rely.

 

58


Whenever the Company is required to calculate the Conversion Rate, or any adjustment thereto, the Company shall do so to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share of Common Stock.

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

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

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

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

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

Section 11.11     No Recourse Against Others . No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, the Indenture or any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder, by accepting a Security, waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Securities.

[ Remainder of the page intentionally left blank ]

 

59


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

 

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
By:              

/s/ Stephen Yarad

  Name:   Stephen Yarad
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[ Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture ]


WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:              

/s/ Jane Schweiger

  Name:   Jane Schweiger
  Title:   Vice President

[ Signature Page to First Supplemental Indenture ]


SCHEDULE A

The following table sets forth the number of Additional Shares by which the Conversion Rate shall be increased pursuant to Section 4.06 based on the Stock Price and Effective Date set forth below.

 

     Stock Price  

Effective Date

   $7.23      $7.40      $7.60      $7.80      $7.95      $8.25      $8.50      $9.00      $9.50      $11.00  

June 3, 2019

     12.5738        10.6311        8.5658        6.7359        5.5119        3.4364        2.0706        0.3900        0.0263        0.0000  

June 15, 2020

     12.5738        10.6311        8.5658        6.7359        5.5119        3.4364        2.0706        0.3900        0.0263        0.0000  

June 15, 2021

     12.5738        10.6311        8.5658        6.7359        5.5119        3.4364        2.0706        0.3900        0.0263        0.0000  

June 15, 2022

     12.5738        10.6311        8.5658        6.7359        5.5119        3.4364        2.0706        0.3900        0.0263        0.0000  

June 15, 2023

     12.5738        10.6311        8.5658        6.3936        4.9748        2.7455        1.4635        0.2222        0.0116        0.0000  

June 15, 2024

     12.5738        9.3959        5.8408        2.4667        0.0478        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000        0.0000  

Schedule A-1


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

[ For Global Securities, include the following legend:

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

 

Exh. A-1


No.:    [                    ]
CUSIP:    55272X AA0
ISIN:    US55272XAA00

MFA Financial, Inc.

6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024

MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation, promises to pay to [    ] [include “ Cede  & Co. ” for Global Security] or registered assigns, the principal amount of $[        ] [as revised by the Schedule of Increases and Decreases of Global Security attached hereto] 1 on June 15, 2024 (the “ Maturity Date ”).

Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15, beginning on December 15, 2019.

Regular Record Dates: June 1 and December 1, beginning on December 1, 2019.

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

 

1  

Include for Global Securities only.

 

Exh. A-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, MFA FINANCIAL, INC. has caused this instrument to be duly signed.

 

    MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
    By:  

 

      Name:
      Title:
Dated:                                                
    MFA FINANCIAL, INC.
    By:  

 

      Name:
      Title:
Dated:                                                

 

Exh. A-3


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

 

 
  Authorized Signatory  
Dated:      

 

 

 

Exh. A-4


[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

MFA FINANCIAL, INC.

6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “ Securities ”), issued under a Indenture dated as of June 3, 2019 (herein called the “ Base Indenture ”), and as further supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2019 (herein called the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”) by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, herein called the “ Trustee ”, and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is not subject to redemption at the option of the Company prior to the Maturity Date and does not benefit from a sinking fund.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Holder of this Security will have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to purchase this Security, or any portion of this Security such that the principal amount of this Security that is not purchased equals $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, on the Fundamental Change Purchase Date at a price equal to the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for such Fundamental Change Purchase Date.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder hereof has the right, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, to convert this Security or a portion of this Security such that the principal amount of this Security that is not converted equals $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, into shares of Common Stock in accordance with Article 4 of the Supplemental Indenture.

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall make all payments in respect of the Fundamental Change Purchase Price for, and the principal amount of, this Security to the Holder that surrenders this Security to the Paying Agent to collect such payments in respect of this Security. The Company shall pay cash amounts in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities to be effected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past Defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such

 

Exh. A-5


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

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

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay or deliver, as the case may be, the principal of (including the Fundamental Change Purchase Price), interest on and the consideration due upon conversion of, this Security at the time, place and rate, and in the coin and currency, herein prescribed.

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

The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

 

Exh. A-6


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

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

The Company will furnish to any Holder upon written request and without charge a copy of the Indenture. Requests may be made to the Company at the following address:

MFA Financial, Inc.

