CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORP false 0001409493 0001409493 2020-04-07 2020-04-07 0001409493 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2020-04-07 2020-04-07 0001409493 cim:M8.00SeriesACumulativeRedeemablePreferredStockMember 2020-04-07 2020-04-07 0001409493 us-gaap:PreferredClassBMember 2020-04-07 2020-04-07 0001409493 us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember 2020-04-07 2020-04-07 0001409493 cim:M8.00SeriesDCumulativeFixedToFloatingRateRedeemablePreferredStockMember 2020-04-07 2020-04-07

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 7, 2020

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Maryland

 

001-33796

 

26-0630461

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

520 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor

New York, New York

 

10022

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

(212) 626-2300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

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

 

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

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

Symbols:

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered:

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

CIM

 

New York Stock Exchange

8.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

CIM PRA

 

New York Stock Exchange

8.00% Series B Cumulative Fixed-to-Floating Rate Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

CIM PRB

 

New York Stock Exchange

7.75% Series C Cumulative Fixed-to-Floating Rate Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

CIM PRC

 

New York Stock Exchange

8.00% Series D Cumulative Fixed-to-Floating Rate Redeemable Preferred Stock

 

CIM PRD

 

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 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Completion of Convertible Senior Notes Offering

On April 13, 2020, Chimera Investment Corporation (the “Company”) completed its registered underwritten public offering of $325 million aggregate principal amount of 7.00% convertible senior notes due 2023 (such notes, the “Notes,” and such offering, the “Note Offering”), pursuant to an underwriting agreement, dated April 7, 2020, with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as representative of the underwriters listed on Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriters”), which is described below. The Underwriters have the option, exercisable within 13 days of April 7, 2020, to purchase up to an additional $48.75 million aggregate principal amount of Notes from the Company, solely to cover over-allotments.

The Notes were each offered and sold in a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 which became effective upon filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 14, 2019 (Registration No. 333-229255), including the prospectus supplement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, dated April 7, 2020, to the prospectus contained in the registration statement.

Underwriting Agreement

The Company completed the Note Offering pursuant to an underwriting agreement with the Underwriters, dated April 7, 2020 (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

The Underwriting Agreement includes customary representations, warranties and covenants. Under the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The Company estimates that the net proceeds from the Note Offering will be approximately $314.1 million, after deducting the Underwriters’ discounts and estimated transaction expenses associated with the Note Offering payable by the Company. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the Note Offering to pay the cost of the Capped Call Transactions (as defined below) and the remainder to finance the acquisition of mortgage assets including residential mortgage loans, non-Agency RMBS, Agency RMBS, Agency and non-Agency CMBS and other targeted assets, and for other general corporate purposes such as repayment of outstanding indebtedness or to pay down other liabilities, working capital and for liquidity needs.

Base Indenture and Supplemental Indenture

The Company issued the Notes under an indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee.

The Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.00% per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2020. The Notes are the general unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equal in right of payment with the other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to any indebtedness of the Company that is contractually subordinated to the Notes. The Notes, however, are effectively subordinated in right of payment to the existing and future secured indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to the claims of the Company’s subsidiaries’ creditors, including trade creditors.

The Notes will mature on April 1, 2023 (the “Maturity Date”), unless earlier redeemed or repurchased by the Company or converted. Holders may convert any of their Notes into shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), at the applicable conversion rate at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day prior to the Maturity Date, unless the Notes have been previously repurchased or redeemed by the Company.


The initial conversion rate of the Notes is 153.8461 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $6.50 per share. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances.

Upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture) involving the Company, holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of their Notes for cash at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the fundamental change repurchase date.

The Company will not be permitted to redeem the Notes at its option prior to maturity, except to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to preserve its status as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Company determines that redeeming the Notes is necessary to preserve its status as a REIT, then it may redeem all or part of the Notes at a cash redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date. The Company may at any time and from time to time repurchase Notes by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws.

If an event of default (as defined in the Indenture) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. In the case of an event of default arising out of certain bankruptcy or insolvency events (as set forth in the Indenture), 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes will automatically become due and payable.

Capped Call Transactions

On April 7, 2020, concurrently with the pricing of the Notes, the Company entered into call option transactions with respect to the Common Stock (the “Capped Call Transactions”) with affiliates of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (the “Counterparty”). The Capped Call Transactions cover, subject to anti-dilution adjustments substantially identical to those in the Notes, approximately 57.5 million shares of Common Stock, which is equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that will initially underlie the Notes, at an initial strike price of approximately $6.50 per share. The Capped Call Transactions will expire upon the maturity of the Notes, if not earlier exercised or terminated.

The Capped Call Transactions are expected generally to reduce the potential dilution to the Company’s Common Stock upon any conversion of the Notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap initially equal to approximately $8.45 (which represents a premium of approximately 30% over the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on April 7, 2020). The Capped Call Transactions are separate transactions, entered into by the Company with the Counterparty, and are not part of the terms of the Notes.

The Company used approximately $33.75 million of the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes to pay the cost of the Capped Call Transactions.

Copies of the Underwriting Agreement, the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture, the form of the Notes and the form of the confirmation for the Capped Call Transactions are attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1, Exhibit 4.1, Exhibit 4.2, Exhibit 4.3 and Exhibit 99,1, 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 the form of the Notes and the form of the confirmation for the Capped Call Transactions. 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(a) and Exhibit 5.1(b), 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 by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit
No.

   

Description

         
 

1.1

   

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2020, by and between the Company and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representative of the several underwriters listed on Schedule A attached thereto.

         
 

4.1

   

Indenture, dated April 13, 2020, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

         
 

4.2

   

First Supplemental Indenture, dated April 13, 2020, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee.

         
 

4.3

   

Form of 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023 of the Company (attached as Exhibit A to the First Supplemental Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto)

         
 

5.1(a)

   

Opinion of Venable LLP regarding the legality of the Notes.

         
 

5.1(b)

   

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(a) hereto).

         
 

23.2

   

Consent of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (included in Exhibits 5.1(b) and 8.1 hereto).

         
 

99.1

   

Form of Capped Call Transaction Confirmation.

         
 

104

   

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).


SIGNATURE

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

             

Date: April 13, 2020

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Rob Colligan

 

 

Name:

 

Rob Colligan

 

 

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

Execution Version

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

7.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2023

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

April 7, 2020

 

 

 


 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

April 7, 2020

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

As Representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule A

 

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue 

New York, New York 10010

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A annexed hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) is acting as the sole Representative (the “Representative”), $325,000,000 principal amount of its 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Firm Securities”). In addition, solely for the purposes of covering over-allotments, the Company also proposes to issue and sell to the Underwriters up to an additional $48,750,000 principal amount of its 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Additional Securities”), upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 1 hereof. 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” and sometimes collectively with the Securities as the “Registered Securities”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value (the “Common Stock”).

 

The Securities will be issued under the indenture dated as of April 13, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”) between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the supplemental indenture dated as of April 13, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee (the Base Indenture together with the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”).

 

In connection with the offering of the Firm Securities, the Company is separately entering into capped call transactions with certain of the Underwriters or their respective affiliates or other financial institutions (the “Option Counterparties”) pursuant to capped call confirmations (the “Base Capped Call Confirmations”) to be dated the date hereof, and in connection with the issuance of any Additional Securities, the Company and the Option Counterparties may enter into additional capped call confirmations (the “Additional Capped Call Confirmations”) to be dated the date on which the Underwriters exercise their option to purchase such Additional Securities (such Additional Capped Call Confirmations, together with the Base Capped Call Confirmations, the “Capped Call Confirmations”).

 

The Company has 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”) an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-229255), as amended, including a base prospectus, with respect to the Registered Securities, and which incorporates by reference documents which the

 

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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”), which registration statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act. Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus supplement (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement setting forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Securities and additional information concerning the Company and its business. The Company has furnished to the Representative, for use by the Underwriters and by dealers, copies of one or more preliminary prospectuses, containing the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by a preliminary Prospectus Supplement, and including the documents incorporated by reference in such base prospectus or preliminary Prospectus Supplement (each, a “Preliminary Prospectus”), relating to the Registered Securities. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, as amended when it became effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Regulations”), collectively, are herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated by reference therein, included in the Registration Statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and Rule 430B under the Securities Act on or before the second Business Day (as defined below) following the date of this Agreement (or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree), is herein called the “Prospectus.” The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430B is referred to as “Rule 430B Information.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”), and such copy shall be identical in content to any Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Registered Securities, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by Securities Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the

 

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filing of any document under the Exchange Act which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

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 the Firm Securities to the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule A annexed hereto opposite its name at the purchase price of 96.75% of the principal amount thereof (the “Purchase Price”). The Company is advised by the Representative that the Underwriters intend (i) to make a public offering of the 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 addition, the Company hereby grants to the 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 amount of Firm Securities to be purchased by each of them, all or a portion of the Additional Securities as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Securities, at the Purchase Price. This option may be exercised by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters at any time and from time to time on or before the thirteenth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Each 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 Additional Securities are to be delivered (any such date and time being herein referred to as an “additional time of purchase”); provided, however, that an 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 number which bears the same proportion to the aggregate number of Additional Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule A hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares (subject, in each case, to such adjustment as the Representative may determine to eliminate fractional shares). As used herein “Business Day” shall mean a day on which the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for trading and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

 

2.            Payment and Delivery. Payment of the purchase price for the Firm Securities shall be made to the Company by federal funds wire transfer against delivery of the Firm Securities to the Representative through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the respective accounts of the Underwriters. Such payment and delivery shall be made at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on April 13, 2020 (unless another time shall be agreed to by the Representative and the Company or unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 hereof). The time at which any such payment and delivery are actually made is herein sometimes called the “time of purchase.” Delivery of the Firm Securities and Additional Securities shall be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and shall be in global form, as one or more

 

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global notes representing the Securities, unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct. The Firm Securities so to be delivered or evidence of their issuance will be made available for checking at least 24 hours prior to the time of purchase. Payment of the purchase price for Additional Securities shall be made at each additional time of purchase in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Securities. The Additional Securities being purchased on each additional time of purchase or evidence of their issuance will be made available for checking at a reasonable time in advance of such additional time of purchase.

 

3.           Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time referred to in Section 3(d), as of the time of purchase and, if applicable, at each additional time of purchase that:

 

(a)       (1) At the time the Registration Statement was initially filed, (2) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or otherwise (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (3) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act and (4) at the date hereof, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act (“Rule 405”), including not having been and not being an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, and the Registered Securities, since their registration on the Registration Statement, have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on a Rule 405 “automatic shelf registration statement”. The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement form.

 

At the time the Registration Statement was initially filed, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405.

 

(b)         The Registration Statement became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act on January 14, 2019 and any post-effective amendment thereto also became effective upon filing under Rule 462(e). The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed. The Prospectus has been or will be so prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act on or before the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree. The Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement (including

 

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one fully executed copy of each of the Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto for the Underwriters) have been delivered to the Underwriters and their counsel (except for documents incorporated by reference that have otherwise been filed and are publicly available on EDGAR). The Company has not distributed any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (as defined below) or any other materials, if any, permitted by the Securities Act.

 

(c)         Each part of the Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, when such part became effective and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) of the Securities Act or was or is filed with the Commission, and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of filing thereof with the Commission and at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at each additional time of purchase, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”). Each part of the Registration Statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, when such part became effective and at each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters or was or is filed with the Commission, did not or will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at their respective times of issuance and at the time of purchase and, if applicable, at each additional time of purchase, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information concerning the Underwriters that was furnished in writing to the Company by the Representative on behalf of the several Underwriters specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

(d)        As of the Applicable Time neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Term Sheet (as defined herein) and the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below) as of the Applicable Time, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

 

Applicable Time” means 8:30 P.M. (New York City time) on April 7, 2020 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representative.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (“Rule 433”), relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission or (iii)

 

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is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

 

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by it being specified in Schedule B hereto, including, without limitation, the Term Sheet.

 

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

 

Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus relating to the Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated by reference therein.

 

The Company will prepare a final term sheet (the “Term Sheet”) containing only a description of the final terms of the Securities and their offering, in a form approved by the Underwriters and attached as Schedule B hereto, and acknowledges that the Term Sheet is an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus and will comply with its related obligations set forth in Section 3(dd) hereof. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, copies of the Term Sheet promptly upon its completion.

 

Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.

 

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein.

 

(e)         The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, when they were or are filed with the Commission under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable and, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (as applicable), (i) at the time the Registration Statement became effective, (ii) at the earlier of time the Prospectus was first used and the date and time of the first contract of sale of Securities in this offering and (iii) at the Applicable Time, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

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(f)         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, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the financial condition of the Company on a consolidated basis 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 and the Prospectus 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. No other financial statements are required to be set forth or to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus under the Securities Act. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

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

 

(h)         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, 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 operation of the Company and the 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 General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus 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 such jurisdictions.

 

(i)          Each subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Subsidiary” and, together, the “Subsidiaries”) has been duly formed or incorporated and is validly existing as a limited liability company or corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing 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, and has full corporate or limited liability company 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 General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and each of the

 

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subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by such jurisdictions.

 

(j)          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 Chimera RMBS Whole Pool LLC and Chimera RR Holding LLC and, except for the equity of the 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, other than interests in Kah Capital Management, LLC. Complete and correct copies of the articles of incorporation and of the bylaws of the Company and all amendments thereto have been delivered to the Representative (or otherwise made available on EDGAR) and, except as set forth in the exhibits to, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement, no changes therein will be made subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the time of purchase or, if applicable, each additional time of purchase.

 

(k)         Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in breach of, or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, or constitute a default under), (i) its articles of incorporation or bylaws or operating agreement, as applicable or (ii) any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which breach or default under this clause (ii) could have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Capped Call Confirmations, the issuance and sale of the Securities, the issuance of the Underlying Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will not conflict with, or result in any breach of, constitute a default under or a Repayment Event (as defined below) under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time, or both would result in any breach of, constitute a default under or a Repayment Event under), (i) any provision of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or operating agreement of any Subsidiary, (ii) any provision of any contract, license, repurchase agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their assets or properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) under any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(l)          All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, 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.

 

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

 

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(n)         The Capped Call Confirmations have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(o)         The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement and at the time of purchase and on any additional time of purchase, as the case may be, was or will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when duly executed and delivered, will (assuming due execution and delivery by the Trustee) constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its 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; and the Indenture conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(p)         The Securities will be in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the time of purchase, or any additional time of purchase, as the case may be, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their 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; and the Securities conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(q)         The capital stock of the Company, including the Underlying Securities, conforms and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. If certificated, the global certificates representing the Common Stock are in due and proper form and the holders of the Common Stock will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

(r)          The Underlying Securities have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and reserved for issuance pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered upon conversion of the Securities as provided in the Indenture, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, and will be registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 

(s)         No approval, authorization, consent 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, the execution of the Indenture, the issuance of the Underlying Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transaction contemplated hereby or the Capped Call Confirmations other than (i) registration of the Securities and the Underlying Securities under the Securities Act, (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities are being offered by the Underwriters and (iii) such approvals as are expected to be obtained in connection with the approval of the listing of the Underlying Securities on the NYSE.

 

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(t)         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 to it any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company upon the issue and sale of the Securities to the Underwriters hereunder or the issuance of the Underlying Securities, nor does any Person have preemptive rights, co-sale rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase or subscribe for any of the Common Stock or any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell any of, the Common Stock or any options, rights or convertible securities or obligations, other than those that have been expressly waived prior to the date hereof.

 

(u)         Ernst & Young LLP (the “Accountants”), whose report on the financial statements of the Company is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are and, during the periods covered by their reports, were independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act.

 

(v)         Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries 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 their respective business as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is 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 General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as such as could not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries 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 any of the Subsidiaries, the effect of which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w)        The descriptions in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus of the legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases and other legal documents therein described present fairly the information required to be shown, and there are no legal or governmental proceedings, contracts, leases, or other documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus 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 and any of the Subsidiaries and third parties expressly referenced in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or the Subsidiary party thereto, as applicable, 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.

 

(x)         There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of the 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,

 

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local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency which could result in a judgment, decree or order having a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(y)         Except as otherwise may be disclosed therein, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package (including as of the Applicable Time), and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development which would reasonably be expected to cause a material adverse change, in the business, properties or assets described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus, or the results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), net worth, business, prospects or operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except transactions in the ordinary course of business, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, incurred by the Company or any Subsidiary, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) any change in the capital stock or, except in the ordinary course of business, outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiaries, or (v) except for (1) regular quarterly dividends on the Common Stock in a manner consistent with past practice and (2) dividends on the Company’s 8.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 8.00% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 7.75% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 8.00% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or any Subsidiary on any class of its capital stock. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any material contingent obligation which is not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, or the Prospectus.

 

(z)         There are no Persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities, including securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities, registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the Securities Act.

 

(aa)       The Company does not have any issued and outstanding preferred stock, other than the 5,800,000 shares of 8.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, 13,000,000 shares of 8.00% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, 10,400,000 shares of 7.75% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 8,000,000 shares of 8.00% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries (i) have failed to pay any dividend or sinking fund installment on preferred stock or (ii) have 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 on the financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. 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 on the financial position of the Company.

 

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(bb)       Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries nor any of their respective officers, directors and controlling Persons have, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any action designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale of the Securities, or (ii) (A) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Securities or (B) since October 10, 2019, paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, except, in either case, pursuant to this Agreement, shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan, or as may have been incurred in connection with the Company’s publicly disclosed repurchase of Common Stock.

 

(cc)       The Common Stock has been, and prior to the Closing Date the Underlying Shares will be, approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to notice of issuance.

 

(dd)       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 FINRA.

 

(ee)       Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company delivered to the Representative 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.

 

(ff)        As of the date of this Agreement, the Company has no plan or intention to materially alter its capital investment policy or investment allocation strategy, both as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is in compliance with its stated capital investment policy and investment allocation strategy. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets owned by them, in each case free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects (except for any security interest, lien, encumbrance or claim that may otherwise exist under any applicable repurchase agreement), except such as do not have a Material Adverse Effect and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property or asset by the Company or any Subsidiary, and except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries owns any real property, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package. Any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company or any Subsidiary are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are disclosed in the Prospectus or are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(gg)       Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed on or prior to the date hereof (except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid taxes shown as due thereon (or that are otherwise due and payable) (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse

 

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Effect or except as are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which has had (nor does the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which would reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries and which would reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries, there are no tax returns of the Company or any Subsidiary that are currently being audited by federal, state or local taxing authorities or agencies which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(hh)       Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries 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 (collectively, “Intangibles”) necessary to entitle the Company and the Subsidiaries to conduct their respective businesses as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notice of infringement of or conflict with (and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ii)         The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing 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.

 

(jj)         The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; any significant material weaknesses in internal controls have been identified for the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer; and since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls.

 

(kk)       The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the business in which it is engaged. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when

 

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such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ll)         Neither, the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation, or has received notice of any violation with respect to, any applicable environmental, safety or similar law applicable to the business of the Company or the Subsidiaries. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries has 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 respective businesses, and the Company and each of the Subsidiaries 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.

 

(mm)      Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has 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.

 

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

 

(oo)       No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described.

 

(pp)       The Company since January 1, 2013 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, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, the “Code”), for all taxable years commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2013. The proposed method of operation of the Company as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus 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. The Company intends to continue to operate in a manner which would permit it to qualify as a REIT under the Code. The Company has no intention of changing its operations or engaging in activities which would cause it to fail to qualify, or make economically undesirable its continued qualification, as a REIT.

 

(qq)       Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, and after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Capped Call Confirmations, will be required to register as 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”).

 

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(rr)        No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, 5% stockholders or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, which is required by the rules of FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus which is not so described.

 

(ss)       Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, directly or indirectly, including through any Subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(tt)        The operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA Patriot Act), as amended, and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and the Subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-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 the Subsidiaries with respect to Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(uu)       (A) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Covered Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Covered Person that is:

 

(i)        the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor

 

(ii)        located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

 

(B)         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 venture partner or other Covered Person:

 

(i)         to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Covered Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

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(ii)        in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Covered Person (including any Covered Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(C)         The Company and the Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Covered Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

(vv)       The Company is in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”).

 

(ww) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or, to the Company’s knowledge, employee thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of them: (i) has used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) has made any direct or indirect unlawful contribution or payment to any official of, or candidate for, or any employee of, any federal, state or foreign office from corporate funds; (iii) has made any bribe, unlawful rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; or (iv) is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the OECD Convention on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”) or any similar law or regulation to which the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject. The Company, its subsidiaries and their affiliates have each conducted its businesses in compliance with the FCPA and any applicable similar law or regulation and has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

(xx)       The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

(yy)       Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (A) to the knowledge of the Company, there has been no security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other compromise of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its subsidiaries, and any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”), (B) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would result in, any security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data and (C) the Company and its

 

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subsidiaries have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and 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.

 

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 Registered Securities for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions (both domestic and foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Registered 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 Representative of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registered Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

(b)         The Company will prepare the Prospectus in a form in compliance with Rule 430B and approved by the Underwriters and file such Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time), on or before the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree and to furnish promptly (and with respect to the initial delivery of such Prospectus, not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on or before the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement or on such other day as the parties may mutually agree) to the Underwriters 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) in such quantities and at such locations as the Underwriters may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act, which Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the version created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(c)         During (a) the time in which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or (b) 180 days, whichever is greater, the Company will advise the Representative 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 or the Prospectus or for additional information with respect thereto, (iii) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration

 

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Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement, (iv) the suspension of the qualification of the Registered Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction and (v) the initiation, threatening or contemplation of any proceedings for any of 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. During (a) the time in which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or (b) 180 days, whichever is greater, the Company will advise the Representative promptly of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall object in writing. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the time of purchase and, if applicable, from the time the Representative give the Company notice of their intention to exercise the option set forth in Section 1 to purchase Additional Securities to each additional time of purchase, and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall object in writing.

 

(d)         During (a) the time in which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act or (b) 180 days, whichever is greater, the Company will advise the Representative promptly and, if requested by the Representative, will confirm such advice in writing when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act.

 

(e)         Between the date hereof and April 13, 2020, the Company will not take or authorize any action that would result in an adjustment of the conversion price of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities described in the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package under the captions “Description of the Notes-Conversion Rights-Conversion Rate Adjustments”.

 

(f)         The Company will furnish to the Representative, and upon request to each of the Underwriters, for a period of five years from the date of this Agreement (i) copies of any reports or other communications which the Company shall send to its stockholders or shall from time to time publish or publicly disseminate, (ii) copies of all annual, quarterly and current reports filed with the Commission on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, or such other similar form as may be designated by the Commission, (iii) copies of documents or reports filed with any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed, and (iv) such other information as the Representative may reasonably request regarding the Company, in each case as soon as such communications, documents or information become available; provided that any materials described in clauses (i) – (iv) that are filed with the Commission and available through EDGAR shall be deemed automatically furnished without any further action by the Company.

 

(g)         The Company will advise the Representative promptly of the happening of any event known to the Company within the time during which a Prospectus relating to the Securities

 

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is required to be delivered 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 Representative or counsel for the Underwriters, 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 Representative 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. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement relating to the Registered Securities or the Statutory Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

(h)         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 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.

 

(i)          The Company will furnish to the Representative 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) and such number of conformed copies of the foregoing (other than exhibits) as the Representative may reasonably request.

 

(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.

 

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(k)         Within the time during which a Prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, the Company will furnish to the Representative, not less than two Business Days before a filing with the Commission, 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)          The Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, register, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock, or any securities convertible into, or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for shares of common stock, except for the sales to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for a period of 30 days after the date hereof, without the prior written consent of the Representative. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Underlying Securities pursuant to the conversion of the Securities, (ii) any equity linked financing issued in a private transaction, including any securities convertible into, or exercisable, exchangeable or redeemable for shares of common stock provided the investors in any such financing agree to be subject to a lock-up until the lock-up hereunder expires, (iii) the issuance of Common Stock, restricted stock, options or other units or awards pursuant to the Company’s long term stock incentive plans as currently in effect (or the filing of a Form S-8 related to such plans) or pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or other awards, and (iv) the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan or any successor dividend reinvestment or share purchase plan (or the filing of a Form S-3 related to such a plan).

 

(m)        The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Underlying Securities to be listed on the NYSE within the time period specified in the Prospectus and to maintain such listing and to file with the NYSE all documents and notices required by the NYSE of companies that have securities that are listed on the NYSE.

 

(n)        The Company will reserve and keep available at all times, free of pre-emptive rights, the full number of Underlying Securities.

 

(o)        The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and to maintain accountability for the assets of the Company, (iii) access to the assets of the Company is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization and (iv) the recorded accounts of the assets of the Company are compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals.

 

(p)         The Company will maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.

 

(q)         The Company will pay all expenses, fees and taxes (other than any fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, except as set forth under Section 5 hereof or (iv) or (vi) below) in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to

 

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the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities by the Company, (iii) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities, if any, (iv) the word processing and/or printing of this Agreement, any dealer agreements, and the reproduction and/or printing and furnishing of copies of each thereof to the Underwriters and to dealers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (v) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, except that the lodging, airfare (except if the Company charters a flight in which case employees of the Underwriters ride on such charter without charge), and incidental expenses of employees of the Underwriters shall be the responsibility of the Underwriters, (vi) the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state laws and the determination of their eligibility for investment under state law as aforesaid (including the legal fees and filing fees and other disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) and the preparation, printing and furnishing of copies of any blue sky surveys or legal investment surveys to the Underwriters and to dealers, (vii) any listing of the Underlying Securities on the NYSE and any registration of the Registered Securities under the Exchange Act and the approval for book-entry transfer by DTC, (viii) the filing, if any, for review of the public offering of the Underlying Securities by the FINRA, (ix) the performance of the Company’s other obligations hereunder, (x) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, and (xi) the costs and expenses (including without limitation any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the first paragraph of Section 3(d).