350 Park Avenue, 20 th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Attention: Investor Relations Department

Telephone: 212-207-6488

 

Exh. A-7


ABBREVIATIONS

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

 

TEN COM - as tenants in common

  

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT

  

Custodian

  

(Cust)

TEN ENT - as tenants by the entireties

                                      
  

(Minor)

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

  

Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

  

(State)

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

  

 

Exh. A-8


ANNEX A

[Include for Global Security]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES OF GLOBAL SECURITY

Initial principal amount of Global Security:

 

Date

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

 

Annex A-1


ATTACHMENT 1

[FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION]

To:    MFA Financial, Inc.

c/o Conversion Agent

The undersigned Holder of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or a portion hereof (which is such that the principal amount of the portion of this Security that will not be converted equals $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated shares of Common Stock (and cash in lieu of delivering any fractional shares of Common Stock) in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that any cash payable and any shares of Common Stock issuable and deliverable upon conversion, together with any Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be paid and/or issued and/or delivered, as the case may be, to the registered Holder hereof unless a different name is indicated below.

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, if this notice is being delivered on a date after the Close of Business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the Open of Business on the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, this notice must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of this Security to be converted. If any shares of Common Stock are to be issued in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect to such issuance and transfer as set forth in the Indenture.

Principal amount to be converted (in an integral multiple of $1,000, if less than all):

 

Dated:  
 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

  Signature Guarantee

 

Annex A-2


The following information must be provided to complete the conversion of your Securities to Common Stock.

 

 

(Name)

 

(Address)

Please print Name and Address

(including zip code number)

Social Security or other Taxpayer

Identifying

Number                                                                                             

 

Annex A-3


ATTACHMENT 2

[FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE PURCHASE NOTICE]

To:    MFA Financial, Inc.

c/o Paying Agent

The undersigned registered owner of this Security hereby acknowledges receipt of a notice from MFA Financial, Inc. (the “ Company ”) as to the occurrence of a Fundamental Change with respect to the Company and specifying the Fundamental Change Purchase Date and requests and instructs the Company to pay to the registered holder hereof in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Security and the Indenture (i) the entire principal amount of this Security, or the portion thereof (that is such that the portion not to be purchased has a principal amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, and (ii) if such Fundamental Change Purchase Date does not occur during the period after a Regular Record Date and on or prior to the Interest Payment Date corresponding to such Regular Record Date, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon to, but excluding, such Fundamental Change Purchase Date.

In the case of certificated Securities, the certificate numbers of the Securities to be purchased are as set forth below:

 

Dated:   
  Signature(s)
 

 

  Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number
  principal amount to be repaid (if less than all):
  $     ,000
  NOTICE: The signature on the Fundamental Change Purchase Notice must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the Security in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

 

Annex A-4


ATTACHMENT 3

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER]

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

In connection with any transfer of the Security, the undersigned confirm(s) that such Security is being transferred:

 

Dated:  
 

 

 

 

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

 

Annex A-5

Exhibit 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF VENABLE LLP]

June 3, 2019

MFA Financial, Inc.

350 Park Avenue, 20 th Floor

New York, New York 10022

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No.  333-214659)  

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration and issuance by the Company of up to $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”), covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement, and all amendments thereto (collectively, the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Notes are to be issued in an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) pursuant to the Prospectus Supplement (as defined herein).

In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

1. The Registration Statement;

2. The Prospectus, dated November 16, 2016, as supplemented by a Prospectus Supplement, dated May 29, 2019 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act;

3. The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

4. The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

5. A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;


MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 2

 

6. Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, and a duly authorized committee thereof (the “Resolutions”), relating to, among other matters, (a) the sale and issuance of the Notes and (b) the issuance of the Conversion Shares (as defined below), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

7. The Base Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”);

8. The First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of the date hereof (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee;

9. A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

10. Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

1. Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

2. Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

3. Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

4. All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic. The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered. All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents. All signatures on all Documents are genuine. All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete. All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete. There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.


MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 3

 

5. Upon the issuance of any shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company upon conversion of the Notes (including the maximum number of shares of Common Stock added to the conversion rate in connection with a “make-whole fundamental change” (as defined in the Indenture)) (the “Conversion Shares”), the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter.