 

(r)         The Company will not and will cause the Subsidiaries not to (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 or (ii) prior to termination of the underwriting syndicate contemplated by this Agreement, sell, bid for, purchase or pay any Person (other than as contemplated by the provisions hereof) any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Securities.

 

(s)         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.

 

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

 

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(u)         The Company is organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation of the Company as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s proposed methods of operation will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for subsequent taxable years.

 

(v)         The Company will not be or become, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries not to be or become, at any time prior to the expiration of three years after the date of the Agreement, required to register as an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

(w)        The Company has retained the Accountants 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 the Company’s exempt status under the Investment Company Act 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 and the Company’s exempt status under the Investment Company Act.

 

(x)         The Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture 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 such 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 effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(aa)       The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representative, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representative, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission or, in the case of the Company, whether or not required to be filed with the Commission; provided, however, that prior to the preparation of the Prospectus in accordance with Section 4(b), the Underwriters are authorized to use the information with respect to the final terms of the Securities in communications conveying information relating to the offering to

 

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investors, including the Term Sheet. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.

 

(bb)       If the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement occurs before all the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters, prior to the third anniversary to file a new shelf registration statement and to take any other action necessary to permit the public offering of the Securities to continue without interruption; references herein to the Registration Statement shall include the new registration statement declared effective by, or automatically effective upon filing with, the Commission; provided, however, for the avoidance of doubt, this subsection (bb) shall not apply unless the Representative notifies the Company that not all of the Securities have been sold by the Underwriters at least 60 days prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement.

 

5.          Reimbursement of Underwriter’s 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(q) hereof, reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

 

6.          Conditions of Underwriter’s 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, at the Applicable Time and at the time of purchase (and the several obligations of the Underwriters at each 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 Applicable Time and at the time of purchase (unless previously waived) and at each 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:

 

(a)         The Company shall furnish to the Representative, at the time of purchase and at each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, opinions of (i) Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, special and tax counsel for the Company, (ii) Venable LLP, Maryland counsel for the Company, and (iii) Phillip J. Kardis II, Chief Legal Officer of the Company, addressed to the Underwriters, and dated the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and in form satisfactory to Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C, respectively, attached hereto.

 

(b)         The Representative shall have received from the Accountants, letters dated, respectively, the date of this Agreement and the time of purchase and each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters in the forms heretofore approved by the Representative 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 of the Company as to the significance thereof, unless the Representative deems such explanation unnecessary, and (ii) such changes, decreases or increases do not, in the sole judgment of the Representative, make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase and delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(c)        The Representative shall have received at the time of purchase and at each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, an opinion of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.

 

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

 

(e)         Prior to the time of purchase or each 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) the Prospectus and all amendments or supplements thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, and the General Disclosure Package 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, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

 

(f)         All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed by the time of purchase or each 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 (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)). A prospectus containing the Rule 430B Information shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430B).

 

(g)         Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the time of purchase or each 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 and the General Disclosure Package, in each case as of the Applicable Time), in the business, condition, net worth or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall occur or become known and (ii) no transaction which is material and unfavorable to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall have been entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

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(h)        The Company shall deliver to the Representative a certificate, dated the date of this Agreement, signed by its Chief Financial Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit D, attached hereto.

 

(i)         The Company will, at the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, deliver to the Representative 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 each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in subsections (e) and (g) of this Section 6 have been met.

 

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

 

(k)         The Underlying Securities shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.

 

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

 

(m)        Between the time of execution of this Agreement and the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice or announcement have been given or made of (i) any intended or potential downgrading or (ii) 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 under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

 

(n)         The Representative shall have received lock-up agreements from the individuals listed on Schedule C hereto, in the form of Exhibit E hereto, and such letter agreements shall be in full force and effect.

 

7.          Termination. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Representative, at any time prior to the time of purchase or, if applicable, each 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 occurs (financial or otherwise), or any development involving a material adverse and unfavorable change occurs (financial or otherwise) (in each case, other than as disclosed in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, and the Prospectus as of the Applicable Time (exclusive of any supplement thereto)), in the operations, business, net worth, condition or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or a material change in management of the Company occurs, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which would, in the sole judgment of the Representative, make it impracticable to market the Securities, (iii) if (a) the United States shall have declared war in accordance with its constitutional

 

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processes or there has occurred an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis or change or development in economic, political or other conditions the effect of which on, or (b) any material adverse change in the financial markets of the United States or the international financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Securities or enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, (iv) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or by the NYSE, or if trading generally on the NYSE, the NYSE American LLC or the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended, materially limited, (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 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 or any Subsidiary by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) of 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 reasonable opinion of the Representative, 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 reasonable opinion of the Representative, has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States.

 

If the Representative elects 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 3, 4(q), 5, 9 and 10 hereof), and the Underwriters shall be under no obligation or liability to the Company under this Agreement (except to the extent provided in Sections 9 and 10 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 under the provisions of Section 7 hereof), the Representative 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 all, but not less than all, 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,

 

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(i) if the total amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the total amount of Securities to be purchased at the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall take up and pay for (in addition to the number of Securities agreed to be purchased by all such defaulting Underwriters in such amount or amounts as the Representative 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 amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of such total amount of Securities to be purchased at the time of purchase or each 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 Representative may terminate this Agreement by notice to the Company, without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 3, 4(q), 5, 9, and 10 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 Representative with the approval of the Company or selected by the Company with the approval of the Representative).

 

If a new Underwriter or Underwriters are substituted for a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Company or the Representative shall have the right to postpone the time of purchase or each additional time of purchase, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven 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.            Indemnification.

 

(a)          Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, their affiliates, as such term is defined in Rule 501-(b) under the Securities Act (each, an “Affiliate”) and the person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

 

(i)           against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or

 

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arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the Term Sheet, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto or any documents deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

(ii)          against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 9(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and

 

(iii)         against, any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representative), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

 

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information or any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the Term Sheet, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto or any documents deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

 

(b)          Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430B Information or any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the Term Sheet, General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus: the information in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”.

 

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(c)         Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representative, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 9(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 9 or Section 10 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)         Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 9(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

 

10.         Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 9 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (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 pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

 

29  | 40

 

 

The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, relative to the total compensation received by the Underwriters from the sale of Securities on behalf of the Underwriters.

 

The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 10. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 10 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 

For purposes of this Section 10, the person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Underwriters’ Affiliates shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

 

11.         Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements shall be in writing or by telegram and, if to the Underwriters, shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered or sent to Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010-3629, Attention: IBCM-Legal; with a copy for information purposes to Paul Tropp, Esq. at Ropes & Gray LLP, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036 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 520 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10022,

 

30  | 40

 

 

Attention: Phillip Kardis, Esq. with a copy for information purposes to Robert K. Smith, Esq. at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, 2200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037.

 

12.        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 States.

 

(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.

 

(c)         For purposes of this Section 12, 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.

 

13.        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.

 

14.        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 non-exclusive 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 Representative or any indemnified party. Each of the Representative 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

 

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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.

 

15.        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 and 10 hereof the controlling Persons, directors and officers referred to in such Section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, pursuant 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.

 

16.        No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the purchase price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its respective stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has not assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of each of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

 

17.        Tax Disclosure. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, immediately upon commencement of discussions with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For purposes of the foregoing, the term “tax treatment” is the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the term “tax structure” includes any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

18.        Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its

 

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Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company, and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

 

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

 

20.        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.

 

21.        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.

 

22.        TIME. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

 

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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 letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement among the Company and the Underwriters, severally.

 

  Very truly yours,  
       
  CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION  
       
  By: /s/ Robert Colligan  
    Name: Robert Colligan  
    Title: Chief Financial Officer  

 

[Signature Page – Underwriting Agreement] 

 

 

 

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date
first above written, on behalf of themselves and the other

Underwriters named in Schedule A.

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC  
     
By: /s/ John Carr  
  Name: John Carr  
  Title: Director  

 

[Signature Page – Underwriting Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter   Principal Amount of Firm
Securities To Be Purchased
 
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC   $ 300,000,000  
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC   $ 12,500,000  
Nomura Securities International, Inc.   $ 12,500,000  
Total:   $ 325,000,000  

 

Sch-A

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus

 

Pricing Term Sheet dated as of April 7, 2020

 

Issuer: Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation.
Ticker / Exchange for Common Stock: CIM / The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).
Trade Date: April 8, 2020.
Expected Settlement Date: April 13, 2020.
Securities Offered: 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”).
Aggregate Principal Amount Offered: $325 million principal amount of Notes (or a total of $373.75 million principal amount of Notes if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option to purchase additional Notes).
Public Offering Price: 100% of principal amount.
Maturity Date: April 1, 2023, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted.
Interest Rate: 7.00% per year.
Interest Payment Dates: Semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2020.
Record Dates: March 15 and September 15.
Closing Price: $6.50 per share of the Issuer’s Common Stock on the NYSE on April 7, 2020.
Conversion Premium: Approximately 0%.
Initial Conversion Price: Approximately $6.50 per share of Common Stock.
Initial Conversion Rate: 153.8461 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment.
Use of Proceeds: The Issuer estimates that the net proceeds it will receive from the Offering will be approximately $314.1 million (or approximately $361.3 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The Issuer expects to enter into capped call transactions with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and/or its affiliates (the “Option Counterparty”). The Issuer intends to use approximately $33.75 million of the net proceeds from the Offering to pay for the cost of the capped call transactions. The Issuer intends to use the remainder of the net proceeds from the Offering to finance the acquisition of mortgage assets including residential mortgage loans, non-Agency RMBS, Agency RMBS, Agency and non-Agency CMBS and other targeted assets, and for other general corporate purposes such as repayment of outstanding indebtedness or to pay down other liabilities, working capital and for liquidity needs.
   
Sole Bookrunner: Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Co-Managers: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

 

Sch-B

 

 

  Nomura Securities International, Inc.
CUSIP Number: 16934Q AA7
ISIN Number: US16934QAA76
Redemption of Notes to Preserve REIT Status: The Issuer may not redeem the Notes prior to their maturity, except to the extent, and only to the extent, necessary to preserve its status as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If the Issuer determines that redeeming the Notes is necessary to preserve its status as a REIT, then it may redeem all or part of the Notes at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the redemption date.

 

Sch-B

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION,

 

Issuer

 

to

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

 

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

 

 

Dated as of April 13, 2020

 

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) 604
(b) 604
(c) N.A.
312(a) 701, 702
(b) 702
(c) 702
313(a) 703
(b) 1601
(c) 703
(d) 703
314(a) 704, 1007
(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) N.A.
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

 

ARTICLE ONE DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION   1
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   13
Section 118. Immunity of Shareholders, Directors, Officers and Agents of the Company   13
Section 119. Force Majeure   13
Section 120. U.S.A. Patriot Act   14
ARTICLE TWO SECURITIES FORMS   14
Section 201. Forms Generally   14
Section 202. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication   14
Section 203. Securities in Global Form   14
ARTICLE THREE THE SECURITIES   15
Section 301. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series   15
Section 302. Currency; Denominations   18
Section 303. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating   18
Section 304. Temporary Securities   19
Section 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange   20
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   22
Section 308. Persons Deemed Owners   23
Section 309. Cancellation   23

 

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Section 310. Computation of Interest   23
Section 311. CUSIP Numbers   23
ARTICLE FOUR SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE   24
Section 401. Satisfaction and Discharge   24
Section 402. Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance   25
Section 403. Application of Trust Money   28
Section 404. Reinstatement.   28
ARTICLE FIVE REMEDIES   28
Section 501. Events of Default   28
Section 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment   30
Section 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee   31
Section 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim   32
Section 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities or Coupons   33
Section 506. Application of Money Collected   32
Section 507. Limitations on Suits   33
Section 508. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts   33
Section 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies   33
Section 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative   34
Section 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver   34
Section 512. Control by Holders of Securities   34
Section 513. Waiver of Past Defaults   34
Section 514. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws   35
Section 515. Undertaking for Costs   35
ARTICLE SIX THE TRUSTEE   35
Section 601. Certain Rights of Trustee   35
Section 602. Notice of Defaults   38
Section 603. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities   38
Section 604. May Hold Securities   38
Section 605. Money Held in Trust   38
Section 606. Compensation and Reimbursement   38
Section 607. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility   39
Section 608. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor   39
Section 609. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor   40
Section 610. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business   41
Section 611. Appointment of Authenticating Agent   41
ARTICLE SEVEN HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY   43

 

ii  

 

 

Section 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders   43
Section 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders   43
Section 703. Reports by Trustee   43
Section 704. Reports by Company   44
ARTICLE EIGHT CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES   44
Section 801. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms   44
Section 802. Successor Person Substituted for Company   45
ARTICLE NINE SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES   45
Section 901. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders   45
Section 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders   46
Section 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures   47
Section 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures   47
Section 905. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures   48
Section 906. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act   48
ARTICLE TEN COVENANTS   48
Section 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts   48
Section 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency   48
Section 1003. Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust   49
Section 1004. Additional Amounts   49
Section 1005. Legal Existence   50
Section 1006. Waiver of Certain Covenants   50
Section 1007. Company Statement as to Compliance   50
Section 1008. Calculation of Original Issue Discount   50
ARTICLE ELEVEN REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES   50
Section 1101. Applicability of Article   50
Section 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee   51
Section 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed   51
Section 1104. Notice of Redemption   51
Section 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price   52
Section 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date   53
Section 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part   53
ARTICLE TWELVE SINKING FUNDS   53
Section 1201. Applicability of Article   53
Section 1202. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities   54
Section 1203. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund   54
ARTICLE THIRTEEN REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS   54
Section 1301. Applicability of Article   54

 

iii  

 

 

ARTICLE FOURTEEN SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES   55
Section 1401. Applicability of Article   55
ARTICLE FIFTEEN MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES   55
Section 1501. Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called   55
Section 1502. Call, Notice and Place of Meetings   55
Section 1503. Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings   55
Section 1504. Quorum; Action   56
Section 1505. Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings   56
Section 1506. Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings   57
ARTICLE SIXTEEN SECURITY   57
Section 1601. Security   57

 

iv  

 


 

INDENTURE, dated as of April 13, 2020 the (“Indenture”), between Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal executive office located at 520 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10022, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, in its capacity as trustee (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 accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

 

(3)           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;

 

(4)           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”);

 

(5)           provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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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.

 

The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

 

“default” means an Event of Default.

 

“indenture securities” means the Securities.

 

“indenture security holder” means a Holder.

 

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“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 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.

 

“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 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

 

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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 banking institutions in such Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

“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 the designated corporate trust office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at Wilmington Trust, National Association, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1290, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attention: Corporate Trust Services, Administrator—Chimera Investment Corporation.

 

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.

 

“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.

 

“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.

 

“Holder”, in the case of any Registered Security, 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


 

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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 any indebtedness the terms of which provide that the claim for repayment of such indebtedness by the holder thereof is limited solely to a claim against the property or assets (including, without limitation, securities or interests in securities) that secure such indebtedness; provided, however, that any obligations or liabilities of the debtor or obligor or any other person solely for indemnities, covenants or breaches of warranties, representations or covenants or similar matters in respect of any indebtedness will not prevent such indebtedness from constituting Non-recourse Debt.

 

“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, that, if required by the Trust Indenture Act, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

“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:

 

  5

 

 

(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 Securitiesor an Affiliate (other than a Trust) of the Company or such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means any 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” and “person” mean any individual, Corporation, joint venture, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“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.

 

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“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.

 

“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.

 

“Registered Security” means each Security established pursuant to Section 201, which is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Registered 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” shall mean, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and, in each case, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

 

“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 Registered Security means a date fixed by the Company pursuant to Section 307.

 

“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.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other equity interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person (or a combination thereof) and (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or managing general partner of which

 

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is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof).

 

“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 non-resident 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 or in connection with 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.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

(1)           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 or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. 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 104. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1506.

 

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 104.

 

(3)           The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Registered 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 Registered 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 Registered 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 Registered 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 Registered 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.

 

(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.

 

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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.

 

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

 

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, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered 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.

 

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 with the approval of 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 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; Entire Agreement.

 

In case any provision in this Indenture, 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. This Indenture and the Securities related hereto set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties related to this transaction and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, oral and written.

 

Section 112.     Benefits of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture, 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 Phillip J. Kardis, II (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

 

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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.

 

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 (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, any Security other than a provision in any Security or in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture establishing the terms of any Security that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof) 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; Electronic Signatures.

 

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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF or electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. Unless otherwise provided herein, the words “execute”, “execution”, “signed”, and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by the Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by the Trustee.

 

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 Required Currency could be purchased with the Judgment Currency in The City of New York 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

 

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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 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 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, any act or provision of any present or future law or regulation or governmental authority, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, sabotage, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, any epidemics or pandemics, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, or the unavailability of the Federal Reserve Bank wire or telex or other wire or communication facility; 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.

 

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Section 120.     U.S.A. Patriot Act.

 

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

 

Article Two

 

SECURITIES FORMS

 

Section 201.     Forms Generally.

 

Each Registered Security (including temporary or permanent global Securities) 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.

 

All 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.

 

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 not 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 Section 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this

 

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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 in registered form. None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Company or the Trustee 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.

 

Article Three

 

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 301.     Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

 

The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued 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,

 

(1)           the title of the Securities of such series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other 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, Section 305, Section 306, Section 905 or Section 1107, 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;

 

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(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 Registered 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 that are Registered 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;

 

(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;

 

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(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;

 

(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 Registered Security of such series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name the Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, 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 Sixteen 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; and

 

(23)         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.

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to Currency of payments due thereunder, denomination and the rate of interest, or method of determining the rate of interest, if any, Maturity, and the date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as may otherwise be provided by the Company in or pursuant to the Board Resolution and set forth in the Officers’ Certificate or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of 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 Company Order, as the case may be, pertaining to such series of Securities (telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such person) and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such

 

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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 or electronic.

 

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.

 

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 receive, and (subject to the applicable provisions of Sections 3.15(a) through 3.15(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in conclusively 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 Section 201 and Section 301 of this Indenture; and

 

(b)           all conditions precedent set forth in Section 201, Section 301 and Section 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).

 

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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 which 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 Section 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 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, upon Company Order, 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 global 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 Registered 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

 

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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.

 

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, 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 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, 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 Registered 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.

 

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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 Registered 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.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, 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.

 

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, Section 905 or Section 1107, upon repayment or repurchase in part of any Registered Security pursuant to Article Thirteen, or upon surrender in part of any Registered 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 mailing of notice of 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 mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security, or portion thereof, so selected for redemption, except in the case of any Registered 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.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depository.

 

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, upon Company Order, 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.

 

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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 Registered 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 Registered Security which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such Registered 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 Registered 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 Registered 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 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 the Trustee 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 Registered 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. 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 Registered 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 Registered 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.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, any interest which is paid prior to the expiration of the 30-day period set forth in Section 501 (1) shall be paid to the Holders as of the record date for the interest payment date for which interest has not been paid.

 

Section 308.     Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Registered 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 Registered Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Section 305 and Section 307) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered 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 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 disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its 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.

 

Section 311.     CUSIP Numbers.

 

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

 

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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 1103) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(b)           all Securities of such series and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below, if applicable, 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 (including amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 606); 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.

 

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.

 

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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 Section 305, Section 306, Section 403, Section 404, Section 1102 and Section 1103, 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 1104, 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 1104, 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 Section 305, Section 306, Section 1002 and Section 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 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,

 

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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, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 402 and Section 403 and Section 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 Section 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.

 

(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

 

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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 and beneficial owners 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 and beneficial owners 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 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

 

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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 4022.

 

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 Section 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 Section 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 Section 401 or Section 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

 

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pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers’ Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to this Indenture:

 

(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 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 or decree 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 non-appealable; or

 

(8)          the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of 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

 

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

 

(9)          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 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 or any Significant Subsidiary of 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 Significant Subsidiary of the Company or any substantial part of their respective properties; or

 

(iii)        orders the liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary 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 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 and 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)

 

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(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,

 

(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 reasonable 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, then 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 reasonable 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.

 

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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,

 

(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 reasonable 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 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, as the case may be, 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 (acting in any capacity hereunder or in connection herewith), its agents and counsel and any predecessor Trustee under the Indenture;

 

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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 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 Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

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;

 

(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 satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, fees and expenses and liabilities which might be incurred in compliance with such request (including attorneys’ fees, cost and expenses and court costs);

 

(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 and being expressly covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security, with every other taker and holder with the Trustee 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 (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to 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 Section 305 and Section 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

 

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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

 

(1)          such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or with the Securities of any series and could not involve the Trustee in personal liability,

 

(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.

 

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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.

 

Article Six

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 601.     Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has received written notice or has actual knowledge), 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 its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

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

 

(i) The duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in the Indenture and no others and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

 

(ii) In the absence of willful misconduct 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. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision

 

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hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not investigate or confirm the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(c) 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:

 

(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (a) of this Section 601; and

 

(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any actions taken, or errors of judgement made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, any of its officers, employees or agents unless it is proved in a court of competent jurisdiction that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.

 

In connection with this Indenture and any Securities issued hereunder, subject to Sections 3.15(a) through 3.15(d) of the Trust Indenture Act:

 

(1)            the Trustee may conclusively 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 believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2)             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;

 

(3)             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 negligence or willful misconduct on its part, at the expense of the Company, request, rely upon and act in accordance with an Officers’ Certificate and/or Opinion of Counsel, and shall incur no liability and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting in accordance with such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel, as applicable;

 

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

 

(5)            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 losses, damages, costs, fees and expenses and liabilities, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses (including court costs), which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(6)             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 sole 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 and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

(7)             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;

 

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(8)             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;

 

(9)             in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct 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; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts stated therein);

 

(10)           no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers;

 

(11)           The permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Agreement shall not be construed as a duty and, with respect to such permissive rights, the Trustee shall not be answerable for anything other than its negligence or willful misconduct

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(17)           the Trustee shall be entitled to request and receive written instructions from the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities and shall have no responsibility or liability for any losses or damages of any nature that may arise from any action taken or not taken by the Trustee in accordance with such written directions;

 

(18)           any action taken, or omitted to be taken, by the Trustee in good faith pursuant to this Indenture upon the written request or authority or consent of any person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the Holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding upon future holders of Securities and upon Securities executed and delivered in exchange thereof or in place thereof;

 

(19)           the Trustee shall have no obligation to give, execute, deliver, file, record, authorize or obtain any financing statements, notices, instruments, documents, agreements, consents or other papers as shall be necessary to (i) create, preserve, perfect or validate the security interest granted to the any collateral agent pursuant security agreements or (ii) enable the Trustee to exercise and enforce its rights under any security agreements with respect to such pledge and security interest. In addition, the Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability (i) in connection with the acts or omissions of the Company in respect of the foregoing or (ii) for or with respect to the legality, validity and enforceability of any security interest created in the collateral or the perfection and priority of such security interest; and

 

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(20)           the Trustee shall not be liable for any theft, loss, damage or destruction of any possessory collateral sent via overnight carrier.

 

Section 602.     Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after the Trustee has actual knowledge of the occurrence of any default hereunder 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 actually known to the Trustee, 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 best interest of the Holders of Securities; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(5) or Section 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.

 

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 3.10(b) and 3.11 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 (acting in any capacity hereunder) from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee 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 (acting in any capacity hereunder) upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee

 

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in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel (such as attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses)), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to the Trustee’s negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

(3)          to indemnify each of the Trustee (acting in any capacity hereunder), or any predecessor Trustee, and its directors, officers, employees and agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim, action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity or reasonable cost, expense, fees or charges of any character or nature (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Trustee’s agents, legal counsel, accountants and experts) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder or any other Person), 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 (including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 606), except to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction in a final non-appealable judgment determines 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.

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, 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.

 

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

 

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of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, 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 following thirty (30) days prior written notice thereof with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and the Company. If an 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 removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

 

(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 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 Registered Securities, if any, 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

 

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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. Trustee shall have no responsibility or liability for the action or inaction of any successor Trustee.

 

(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.

 

(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.     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

 

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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 the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, 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.

 

The provisions of Section 308, Section 603 and Section 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.

 

  Wilmington Trust, National Association
  As Trustee
   
  By: [Name of Authenticating Agent]
    As Authenticating Agent
     
  By:  
    Authorized Signatory

 

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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.

 

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 3.13(a) and 3.13(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 3.13(c) and 3.13(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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(4)           A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

 

Section 704.     Reports by Company.

 

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

 

(1)           file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file 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 file with the Trustee and 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)           file with the Trustee and 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 filing 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.

 

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

 

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:

 

(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 reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee;

 

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(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 and that such supplemental indenture is valid and binding against the successor entity.

 

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, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, 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 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 Section 201 and Section 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

 

(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

 

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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 or any other Security in any material respect; or

 

(9)           to add to or change or eliminate any provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(10)         to make any change in this Indenture, or Supplemental Indenture, or any Securities to conform the terms thereof to any provision of the description of a series of any Securities in any prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or similar offering document used in connection with the initial offering or sale of any Securities to the extent that such provision in such description was intended to be a substantially verbatim recitation of a provision of the indenture or the notes; or

 

(11)         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

 

(12)         to secure the Securities; 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 aggregate 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

 

(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

 

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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 Section 1106 of this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 1504 for quorum or voting, 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 receive, and (subject to Sections 3.15(a) through 3.15(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in conclusively 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, that all conditions precedent thereto have been copmlied with 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.

 

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. 

 

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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, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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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 Section 801, Section 802, Section 1002, Section 1003 or Section 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 file with 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.

 

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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.