6. The Conversion Shares will not be issued or transferred in violation of any restriction or limitation contained in Article NINTH of the Charter.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

1. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

2. The issuance of the Notes has been duly authorized by the Company.

3. The issuance of the Conversion Shares has been duly authorized by the Company and, when and if issued and delivered by the Company upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the Resolutions and the terms of the Notes, the Conversion Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning United States federal law or the law of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter. The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of any judicial decision which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.


MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 4

 

This opinion is being furnished to you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Offering (the “Current Report”), which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report and to the use of the name of our firm therein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Venable LLP

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO      

HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP

2200 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, DC 20037

 

TEL 202 • 955 • 1500
FAX 202 • 778 • 2201

June 3, 2019

MFA Financial, Inc.

350 Park Avenue, 20 th Floor

New York, New York 10022

 

  Re:

6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 issued by MFA Financial, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “ Issuer ”), in connection with the Underwriting Agreement dated May 29, 2019 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) among (i) the Issuer and (ii) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (the “ Underwriters ”), relating to the sale by the Issuer to the Underwriters of $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “ Securities ”).

The Securities are being issued under an Indenture dated as of June 3, 2019 (the “ Base Indenture ”) between the Issuer and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of June 3, 2019 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”), between the Issuer and the Trustee (the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, being referenced herein as the “ Indenture ”), and pursuant to the terms set forth in the First Supplemental Indenture will be convertible into shares of the Issuer’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”).

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following:

(a) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-214659) relating to securities to be issued by the Issuer from time to time including the Securities, filed by the Issuer, under the Securities Act with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) on

 

 

ATLANTA  AUSTIN  BANGKOK  BEIJING  BOSTON  BRUSSELS  CHARLOTTE  DALLAS   DUBAI  HOUSTON  LONDON

LOS ANGELES  MIAMI  NEW YORK  NORFOLK  RICHMOND  SAN FRANCISCO  THE WOODLANDS  TYSONS  WASHINGTON, DC

www.HuntonAK.com


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MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 2

 

November 16, 2016, including the base prospectus included in such registration statement (the “ Base Prospectus ”) and the other information set forth in the Incorporated Documents (as defined below) and incorporated by reference into such registration statement and therefore deemed to be a part thereof (such registration statement, as so amended at the time it became effective and including the Base Prospectus and such other information incorporated by reference into such registration statement, being referred to herein as the “ Registration Statement ”);

(b) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated May 29, 2019, relating to the Securities in the form filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the General Rules and Regulations (the “ Rules and Regulations ”) under the Securities Act (such preliminary prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, being referred to herein as the “ Preliminary Prospectus ”);

(c) the prospectus supplement dated May 29, 2019, relating to the Securities in the form filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations (such prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, being referred to herein as the “ Prospectus ”);

(d) the pricing term sheet dated May 29, 2019, relating to the Securities in the form filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations (such document being referred to herein as the “ Pricing Term Sheet ”);

(e) each of the Issuer’s reports listed on Schedule A herein that have been filed with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement (the “ Incorporated Documents ”);

(f) an executed copy of the Indenture;

(g) the form of the Securities;

(h) the global note executed by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, in the aggregate principal amount of $230,000,000, representing the Securities purchased and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement;

(i) a specimen certificate representing the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities;

(j) an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement; and

(k) a certificate as to certain factual matters, dated the date hereof (the “ Opinion Support Certificate ”), executed by the Chief Financial Officer and by the Secretary of the Issuer.

 


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MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 3

 

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Issuer and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Issuer and others, and such other documents, certificates and records, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. As to any facts material to the opinions and statements expressed herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied, to the extent we deem appropriate, upon (i) oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Issuer (including without limitation the facts certified in the Opinion Support Certificate) and (ii) statements and certifications of public officials and others.

As used herein the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

Applicable Agreements ” means those agreements and other instruments listed in Schedule 1 hereto.

Person ” means a natural person or a legal entity organized under the laws of any jurisdiction.

Transaction Documents ” means collectively, the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities.

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

1. When authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with their terms, under applicable laws of the State of New York.

We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than (i) applicable laws of the State of New York, (ii) applicable laws of the United States of America and (iii) certain other specified laws of the United States of America to the extent referred to specifically herein. References herein to “applicable laws” mean those laws, rules and regulations that, in our experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Transaction Documents, without our having made any special investigation as to the applicability of any specific law, rule or regulation, and that are not the subject of a specific opinion herein referring expressly to a particular law or laws; provided however , that such references do not include any municipal or other local laws, rules or regulations, or any laws, rules or regulations relating to fraud, labor, securities, tax, insurance, antitrust, money laundering, national security or the environment.


LOGO

MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 4

 

Our opinions expressed herein are subject to the following additional assumptions and qualifications:

(i) Our opinion in paragraph 1 above may be:

(1) limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or transfer or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally; and

(2) subject to the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy and concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing.

(ii) Our opinion expressed in paragraph 1 above insofar as it pertains to any provisions of the instruments referred to in such paragraphs purporting to select New York law as governing or to constitute a submission to the jurisdiction of one or more specified courts, are rendered solely in reliance upon New York General Obligations Law §§ 5-1401 and 5-1402, and New York Civil Practice Law and Rules (“ CPLR ”) 327(b), and are expressly conditioned upon the assumption that the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of said provisions will be determined by a court of the State of New York or (in the case of provisions purporting to select New York law as governing) a United States federal court sitting in New York and applying New York choice of law rules, including said § 5-1401. We express no opinion as to any such provision if such legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability is determined by any other court, and we call your attention to the decision of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Lehman Brothers Commercial Corp. v. Minmetals Int’l Non -Ferrous Metals Trading Co. , 179 F. Supp. 2d 119 (S.D.N.Y. 2000), which, among other things, contains dicta relating to possible constitutional limitations upon said § 5-1401 in both domestic and international transactions. We express no opinion as to any such constitutional limitations upon said § 5-1401 or their effect, if any, upon any opinion herein expressed. Moreover, we advise you that said § 5-1402 by its terms applies only to actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to a contract for which a choice of New York law has been made in whole or in part pursuant to said § 5-1401, and that said CPLR 327(b) by its terms applies only to contracts, agreements and undertakings to which said § 5-1402 applies. We also call to your attention that Federal courts located in New York could decline to hear a case on grounds of forum non-conveniens or any other doctrine limiting the availability of the Federal courts in New York as a forum for the resolution of disputes not having a sufficient nexus to New York, and we express no opinion as to any waiver of rights to assert the applicability of the forum non-conveniens doctrine or any such other doctrine in such Federal courts.

(iii) We express no opinion as to the validity, effect or enforceability of any provisions:

(1) relating to rights of set-off or counterclaim, or the waiver thereof;


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MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 5

 

(2) purporting to establish evidentiary standards or limitations periods for suits or proceedings to enforce such documents or otherwise, to modify rules of contract construction, to establish certain determinations (including determinations of contracting parties and judgments of courts) as conclusive or conclusive absent manifest error, to commit the same to the discretion of any Person or permit any Person to act in its sole judgment or to waive rights to notice;

(3) providing that the assertion or employment of any right or remedy shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy, or that each and every remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other remedy or that any delay or omission to exercise any right or remedy shall not impair any other right or remedy or constitute a waiver thereof;

(4) relating to severability or separability;

(5) purporting to limit the liability of, or to exculpate, any Person, including without limitation any provision that purports to waive liability for violation of securities laws;

(6) purporting to waive damages;

(7) that relate to indemnification, contribution or reimbursement obligations to the extent any such provisions (i) would purport to require any Person to provide indemnification, contribution or reimbursement in respect of the negligence, recklessness, willful misconduct or unlawful behavior of any Person, (ii) violate any law, rule or regulation (including any federal or state securities law, rule or regulation) or (iii) are determined to be contrary to public policy;

(8) purporting to require that all amendments, waivers and terminations be in writing or the disregard of any course of dealing or usage of trade;

(9) relating to consent to jurisdiction insofar as such provisions purport to confer subject matter jurisdiction upon any court that does not have such jurisdiction, whether in respect of bringing suit, enforcement of judgments or otherwise;

(10) purporting to limit the obligations of any party to the extent necessary to avoid such obligations constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance;

(11) purporting to require disregard of mandatory choice of law principles that could require application of a law other than the law expressly chosen to govern the instrument in which such provisions appear;

(12) purporting to require the issuance of additional shares upon conversion of any Security, if such issuance of additional shares would constitute a penalty;


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MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 6

 

(13) purporting to waive the benefit or advantage of any stay, extension or usury law; or

(14) purporting to waive rights to trial by jury or rights to object to jurisdiction based on inconvenient forum.