 

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 Registered 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 Registered 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 Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice. In the event Trustee is either selecting notes or delivering notice, it shall receive notice from the Company 5 Business Days before such selection or delivery.

 

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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,

 

(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, together (if applicable) with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon (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, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts pertaining thereto,

 

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

 

(8)          

 

(9)           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,

 

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

 

(11)        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 Registered 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 and expense, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 1105.   Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or prior to 10:00a.m., New York City time, on 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, and (unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301 with respect to the Securities of such series) any accrued interest on, 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

 

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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, together with (unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 301) accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) 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, together with, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any accrued and unpaid interest thereon and Additional Amounts with respect thereto to but excluding the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Registered Securities of such series, installments of interest on Registered 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.

 

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 Registered 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 Registered 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 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.

 

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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 written 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.

 

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 Section 1106 and Section 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

 

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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 Registered 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.

 

Article Fifteen

 

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

Section 1501.   Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

 

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

Section 1502.   Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

 

(1)           The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, for any purpose specified in Section 1501, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or such other place as is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any such series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

(2)           In case at any time the Company (by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) or the Holders of at least 33 1/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1501, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of or made the first publication of the notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request (whichever shall be required pursuant to Section 106) or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in New York for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (1) of this Section.

 

Section 1503.   Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

 

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series 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 of any series shall be the Persons

 

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entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

Section 1504.   Quorum; Action.

 

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting or duly reconvened meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of a greater percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to at least such greater percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series 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 of such series, 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 any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 1502(1), 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. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than or more than a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series 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 aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at the meeting.

 

Section 1505.   Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings.

 

(1)           Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series 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. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

 

(2)           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 1502(2), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series 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 aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

 

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(3)           At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series 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. If the Securities of such series are issuable in minimum denominations of less than $1,000, then a Holder of such a Security in a principal amount of less than $1,000 shall be entitled to a fraction of one vote which is equal to the fraction that the principal amount of such Security bears to $1,000. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

 

(4)          Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 1502 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

Section 1506.   Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

 

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 1502 and, if applicable, Section 1504. 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 Sixteen

 

SECURITY

 

Section 1601.   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 or is necessary to secure the Securities and create and perfect any lien for the benefit of the holders (and collateral agent) 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 3.13(a)(5) and (6) and 3.13(b)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act and the Company shall comply with Sections 3.14(b), 3.14(c) and 3.14(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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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

  CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION
     
  By: /s/ Robert Colligan
    Name: Robert Colligan
    Title: Chief Financial Officer
     
     
  WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
     
  as Trustee
     
  By: /s/ Barry D. Somrock
    Name: Barry D. Somrock
    Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

 

as Issuer

 

AND

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

as Trustee

 

First Supplemental Indenture

 

Dated as of April 13, 2020

 

to

 

Indenture dated as of April 13, 2020

 

7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023

 

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Page

 

Article I CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
Section 1.01   Definitions 1
Section 1.02   Conflicts With Base Indenture 6
Section 1.03   Section References 6
Section 1.04   References to Interest 6
Article II THE NOTES 6
Section 2.01   Designation and Terms of Notes 6
The Notes shall be 7
Section 2.02   Denominations 7
Section 2.03   Form and Dating 7
Section 2.04   Conversion Agent 8
Section 2.05   Ranking 8
Section 2.06   Further Issues; Repurchases 9
Article III PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY 9
Section 3.01   Payment of Principal and Interest; Method of Payment 9
Section 3.02   Provisions as to Paying Agent 10
Section 3.03   SEC Filings and Reports 11
Section 3.04   Additional Interest 11
Article IV REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF THE HOLDER 11
Section 4.01   Repurchase at the Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change 11
Article V CONVERSION OF NOTES 15
Section 5.01   Right to Convert 15
Section 5.02   Conversion Procedures 16
Section 5.03   Settlement Upon Conversion 17
Section 5.04   Adjustment of Conversion Rate 18
Section 5.05   Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Shares of Common Stock 27
Section 5.06   Adjustments of Prices 28
Section 5.07   Reserved 28
Section 5.08   Taxes on Shares Issued 28
Section 5.09   Reservation of Shares; Shares to be Fully Paid; Compliance with Governmental Requirements 29
Section 5.10   Responsibility of Trustee 29

 

- i -

 

 

Section 5.11   Company Determination Final 29
Article VI REDEMPTION; NO SINKING FUND 30
Section 6.01   Right of the Company to Redeem the Notes 30
Section 6.02   Notice of Redemption 30
Section 6.03   Partial Redemptions 30
Section 6.04   No Sinking Fund 30
Article VII REMEDIES 31
Section 7.01   Events of Default 31
Section 7.02   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 32
Section 7.03   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 33
Section 7.04   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 34
Section 7.05   Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes 34
Section 7.06   Application of Money Collected 34
Section 7.07   Limitation on Suits 35
Section 7.08   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest and to Convert 35
Section 7.09   Restoration of Rights and Remedies 35
Section 7.10   Rights and Remedies Cumulative 35
Section 7.11   Delay or Omission Not Waiver 36
Section 7.12   Control by Holders 36
Section 7.13   Waiver of Past Defaults and Rescission 36
Section 7.14   Undertaking for Costs 37
Section 7.15   Notice of Default 37
Section 7.16   Interest on Overdue Payments 37
Article VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE 37
Section 8.01   Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms 37
Section 8.02   Successor Substituted 38
Article IX SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 38
Section 9.01   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 38
Article X SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 39
Section 10.01   Supplemental Indentures 39
Section 10.02   Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 39
Section 10.03   Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 40
Section 10.04   Notices of Supplemental Indentures 41
Article XI MISCELLANEOUS 41

 

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Section 11.01   Governing Law 41
Section 11.02   Calculations in Respect of Notes 41
Section 11.03   No Representations or Warranties by the Trustee 42
Section 11.04   Payments on Business Days Only 42

 

Signatures

Exhibit A

 

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FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of April 13, 2020 (“First Supplemental Indenture”), to the Indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance therewith, the “Base Indenture” and, as amended, modified and supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and among CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company desires to provide for the establishment of a new series of its Securities to be known as its “7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023” (the “Notes”), the form and substance of the Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Indenture.

 

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

 

Article I
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS AND PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.01        Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Base Indenture.

 

As used herein, the following terms have the specified meanings:

 

Act” means any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders that may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by their agents duly appointed in writing.

 

Additional Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(a).

 

Additional Notes” means an unlimited maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes (other than the Initial Notes) issued under this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Applicable Procedures” with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Note or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of DTC or any successor Depositary, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

 

Business Day” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business; provided, however, that solely for purposes of determining the dates on which payments are due on the Notes, a day on which banking institutions in the applicable place of payment are authorized or required by law or executive order to close will be deemed not to be a Business Day.

 

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Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.

 

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

 

Common Equity” of any corporation means the common stock, common equity interests, ordinary shares or depositary shares or other certificates representing common equity interests of such corporation.

 

Common Stock” means, subject to Section 5.05, the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company as they exist on the date of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Common Stock Change Event” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.

 

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

 

Conversion Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04.

 

Conversion Date” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02(b).

 

Conversion Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 5.02(a).

 

Conversion Price” means at any time the amount equal to $1,000 divided by the then applicable Conversion Rate.

 

Conversion Rate” means initially 153.8461 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

 

The term “corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

Daily VWAP” shall mean the per share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “CIM <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available or, if following the effective date of any recapitalization, reorganization or change to the common stock, or reference property received for the Common Stock trade under any ticker other than “CIM”, the equivalent page for such other ticker) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Trading Day (or if such volume-weighted average price is unavailable, the market value of one share of Common Stock on such Trading Day determined, using a volume-weighted average method, by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company) and shall be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.

 

Depositary,” notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b).

 

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Dividend Threshold Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(d).

 

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation, or any successor Depositary.

 

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

 

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 the Company 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. For the avoidance of doubt, any alternative trading convention on the applicable exchange or market in respect of the Common Stock under a separate ticker symbol or CUSIP number will not be considered “regular way” for this purpose.

 

Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(e).

 

Fundamental Change” will be deemed to have occurred at the time after the Notes 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 Subsidiaries and its and their employee benefit plans, files a Schedule TO or any schedule, form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing, or the Company otherwise becomes aware, that such person or group 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, cash, securities or other property; (B) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock will be converted into cash, securities or other property; or (C) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of the Company’s Subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (A) or (B) in which the holders of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions (relative to each other) as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Fundamental Change pursuant to this clause (2);

 

(3)       the Company’s stockholders approve any plan or proposal for its liquidation or dissolution; or

 

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(4)       the Common Stock ceases to be listed or quoted on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or any of their respective successors).

 

A transaction or transactions described in clauses (1) or (2) above will not constitute a Fundamental Change, however, if (x) at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of the Common Stock (excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights) in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of common stock or common equity interests listed or quoted (or depositary receipts representing shares of common stock, which depositary receipts are listed or quoted) on any of The New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market or (or any of their respective successors) or will be so listed or quoted when issued or exchanged in connection with such transaction or transactions; and (y) as a result of such transaction or transactions the Notes become convertible into such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made pursuant to dissenters’ appraisal rights, pursuant to this Indenture.

 

Fundamental Change Expiration Time” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(c).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Date” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(a).

 

Fundamental Change Repurchase Right Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 4.01(b).

 

Global Note” means a Note that is a Global Security.

 

Initial Notes” means the Notes issued pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

 

Interest Payment Date” means each April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning October 1, 2020 (or such other date as may be set forth in the certificate representing the applicable Note).

 

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

 

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Market Disruption Event” means the occurrence or existence on any Scheduled Trading Day for the Common Stock of any suspension or limitation imposed on trading (by reason of movements in price exceeding limits permitted by the stock exchange or otherwise) in the Common Stock or in any options, contracts or futures contracts relating to the Common Stock, and such suspension or limitation occurs or exists at any time within the 30 minutes prior to the closing time of the relevant exchange on such day.

 

Note” and “Notes” have the meaning specified in the Recitals and include the Initial Notes and any Additional Notes. The Initial Notes and Additional Notes shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture. The term “Note” in this Indenture shall refer to each $1,000 principal amount of Notes.

 

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

 

Ownership Limitation” means the limitation on beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of the Common Stock, in number of shares or value, of the outstanding shares of Common Stock contained in the Company’s charter, as amended.

 

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

 

Redemption Date” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

Redemption Price” has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

 

Reference Property” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.

 

Reference Property Unit” has the meaning specified in Section 5.05.

 

Regular Record Date” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(b).

 

Reporting Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 7.02(a).

 

Scheduled Trading Day” means a day that is scheduled to be a Trading Day on the principal U.S. national securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted for trading. If the Common Stock is not so listed or admitted for trading, “Scheduled Trading Day” means a Business Day.

 

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

 

Securities Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Global Note, or any successor thereto.

 

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Shoe Option” means the Underwriters’ option, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, to purchase up to an additional $48,750,000 principal amount of Notes.

 

Significant Subsidiaries” means, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 101 of the Base Indenture, a subsidiary that is a “significant subsidiary” as defined under Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act; provided, that, in the case of a Subsidiary that meets the criteria of clause (3) of the definition thereof but not clause (1) or (2) thereof, such Subsidiary shall not be deemed to be a Significant Subsidiary unless the Subsidiary’s income from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle exclusive of amounts attributable to any non-controlling interests for the last completed fiscal year prior to the date of such determination exceeds $25,000,000.

 

Spin-Off” has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(c).

 

Stated Maturity” means, with respect to the Notes, April 1, 2023.

 

Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period” has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(e).

 

Trading Day” means a day during which (i) trading in the Common Stock generally occurs on a U.S. national securities exchange and (ii) there is no Market Disruption Event. If the Common Stock is not so traded, “Trading Day” means a Business Day.

 

Underwriters” means the underwriters listed in Schedule A to the Underwriting Agreement.

 

Underwriting Agreement” means the Underwriting Agreement, dated April 7, 2020, between the Company and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representative of the several Underwriters.

 

Valuation Period” has the meaning specified in Section 5.04(c).

 

Section 1.02        Conflicts With Base Indenture. If any provision of this First Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Base Indenture, such provision of this First Supplemental Indenture shall control.

 

Section 1.03        Section References. References to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules are to Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Annexes and Schedules of this First Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise specified.

 

Section 1.04        References to Interest. As used in this First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, references to interest on the Notes will be deemed to include Additional Interest, if any, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise.

 

Article II
THE NOTES

 

Section 2.01        Designation and Terms of Notes. There is hereby created and designated a series of Securities under the Base Indenture: the title of the Notes shall be “7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023.” The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture

 

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effected by this First Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and govern the terms of, the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other series of Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.

 

The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that initially may be authenticated and delivered under this First Supplemental Indenture shall be limited to $325,000,000 (or up to $373,750,000 if the Underwriters exercise the Shoe Option), subject to increase as set forth in Section 2.06.

 

The Notes shall mature on the Stated Maturity.

 

Principal and interest on Global Notes shall be payable in the manner set forth in Section 3.01.

 

The Notes shall be convertible as provided in Article V.

 

Section 2.02        Denominations. The Notes shall be issuable only in fully registered form without interest coupons and only in minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 2.03        Form and Dating.

 

(a)          The Notes and the corresponding Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the respective forms set forth in Exhibit A, which Exhibit is incorporated in and made part of this Indenture. The Notes may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, exchange rule, Applicable Procedures or usage. The Company shall provide any such notations, legends or endorsements to the Trustee in writing. Each Note shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

(b)          Global Notes.

 

(i) All of the Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more Global Notes, which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Notes represented thereby with the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office, as Securities Custodian for the depositary, DTC (such depositary, or any successor thereto, being hereinafter referred to as the “Depositary”), and registered in the name of its nominee, Cede & Co., or as otherwise instructed by the Depositary duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. A Global Note may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee. Beneficial interest in a Global Note may be held directly through the Depositary if such Holder is a participant in the Depositary, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in the Depositary. Transfers between participants shall be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with Applicable Procedures and shall be settled in clearing house funds. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Notes may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Securities Custodian and the Depositary as hereinafter provided, subject in

 

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each case to compliance with the Applicable Procedures and the provisions of this Indenture. 

 

(ii) Each Global Note shall represent such of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges, redemptions, purchases, repurchases or conversions of such Notes. Any adjustment of the aggregate principal amount of a Global Note to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in accordance with Applicable Procedures and shall be made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary.

 

(c)          Certificated Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 203 of the Base Indenture, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for certificated Notes:

 

(i) If (x) the Depositary for such Global Note notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Note or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (y) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate to the effect that such Global Note shall be so exchangeable;

 

(ii) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; or

 

(iii) If the holder of such beneficial interest and the Company agree to such exchange.

 

Section 2.04        Conversion Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Notes may be presented for conversion (the “Conversion Agent”). The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of the Conversion Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain the Conversion Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations.

 

The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar, Paying Agent and Conversion Agent in connection with the Notes.

 

Section 2.05        Ranking. The obligations of the Company arising under or in connection with this Indenture and every outstanding Note issued under this Indenture from time to time constitute and shall constitute a general unsecured senior obligation of the Company, ranking equally with existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and ranking

 

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senior in right of payment to any existing and future indebtedness of the Company that is expressly made subordinate to the Notes by the terms of such indebtedness.

 

Section 2.06        Further Issues; Repurchases. The Company may, without the consent of the Holders, issue Additional Notes in an unlimited aggregate principal amount under the Indenture with the same terms as the Initial Notes (except, to the extent applicable, with respect to the date as of which interest begins to accrue on such Additional Notes and the first Interest Payment Date); provided, that if the Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for United States federal income tax purposes, the Additional Notes will be identified by a separate CUSIP number or by no CUSIP number. In addition, the Company may at any time and from time to time repurchase Notes by tender offer, open market purchases, negotiated transactions or otherwise, in accordance with applicable securities laws without giving prior notice to or obtaining any consent of the Holders. The Company shall cause any Notes repurchased by the Company pursuant to the foregoing sentence or otherwise (other than Notes repurchased pursuant to cash-settled swaps or other cash-settled derivatives) to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation and such Notes will no longer be Outstanding under the Indenture upon their repurchase.

 

Article III
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Subject to Section 1.02 and except as provided in this Article III, the provisions of Article X of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to the Notes.

 

Section 3.01        Payment of Principal and Interest; Method of Payment. This Section 3.01 shall, with respect to the Notes, replace Section 1001 of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

 

The Company covenants and agrees that it shall duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and interest on each of the Notes at the places, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein and in the Notes.

 

(a)          The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 7.00% per year. Interest on the Notes will accrue from and including the initial date of issuance, or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. Interest will be payable semiannually in arrears on each Interest Payment Date beginning October 1, 2020 (or such other date as may be set forth in the certificate representing the applicable Note). Pursuant to Section 7.02 of this Indenture, in certain circumstances, the Holders of Notes shall be entitled to receive Additional Interest.

 

(b)          Interest will be paid to the person in whose name a Note is registered at the Close of Business on March 15 or September 15, as the case may be (the “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding the relevant Interest Payment Date (regardless of whether such Regular Record Date is a Business Day). Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.

 

(c)          The Company will pay the principal of certificated Notes at the office or agency designated by the Company. The Company has initially designated a Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as its Paying Agent and Registrar as a place where Notes may be presented for

 

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payment for or registration of transfer. The Company will pay any interest on any certificated Note to the Holder of such Note (i) if such Holder holds $2,000,000 or less aggregate principal amount of Notes, by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address, and (ii) if such Holder holds more than $2,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes, (A) by check mailed to such Holder’s registered address or, (B) if such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written request that the Company make such payments by wire transfer to an account of such Holder within the United States, for each interest payment corresponding to each Regular Record Date occurring during the period beginning on the date on which such Holder delivered such request and ending on the date, if any, on which such Holder delivers to the Registrar a written instruction to the contrary, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account specified by such Holder.

 

The Company shall pay the principal of, and interest on Global Notes in immediately available funds to the Depositary.

 

Section 3.02        Provisions as to Paying Agent.

 

(a)          If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, or if the Trustee shall appoint such a Paying Agent, the Company will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.02 that such Paying Agent will:

 

(i) comply with the duties applicable to a paying agent under the TIA; and

 

(ii) during the continuance of any Default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any payment in respect of the Notes, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent as such.

 

The Company shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (excluding any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to), or interest on, the Notes, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum (in funds which are immediately available on the due date for such payment) sufficient to pay such principal or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action; provided, however, that if such deposit is made on the due date, such deposit shall be received by the Paying Agent by 11:00 a.m. New York City time, on such date.

 

(b)          If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or interest on the Notes, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due and will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor under the Notes) to make any payment of the principal of or interest on the Notes when the same shall become due and payable.

 

(c)          Anything in this Section 3.02 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay 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 3.02, such sums to be held by the Trustee

 

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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.

 

(d)          Anything in this Section 3.02 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.02 is subject to Section 1003 of the Base Indenture.

 

(e)          The Trustee shall not be responsible for the actions of any other Paying Agents (including the Company if acting as its own Paying Agent) and shall have no control of any funds held by such other Paying Agents.

 

Section 3.03        SEC Filings and Reports. This Section 3.03 shall, with respect to the Notes, replace Section 704 of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

 

The Company covenants that any documents or reports that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or to otherwise comply with Section 314(a) of the TIA shall be filed by the Company (with a copy to the Trustee) within 15 calendar days after the same are required to be filed with the SEC (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act or any other similar or successor provision). Documents filed by the Company pursuant to the SEC’s “EDGAR” system (or any successor electronic filing system) shall be deemed to constitute “filing” with the Trustee for purposes of this Section 3.03. Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates). The Trustee shall not be obligated to monitor or confirm, on a continuing basis or otherwise, the Company’s compliance with the covenants or with respect to any reports or other documents filed with the SEC or EDGAR or any website under the indenture, or participate in any conference calls.

 

Section 3.04        Additional Interest. If at any time Additional Interest becomes payable by the Company pursuant to Section 7.02, the Company shall promptly deliver to the Trustee a certificate to that effect and stating (i) the amount of such Additional Interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such Additional Interest is payable. Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no Additional Interest is payable. If the Company has paid Additional Interest directly to the Persons entitled to such Additional Interest, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate setting forth the particulars of such payment.

 

Article IV
REPURCHASE AT OPTION OF THE HOLDER

 

Section 4.01        Repurchase at the Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change.

 

(a)          If a Fundamental Change occurs at any time, the Holders shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to require the Company to repurchase all of such Holder’s Notes, or any portion of the principal amount thereof that is equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,

 

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on a Business Day (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Date”) specified by the Company that is not less than 20 Business Days and not more than 35 Business Days after the date of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right Notice at a repurchase price (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Price”) equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, unless such Fundamental Change Repurchase Date falls after a Regular Record Date for an Interest Payment Date and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date, in which case (x) the Company will pay, on or before such Interest Payment Date, the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest payable on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of record at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date; and (y) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price will not include such accrued and unpaid interest. Any Notes repurchased by the Company will be paid for in cash.

 

Repurchases of Notes under this Section 4.01 shall be made, at the option of the Holder thereof, upon:

 

(i) if the Notes are held in certificated form, delivery to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by a Holder of a duly completed notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice”) in the form set forth on the reverse of the Note or, if the Notes are Global Notes, a notice that complies with the Applicable Procedures, prior to the Close of Business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, subject to extension to comply with applicable law; and

 

(ii) delivery or book-entry transfer of the Notes (together with all necessary endorsements) to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) at any time after delivery of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and prior to the Close of Business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, subject to extension to comply with applicable law, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), such delivery being a condition to receipt by the Holder of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price therefor; provided that such Fundamental Change Repurchase Price shall be so paid pursuant to this Section 4.01 only if the Note so delivered to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) shall conform in all respects to the description thereof in the related Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice.

 

The Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice shall state:

 

(A) if certificated, the certificate numbers of Notes to be delivered for repurchase;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Any repurchase by the Company contemplated pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4.01 shall be consummated by the delivery of the consideration to be received by the Holder in accordance with Section 4.01(d).

 

The Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) shall promptly notify the Company of the receipt by it of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice or written notice of withdrawal thereof in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this Section 4.01.

 

Any certificated Note that is to be repurchased only in part shall be surrendered to the Trustee (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 make available for delivery to the Holder of such certificated Note without service charge, a new certificated Note or new certificated Notes, containing identical terms and conditions, each in an authorized denomination in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unrepurchased portion of the principal of the certificated Note so surrendered.

 

(b)           After the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, but on or before the 15th day following such occurrence, the Company shall provide to all Holders and the Trustee and Paying Agent a notice (the “Fundamental Change Repurchase Right Notice”) of the occurrence of such Fundamental Change and of the resulting repurchase right, if any, at the option of the Holders arising as a result thereof.

 

Each Fundamental Change Repurchase Right Notice shall specify:

 

(i) the events causing the Fundamental Change;

 

(ii) the date of the Fundamental Change;

 

(iii) the last date on which a Holder may exercise its repurchase rights under Section 4.01, if applicable;

 

(iv) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price;

 

(v) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date;

 

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

 

(vii) that the Notes are eligible to be converted, the applicable Conversion Rate and any related adjustments to the applicable Conversion Rate;

 

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(viii) that the Notes with respect to which a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice has been delivered by a Holder may be converted only if the Holder withdraws the Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; and

 

(ix) the procedures the Holder must follow to require the Company to repurchase its Notes under Section 4.01, if applicable.

 

No failure of the Company to give the foregoing notices and no defect therein shall limit the Holders’ repurchase rights or affect the validity of the proceedings for the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to this Section 4.01.

 

(c)          A Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice may be withdrawn in whole or in part by means of a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the Paying Agent in accordance with the Fundamental Change Repurchase Right Notice at any time prior to the Close of Business on the second scheduled Trading Day prior to the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date (the “Fundamental Change Expiration Time”), specifying:

 

(i) the principal amount of the withdrawn Notes, which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof;

 

(ii) if certificated Notes have been issued, the certificate numbers of the withdrawn Notes; and

 

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

 

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

 

(d)          On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust) an amount of money sufficient to repurchase on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date all of the Notes to be repurchased on such date at the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. Subject to receipt of funds and/or Notes by the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company), payment for Notes properly surrendered for repurchase (and not withdrawn) prior to the Fundamental Change Expiration Time shall be made promptly after the later of (x) the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date with respect to such Note (provided the Holder has satisfied the conditions to the payment of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price in this Section 4.01), or (y) the time of book-entry transfer or the delivery of such Note to the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) by the Holder thereof in the manner required by this Section 4.01 in accordance with the provisions in Section 3.01(c). The Trustee shall, promptly after such payment and upon written demand by the Company, return to the Company any funds in excess of the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price.

 

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(e)           Subject to a Holder’s right to receive interest on the related Interest Payment Date where the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, as applicable, falls between a Regular Record Date and the Interest Payment Date to which it relates, if the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) holds money or securities sufficient to pay the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, then (i) such Notes shall cease to be outstanding and interest shall cease to accrue on such Notes, whether or not book-entry transfer of the Notes is made or whether or not the Notes are delivered to the Paying Agent, and (ii) all other rights of the Holders of such Notes shall terminate other than the right to receive the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price and previously accrued and unpaid interest, if any, upon delivery or book-entry transfer of the Notes.

 

(f)           No Notes may be repurchased at the option of Holders on any date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a Default by the Company in the payment of the applicable Fundamental Change Repurchase Price with respect to such Notes).

 

(g)           In connection with any repurchase offer upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change, the Company shall, if required:

 

(i) comply with the provisions of the tender offer rules under the Exchange Act that may then be applicable;

 

(ii) file a Schedule TO or any successor or similar schedule, if required, under the Exchange Act; and

 

(iii) otherwise comply with all federal and state securities laws in connection with any offer by the Company to repurchase the Notes,

 

in each case, so as to permit the rights and obligations under this Article IV to be exercised in the time and in the manner specified in this Indenture.