(iv) In making our examination of executed documents, we have assumed (except to the extent that we expressly opine above) (1) the valid existence and good standing of each of the parties thereto, (2) that such parties had the power and authority, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other, to enter into and to incur and perform all their obligations thereunder, (3) the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other, and the due execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and (4) to the extent such documents purport to constitute agreements, that each of such documents constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party thereto, enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms. In this paragraph (iv), all references to parties to documents shall be deemed to mean and include each of such parties, and each other person (if any) directly or indirectly acting on its behalf.

(v) Except to the extent that we expressly opine above, we have assumed that the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, and the incurrence and performance of the obligations thereunder of the parties thereto do not and will not contravene, breach, violate or constitute a default under (with the giving of notice, the passage of time or otherwise) (a) the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, charter, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, limited partnership agreement or similar organic document of any such party, (b) any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument, (c) any statute, law, rule, or regulation, (d) any judicial or administrative order or decree of any governmental authority, or (e) any consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, any governmental authority, in each case, to which any party to the Transaction Documents or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties may be subject, or by which any of them may be bound or affected. Further, we have assumed the compliance by each such party, other than the Issuer, with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to it, as well as the compliance by the Issuer, and each other person (if any) directly or indirectly acting on its behalf, with all laws, rules and regulations that may be applicable to it by virtue of the particular nature of the business conducted by it or any goods or services produced or rendered by it or property owned, operated or leased by it, or any other facts pertaining specifically to it. In this paragraph (v), all references to parties to the Transaction Documents, other than the first such reference, shall be deemed to mean and include each of such parties, and each other person (if any) directly or indirectly acting on its behalf.

(vi) We express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any jurisdiction in which any holder of any Security is located (other than the State of New York) that limit the interest, fees or other charges such holder may impose for the loan or use of money or other credit.


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MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 7

 

(vii) Except to the extent that we expressly opine above, we have assumed that no authorization, consent or other approval of, notice to or registration, recording or filing with any court, governmental authority or regulatory body (other than routine informational filings, filings under the Securities Act and filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) is required to authorize, or is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the execution or delivery thereof by or on behalf of any party thereto or the incurrence or performance by any of the parties thereto of its obligations thereunder.

(viii) With respect to our opinions expressed above as they relate to provisions of the Base Indenture relating to debt securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, we note that (i) a New York statute provides that a judgment rendered by a court of the State of New York in respect of an obligation denominated in any such other currency would be rendered in such other currency and would be converted into Dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment, and (ii) a judgment rendered by a federal court sitting in the State of New York in respect of an obligation denominated in any such other currency may be expressed in Dollars, but we express no opinion as to the rate of exchange such federal court would apply.

(ix) We express no opinion as to Section 116 of the Indenture or any other provision of any Transaction Document providing for indemnity or reimbursement by any party against any loss in obtaining the currency due to such party under any of the Transaction Documents from a court judgment in another currency.

(x) We point out that the submission to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York and the waivers of objection to venue contained in the Indenture cannot supersede a federal court’s discretion in determining whether to transfer an action to another court.

(xi) We point out that the agent for service of process appointed pursuant to the Indenture, in its discretion, may fail to agree, or terminate its agreement, to serve as agent for service of process for the Issuer, in which event service of process upon such party would not be valid and effective for the purposes described in the Indenture.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Issuer dated on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion of counsel into the Registration Statement and to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder. The opinions and statements expressed herein are as of the date hereof only and are based on laws, orders, contract terms and provisions, and facts as of such date, and we disclaim any obligation to update this letter after such date or to advise you of changes of facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in law.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

Exhibit 8.1

 

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HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP

RIVERFRONT PLAZA, EAST TOWER

951 EAST BYRD STREET

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23219-4074

 

TEL    804 • 788 • 8200

FAX    804 • 788 • 8218

     FILE NO: 87566.27

June 3, 2019

MFA Financial, Inc.

350 Park Avenue, 20 th Floor

New York, New York 10022

MFA Financial, Inc.

Qualification as

Real Estate Investment Trust

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to MFA Financial, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offer and sale of up to $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”), pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated May 29, 2019 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), to a prospectus dated November 16, 2016, as amended through the date hereof, including, but not limited to, by the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 21, 2019 (the “Prospectus”), as part of a registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 16, 2016 (the “Registration Statement”). You have requested our opinion regarding certain U.S. federal income tax matters.