 

(h)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article IV, the Company will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the Notes upon a Fundamental Change if a third party makes such an offer to repurchase in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Article IV applicable to an offer to repurchase made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not validly withdrawn under such offer.

 

Article V
CONVERSION OF NOTES

 

Section 5.01        Right to Convert. Subject to and upon compliance with the procedures for conversion set forth in this Article V, a Holder shall have the right, at such Holder’s option, to convert the principal amount of its Notes, or any portion of such principal amount which is $1,000 or a multiple thereof, into Common Stock at the applicable Conversion Rate, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the second Scheduled Trading Day prior to the Stated Maturity, unless the Notes have been previously repurchased or redeemed by the Company, only upon

 

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satisfaction of the conditions precedent to conversion described in Section 5.02 and subject to the Ownership Limitation set forth in Section 5.03(b). The number of shares of Common Stock issuable and cash payable, if any, upon conversion of a Note shall be determined as set forth in Section 5.03.

 

Section 5.02        Conversion Procedures. The following procedures shall apply to the conversion of Notes:

 

(a)          In respect of Notes held in certificated form, a Holder must (i) complete and manually sign the conversion notice attached to the Note (the “Conversion Notice”); (ii) deliver such Conversion Notice, which is irrevocable, and the Note to the Conversion Agent at the office maintained by the Conversion Agent for such purpose; (iii) to the extent any shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion are to be issued in a name other than the Holder’s, furnish endorsements and transfer documents as may be required by the Conversion Agent or stock transfer agent; (iv) if required pursuant to Section 5.08 below, pay all transfer or similar taxes; and (v) if required pursuant to Section 5.03(c) below, pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date.

 

(b)          In respect of a beneficial interest in a Global Note, a Beneficial Owner must comply with DTC’s procedures for converting a beneficial interest in a Global Note and, if required pursuant to Section 5.03(c), pay funds equal to interest payable on the next Interest Payment Date, and if required, taxes or duties, if any.

 

The date a Holder satisfies the foregoing requirements, as applicable, is the “Conversion Date” hereunder.

 

No Conversion Notice with respect to any Notes may be tendered by a Holder thereof if such Holder has also tendered a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice and not validly withdrawn such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 4.01. A Holder’s right to convert its Notes that are subject to such Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice will terminate at the Close of Business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the relevant Fundamental Change Repurchase Date.

 

Upon surrender of a certificated Note that is converted in part, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder, a new certificated Note in an authorized denomination equal in principal amount to the unconverted portion of the Note surrendered.

 

Upon the conversion of a beneficial interest in Global Notes, the Conversion Agent shall make a notation in its records as to the reduction in the principal amount represented thereby.

 

Each conversion shall be deemed to have been effected as to any such Notes (or portion thereof) surrendered for conversion at the Close of Business on the applicable Conversion Date, and the Person in whose name any shares of Common Stock shall be issuable upon conversion will become a stockholder of record as of the Close of Business on the Conversion Date.

 

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Section 5.03        Settlement Upon Conversion.

 

(a)          Settlement. Subject to this Section 5.03, (i) upon any conversion of any Note, the Company shall deliver a number of shares of Common Stock equal to (A) (x) the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be converted, divided by (y) $1,000, multiplied by (B) the applicable Conversion Rate in effect on the related Conversion Date; and (ii) subject to Section 5.04, such delivery will be made either (A) on or prior to the second Trading Day immediately following such Conversion Date; or (B) if such Conversion Date occurs on or after the Regular Record Date corresponding to the final Interest Payment Date (i.e., March 15, 2023), on the Stated Maturity (or, if the Stated Maturity is not a Business Day, the next following Business Day).

 

(b)          Limitation on Shares of Common Stock Deliverable Upon Conversion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture or the Notes, no Holder will be entitled to receive shares of the Common Stock upon conversion of Notes to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in a violation of the Ownership Limitation. Any purported delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes will be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in violation of the Ownership Limitation.

 

(c)          Payment of Interest Upon Conversion.

 

(i) Upon conversion, Holders shall not receive any separate cash payment or shares of Common Stock for accrued and unpaid interest, except as provided in Section 5.03(c)(ii). Upon conversion, the Company’s delivery of shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, 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 Note to, but excluding, the Conversion Date rather than cause such obligation to be cancelled, extinguished or forfeited.

 

(ii) Notwithstanding Section 5.03(c)(i), if the Conversion Date for any Note to be converted occurs after the Regular Record Date, Holders of record of such Note at the Close of Business on such Regular Record Date will receive, on or before the corresponding Interest Payment Date, interest payable on such Note on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding the conversion. Notes surrendered for conversion with a Conversion Date occurring after any Regular Record Date and on or before the immediately following Interest Payment Date must be accompanied by funds equal to the amount of interest payable on such Interest Payment Date for the Notes so converted; provided, however, that no such payment need be made:

 

(A) if the Company has specified a Redemption Date that is after such Regular Record Date for the payment of interest and on or prior to the Business Day immediately following such Interest Payment Date;

 

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

 

(C) to the extent of any overdue interest, if any overdue interest exists at the time of conversion with respect to such Notes; or

 

(D) in respect of any conversions with a Conversion Date that occurs after the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Stated Maturity.

 

Therefore, for the avoidance of doubt, all Holders on the Regular Record Date immediately preceding the Stated Maturity will receive the full interest payment due on the Stated Maturity regardless of whether their Notes have been converted following such Regular Record Date.

 

(d)          Cash Payments in Lieu of Fractional Shares. The Company shall not issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Notes. If multiple Notes shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable upon conversion (and the number of fractional shares of Common Stock, if any, for which cash shall be delivered) shall, subject to the Applicable Procedures, be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes (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 Notes, the Company shall pay an amount in cash for the current market value of the fractional shares. The current market value of a fractional share of Common Stock shall be determined (calculated to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share) by the Last Reported Sale Price of Common Stock on the Conversion Date (or, if the Conversion Date is not a Trading Day, the next following Trading Day).

 

(e)          Conversion of Multiple Notes by a Single Holder. If a Holder surrenders more than one Note for conversion on a single Conversion Date, the Company will, subject to the Applicable Procedures, calculate the amount of cash and the number of shares of Common Stock due with respect to such Notes as if such Holder had surrendered for conversion one Note having an aggregate principal amount equal to the sum of the principal amounts of each of the Notes surrendered for conversion by such Holder on such Conversion Date.

 

(f)           Notices. Whenever a Conversion Date occurs with respect to a Note, the Conversion Agent will, 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 Notes converted on such Conversion Date and the names of the Holders that converted Notes on such Conversion Date.

 

Section 5.04        Adjustment of Conversion Rate. The Conversion Rate shall be adjusted as described below, except that the Company will not make any adjustment to the Conversion Rate if Holders participate (other than in the case of a share split or share combination), solely as a result of holding the Notes, and at the same time and upon the same terms as holders of Common Stock participate, in any of the transactions described below without having to convert their

 

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Notes, as if such Holders had held a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the applicable Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the adjustment thereof in respect of such transaction, multiplied by the principal amount (expressed in thousands) of Notes held by such Holders.

 

(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 the Company effects a share split or share combination (in each case, excluding a distribution solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.05 will apply), the Conversion Rate will be adjusted based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution, or immediately prior to the Open of Business on the effective date of such share split or combination, as the case may be;

 

CR1 = 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 the case may be;

 

OS0 = 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 the case may be; and

 

OS1 = the number of the shares of Common Stock that will be outstanding immediately after giving effect to such dividend or distribution or such share split or combination, as the case may be.

 

Any adjustment made to the Conversion Rate under this Section 5.04(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 of such share split or combination, as the case may be. If any dividend or distribution of the type described in this Section 5.04(a) is declared but is 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 avoidance of doubt, if the application of the foregoing formula would result in a decrease in the Conversion Rate, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made (other than (i) as a result of a share combination or (ii) with respect to the Company’s right to readjust the Conversion Rate).

 

(b)          If the Company distributes to all or substantially all holders of the Common Stock any rights, options or warrants entitling them for a period of not more than 45 days after the

 

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Record Date for such distribution to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock, at a price per share less than 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 date of announcement of such distribution (other than rights issued or otherwise distributed pursuant to a preferred stock rights plan, as to which Section 5.04(c) and Section 5.04(g) will apply), the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such distribution;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Record Date;

 

OS0 = 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 the aggregate price payable to exercise such rights, options or warrants divided by 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 date of announcement of such distribution.

 

Any increase in the Conversion Rate made pursuant to this Section 5.04(b) shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or warrants are distributed 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 immediately decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the increase with respect to the issuance of such rights, options or warrants been made on the basis of delivery of only the number of shares of Common Stock actually delivered. If such rights, options or warrants are not so issued, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately decreased to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if the Record Date for such issuance had not occurred. For the avoidance of doubt, if the application of the foregoing formula would result in a decrease in the Conversion Rate, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made (other than with respect to the Company’s right to readjust the Conversion Rate).

 

For purposes of this clause (b), in determining whether any rights, options or warrants entitle the holders of shares of Common Stock to subscribe for or purchase shares of Common Stock at less than such average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock for the ten consecutive

 

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Trading Day period ending on, and including, the Trading Day immediately preceding the date of announcement of such distribution, and in determining the aggregate offering price of such shares of Common Stock, there shall be taken into account any consideration received by the Company for such rights, options or warrants and any amount payable upon 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 Capital Stock, evidences of its indebtedness or other assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock of the Company or other securities to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock, excluding:

 

(i) dividends, distributions, rights, options or warrants as to which an adjustment was effected pursuant to Section 5.04(a) or (b) above;

 

(ii) rights issued or otherwise distributed pursuant to a preferred stock rights plan, except to the extent provided in Section 5.04(g);

 

(iii) dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash and as to which an adjustment was effected (or would be effected without regard to the Dividend Threshold Amount) pursuant to Section 5.04(d) below;

 

(iv) a distribution solely pursuant to a Common Stock Change Event, as to which Section 5.05 will apply; and

 

(v) Spin-Offs as to which the provisions set forth below in this Section 5.04(c) shall apply;

 

then the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such distribution;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Record Date;

 

SP0 = the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock for the ten 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 Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness, assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock of the Company or other

 

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securities to be distributed with respect to each outstanding share of Common Stock on the Ex-Dividend Date for such distribution. 

 

Any increase in the Conversion Rate made under the portion of this clause (3) above will 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 immediately decreased to be the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared. For the avoidance of doubt, if the application of the foregoing formula would result in a decrease in the Conversion Rate, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made (other than with respect to the Company’s right to readjust the Conversion Rate). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “FMV” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), then, in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder shall receive upon conversion, in respect of each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held by such Holder, the amount and kind of the Company’s Capital Stock, evidences of the Company’s indebtedness or other assets or property of the Company or rights, options or warrants to acquire Capital Stock of the Company or other securities that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for the distribution.

 

With respect to an adjustment made in the Conversion Rate pursuant to this Section 5.04(c) where there has been a payment of a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock in shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interest, of or relating to a Subsidiary or other business unit of the Company, where such Capital Stock or similar equity interest is listed or quoted on a U.S. national securities exchange (or will be so listed or quoted when issued) (the foregoing being referred to as a “Spin-Off”), the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date of such Spin-Off;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Record Date;

 

FMV0 = 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 Last Reported Sale Price set forth above as if references therein to Common Stock were to such Capital Stock or similar equity interest) over the first ten consecutive Trading Day period beginning on, and including, the Ex-Dividend Date of the Spin-Off (the “Valuation Period”); and

 

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

 

Any increase in the Conversion Rate made under the preceding paragraph shall be determined as of the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period but will be given effect immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for the Spin-Off; provided, however, that in respect of any conversion with a Conversion Date that occurs during the Valuation Period, the Company will, if necessary, delay the settlement of such conversion until the second Trading Day immediately after the last Trading Day of the Valuation Period. If any dividend or distribution that constitutes a Spin-Off is declared but not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately decreased, 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 or announced. For the avoidance of doubt, if the application of the foregoing formula would result in a decrease in the Conversion Rate, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made (other than with respect to the Company’s right to readjust the Conversion Rate).

 

(d)          If the Company pays any cash dividends or distributions to all or substantially all holders of Common Stock (other than a regularly scheduled cash dividend that does not exceed the Dividend Threshold Amount per share of the Company’s Common Stock), the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on such Record Date;

 

SP0 = the Daily VWAP of a share of our Common Stock on the Trading Day immediately preceding the Ex-Dividend Date for such dividend or distribution;

 

T = the dividend threshold amount, which shall initially be $0.30 per share per fiscal quarter, adjusted as described below to take into account events that cause adjustments to the Conversion Rate and as further adjusted to account for any change in the frequency of payment by the Company of its regular cash dividend; provided that the dividend threshold amount shall be deemed to be zero if such dividend or distribution is not a regularly scheduled dividend by the Company (the “Dividend Threshold Amount”); and

 

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

 

Any increase in the Conversion Rate made under this clause (d) shall become effective immediately after the Close of Business on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution. If

 

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such dividend or distribution is not so paid or made, the Conversion Rate shall be immediately 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. For the avoidance of doubt, if the application of the foregoing formula would result in a decrease in the Conversion Rate, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made (other than with respect to the Company’s right to readjust the Conversion Rate).

 

Whenever the Conversion Rate is adjusted pursuant to the provisions described in clauses (a), (b), (c) or (e) of this Section 5.04, the Dividend Threshold Amount shall be adjusted by multiplying it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Conversion Rate prior to adjustment and the denominator of which is the Conversion Rate following such adjustment.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if “C” (as defined above) is equal to or greater than “SP0” (as defined above), then, in lieu of the foregoing increase, each Holder shall receive upon conversion, for each $1,000 principal amount of Notes held by such Holder, the amount of cash that such Holder would have received if such Holder owned a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the Conversion Rate in effect on the Record Date for such dividend or distribution.

 

(e)          If the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company makes a payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer for Common Stock, to the extent that the cash and value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of Common Stock exceeds the Last Reported Sale Price of the Company’s Common Stock on the Trading Day next succeeding the last date (the “Expiration Date”) on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer, the Conversion Rate will be increased based on the following formula:

 

 

where,

 

CR0 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the Close of Business on the Expiration Date;

 

CR1 = the Conversion Rate in effect immediately after the Close of Business on the Expiration Date;

 

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

 

OS0 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the time such tender or exchange offer expires (before giving effect to such tender offer or exchange offer);

 

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OS1 = the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the time such tender or exchange offer expires (after giving effect to such tender or exchange offer); and

 

SP1 = the average of the Last Reported Sale Prices of Common Stock over the ten consecutive Trading Day period (the “Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period”) commencing on, and including, the Trading Day next succeeding the Expiration Date.

 

Any increase in the Conversion Rate made pursuant to this Section 5.04(e) shall be determined as of the Close of Business on the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period but will be given effect immediately after the Close of Business on the Expiration Date; provided, however, that in respect of any conversion where the Conversion Date occurs during the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period, the Company will, if necessary, delay the settlement of such conversion until the second Trading Day immediately after the last Trading Day of the Tender/Exchange Offer Valuation Period.

 

To the extent such tender or exchange offer is announced but not consummated (including as a result of being precluded from consummating such tender or exchange offer under applicable law), or any purchases or exchanges of shares of Common Stock in such tender or exchange offer are rescinded, the Conversion Rate will be readjusted to the Conversion Rate that would then be in effect had the adjustment been made on the basis of only the purchases or exchanges of shares of Common Stock, if any, actually made, and not rescinded, in such tender or exchange offer.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, if the application of the foregoing formula would result in a decrease in the Conversion Rate, no adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made (other than with respect to the Company’s right to readjust the Conversion Rate).

 

(f)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture or the Notes, if:

 

(i) a Conversion Rate adjustment for any dividend or distribution becomes effective on any Record Date pursuant to pursuant to clause (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) of Section 5.04;

 

(ii) a Note is to be converted;

 

(iii) the Conversion Date for such conversion occurs on such Record Date;

 

(iv) the consideration due upon such conversion includes any whole shares of Common Stock based on a Conversion Rate that is adjusted for such dividend or distribution; and

 

(v) such shares would be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution,

 

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then (x) such Conversion Rate adjustment will not be given effect for such conversion; and (y) the shares of Common Stock, if any, issuable upon such conversion based on such unadjusted Conversion Rate will be entitled to participate in such dividend or distribution.

 

(g)           To the extent that the Company has a stockholder rights plan in effect upon conversion of the Notes into Common Stock, Holders will receive, in addition to any Common Stock, the rights under the stockholder rights plan, unless prior to any conversion, 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 holders its Common stock, shares of its Capital Stock, evidences of indebtedness or assets as described in clause Section 5.04(c) above, subject to re-adjustment in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights. For the avoidance of doubt, the issuance or adoption of any such rights will not result in an adjustment to the Conversion Rate unless and until such rights have separated from the Common Stock, in which case an adjustment to the Conversion Rate will be made pursuant to Section 5.04(c) as provided in the immediately preceding sentence.

 

(h)           Except as provided herein, 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 Common Stock or such convertible or exchangeable securities. Except as provided in Sections 5.04(a) through (e), (g), (i) and (j), the Company shall not adjust the Conversion Rate. Without limiting the foregoing, the Conversion Rate will not be adjusted:

 

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

 

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

 

(iii) 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 (ii) and outstanding as of the date the Notes were first issued;

 

(iv) upon the issuance of any shares of Common Stock for cash or as consideration in a merger, purchase or similar transaction;

 

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

 

(vi) upon any repurchase of shares of Common Stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions by the Company (including by way of accelerated share repurchase or other derivatives), in each case other than in transactions described under clause Section 5.04(e) above; or

 

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(vii) for accrued and unpaid interest.

 

(i)            In addition to those adjustments required by Sections 5.04(a) through (e) above, and to the extent permitted by law and subject to the listing standards of The New York Stock Exchange, the Company may from time to time increase the Conversion Rate by any amount for a period of at least 20 days, if the Board of Directors determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that such increase would be in the Company’s best interest. Whenever the Conversion Rate is increased pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Company shall deliver to Holders a notice of the increased Conversion Rate and the period during which it will be in effect at least 15 days prior to the date the increased Conversion Rate takes effect, in accordance with applicable law. In addition, subject to the listing standards of The New York Stock Exchange, 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 any dividend or distribution of shares of Common Stock or rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or similar event.

 

(j)           Adjustments to the applicable Conversion Rate shall be calculated to the nearest one ten-thousandth (1/10,000th) of a share.

 

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

 

Section 5.05        Recapitalizations, Reclassifications and Changes of Shares of Common Stock. In the event of:

 

(a)          any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a share split or combination);

 

(b)          a consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company;

 

(c)          a sale or conveyance to another person of all or substantially all of the Company’s property and assets; or

 

(d)          any statutory share exchange,

 

in each case as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, cash, securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) (such an event, a “Common Stock Change Event,” and such cash, securities or other property, the “Reference Property,” and the amount and kind of Reference Property that a holder of one

 

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share of Common Stock would be entitled to receive on account of such Common Stock Change Event (without giving effect to any arrangement not to issue or deliver a fractional portion of any security or other property), a “Reference Property Unit”), then, at and after the effective time of such Common Stock Change Event: (i) the consideration due upon conversion of any Note, and the conditions to any such conversion, will be determined in the same manner as if each reference to any number of shares of Common Stock in Article V (or in any related definitions) were instead a reference to the same number of Reference Property Units; (ii) for purposes of the definition of “Ex-Dividend Date” and “Record Date,” the term “Common Stock” will be deemed to refer to any class of securities forming part of such Reference Property; (iii) for purposes of the definition of “Fundamental Change,” the terms “Common Stock” and “Common Equity” will be deemed to mean the Common Equity (including depositary receipts representing common equity), if any, forming part of such Reference Property; and (iv) for these purposes, the Last Reported Sale Price of any Reference Property Unit or portion thereof that does not consist of a class of securities will be the fair value of such Reference Property Unit or portion thereof, as applicable, determined in good faith by the Company (or, in the case of cash denominated in U.S. Dollars, the face amount thereof).

 

For purposes of the foregoing, if the Reference Property of a Common Stock Change Event consists of more than a single type of consideration (determined based in part upon any form of stockholder election), then the composition of the Reference Property Unit will be determined based on the weighted average of the types and amount of consideration actually received by such holders. If such Common Stock Change Event also constitutes a Fundamental Change, a Holder may require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of its Notes to the extent provided in Section 4.01. The Company shall notify Holders and the Trustee of the composition of the Reference Property Unit as soon as practicable after such determination is made.

 

The Company shall not become a party to any Common Stock Change Event unless its terms are consistent with this Section 5.05. The above provisions of this Section shall similarly apply to successive Common Stock Change Events.

 

On or before the effective date of each Common Stock Change Event, the Company shall execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture permitted under Article X giving effect to the provisions of Section 5.05 with respect to such Common Stock Change Event.

 

Section 5.06        Adjustments of Prices. Whenever any provision of this Indenture requires the Company to calculate Last Reported Sale Prices over a span of multiple days, the Company will make appropriate adjustments to account for any adjustment to the Conversion Rate that becomes effective, or any event requiring an adjustment to the Conversion Rate where the Ex-Dividend Date, Record Date, effective date or Expiration Date, as applicable, of the event occurs, at any time during the period during which such prices are to be calculated.

 

Section 5.07        Reserved.

 

Section 5.08        Taxes on Shares Issued. Any issue of shares of Common Stock upon conversions of Notes shall be made without charge to the converting Holder for any documentary, transfer, stamp or any similar tax in respect of the issue thereof, and the Company shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer taxes that may be payable in

 

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respect of the issue or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any such tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of Common Stock in any name other than that of the Holder of any Notes converted, and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any such shares of Common Stock unless and until the Person or Persons requesting the issue thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

 

Section 5.09        Reservation of Shares; Shares to be Fully Paid; Compliance with Governmental Requirements. The Company shall provide, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in treasury, sufficient Common Stock to provide for the conversion of the Notes from time to time as such Notes are presented for conversion.

 

The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of Notes 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 lien or adverse claim.

 

Section 5.10        Responsibility of Trustee. Neither the Conversion Agent nor the Trustee has any duty to determine when an adjustment under this Article V should be made, how it should be made or what it should be. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine the Conversion Rate or whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the Conversion Rate, or with respect to the nature or extent or calculation of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, or herein or in any supplemental indenture provided to be employed, in making the same. The Trustee and any other Conversion Agent shall not be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any Common Stock, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Notes; and the Trustee and any other Conversion Agent make no representations with respect thereto. Neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property or cash upon the surrender of any Note for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the duties, responsibilities or covenants of the Company contained in this Article V. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, neither the Trustee nor any Conversion Agent shall be under any responsibility to determine whether a supplemental indenture needs to be entered into or the correctness of any provisions contained in any supplemental indenture entered into and may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, the Officer’s Certificate (which the Company shall be obligated to file with the Trustee prior to the execution of any such supplemental indenture) with respect thereto. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Trustee nor the Conversion Agent shall be responsible for making any calculations under this Article V nor for monitoring the price of the Common Stock.

 

Section 5.11        Company Determination Final. Any determination that the Company or its Board of Directors must make pursuant to this Article V shall be conclusive if made in good faith, absent manifest error.

 

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Article VI
REDEMPTION; NO SINKING FUND

 

Subject to Section 1.02, the provisions of Article XI of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to the Notes.

 

Section 6.01        Right of the Company to Redeem the Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Article XI of the Base Indenture, the Company may not redeem the Notes at its option prior to the Stated Maturity, 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 Notes is necessary to 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, calendar days after the date the related redemption notice is sent pursuant to Section 6.02, all or part (in a principal amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000) of the Notes at a cash price (the “Redemption Price”) equal to the principal amount of the Notes 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 Note 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 will pay, on or before such Interest Payment Date, the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest payable on such Note on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such note 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 6.01, no Notes may be redeemed on any date if the principal amount of the Notes has been accelerated, and such acceleration has not been rescinded, on or prior to such date (except in the case of an acceleration resulting from a default by the Company in the payment of the applicable Redemption Price with respect to such Notes).

 

Section 6.02        Notice of Redemption. Section 1102 and the last sentence of Section 1104 of the Base Indenture will not apply to the Notes. The Company will send to each applicable Holder notice of any redemption pursuant to Section 6.01 containing (i) the information set forth in clauses (1) through (6), inclusive, and (9) through (11), inclusive, of Section 1104 of the Base Indenture; and (ii) the following additional information: (w) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each Note to be redeemed, and that interest thereon, if any, will cease to accrue on and after the Redemption Date (except as provided in Section 6.01 with respect to a Redemption Date that is after a Regular Record Date for the payment of interest and on or prior to the corresponding Interest Payment Date); (x) that the right of any Holder of such Note to convert such Note will expire at the Close of Business on the Business Day immediately before the Redemption Date; (y) a brief summary of the procedures a Holder must follow to convert such Note; and (z) the current Conversion Rate. Each notice of redemption, once sent, will be irrevocable, subject to the right of Holders to convert any Notes called for redemption.

 

Section 6.03        Partial Redemptions. If only a portion of a Note is subject to redemption pursuant to Section 6.01 and such Note is converted in part, then the converted portion of such Note will be deemed to be from the portion of such Note that was subject to redemption.

 

Section 6.04        No Sinking Fund. Article XII of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes.

 

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Article VII
REMEDIES

 

Section 7.01        Events of Default.

 

(a)          The provisions of this Article VII shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Article V of the Base Indenture.

 

(b)          Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the following events:

 

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

 

(ii) default in the payment of the principal of any Note when due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon redemption or required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

 

(iii) default in the Company’s obligation to deliver the consideration required to be delivered upon conversion of the Notes, and such default continues for five Business Days;

 

(iv) failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Article VIII; or

 

(v) failure by the Company to issue a Fundamental Change Repurchase