In giving this opinion letter, we have examined the following:

 

  1.

the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and the Prospectus Supplement;

 

  2.

the indenture dated June 3, 2019, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as supplement by an indenture supplement dated June 3, 2019, pursuant to which the Notes are issued;

 

  3.

the Company’s Amended Articles of Incorporation filed on April 8, 1998, with the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland, as amended and supplemented;

 

  4.

the Company’s Bylaws;

 

  5.

the taxable REIT subsidiary elections for Crimson Residential Assets Corp (f.k.a. MFA Loan Acquisition Corp), Diplomat Property Holdings Corp, MFA Navigator LLC, MFA Kittiwake Investments Ltd., Sahara Property Management LLC, Alps Property Management, LLC, and Redan Property Management, LLC; and

 

 

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www.HuntonAK.com


MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 2

 

  6.

such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

In connection with the opinions rendered below, we have assumed, with your consent, that:

1. each of the documents referred to above has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered; is authentic, if an original, or is accurate, if a copy; and has not been amended;

2. during its taxable year ending December 31, 2019, and future taxable years, the Company has operated and will operate in a manner that will make the factual representations contained in a certificate, dated the date hereof and executed by a duly appointed officer of the Company (the “Officer’s Certificate”), true for such years;

3. the Company will not make any amendments to its organizational documents after the date of this opinion that would affect its qualification as a real estate investment trust (a “REIT”) for any taxable year; and

4. no action will be taken by the Company after the date hereof that would have the effect of altering the facts upon which the opinions set forth below are based.

In connection with the opinions rendered below, we also have relied upon the correctness, without regard to any qualification as to knowledge or belief, of the factual representations and covenants contained in the Officer’s Certificate. No facts have come to our attention that would cause us to question the accuracy and completeness of such factual representations. Furthermore, where such factual representations involve terms defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury regulations thereunder (the “Regulations”), published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service (the “Service”), or other relevant authority, we have reviewed with the individuals making such representations the relevant provisions of the Code, the applicable Regulations and published administrative interpretations thereof.

Based solely on the documents and assumptions set forth above, the representations set forth in the Officer’s Certificate, and the discussions in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” as supplemented by the discussion in Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 21, 2019 under the caption “Additional Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” (which are incorporated herein by reference), we are of the opinion that:


MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 3

 

(a) the Company qualified to be taxed as a REIT pursuant to sections 856 through 860 of the Code for its taxable years ended December 31, 2015 through December 31, 2018, and the Company’s organization and current and proposed method of operation will enable it to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2019 and thereafter; and

(b) the descriptions of the law and the legal conclusions in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Supplemental U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and in the Prospectus under the caption “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” as supplemented by the discussion in Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 21, 2019 under the caption “Additional Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” are correct in all material respects, and the discussions thereunder fairly summarize the U.S. federal income tax considerations that are likely to be material to a holder of the Notes.

We will not review on a continuing basis the Company’s compliance with the documents or assumptions set forth above, or the representations set forth in the Officer’s Certificate. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operations for any given taxable year will satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT. Although we have made such inquiries and performed such investigations as we have deemed necessary to fulfill our professional responsibilities as counsel, we have not undertaken an independent investigation of all the facts referred to in this letter or the Officer’s Certificate. In particular, we note that the Company has engaged in transactions in connection with which we have not provided legal advice and may not have reviewed. Moreover, we note that we did not represent the Company as tax counsel prior to June 1, 2016.

The foregoing opinions are based on current provisions of the Code, the Regulations, published administrative interpretations thereof, and published court decisions. The Service has not issued Regulations or administrative interpretations with respect to various provisions of the Code relating to REIT qualification. No assurance can be given that the law will not change in a way that will prevent the Company from qualifying as a REIT.

The foregoing opinions are limited to the U.S. federal income tax matters addressed herein, and no other opinions are rendered with respect to other U.S. federal tax matters or to any issues arising under the tax laws of any other country, or any state or locality. We undertake no obligation to update the opinions expressed herein after the date of this letter. This opinion letter is solely for the information and use of the addressees, and it speaks only as of the date hereof. Except as provided in the next paragraph, this opinion letter may not be distributed, relied upon for any purpose by any other person, quoted in whole or in part or otherwise reproduced in any document, or filed with any governmental agency without our express written consent.


MFA Financial, Inc.

June 3, 2019

Page 4

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Prospectus Supplement. We also consent to the reference to Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the SEC.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP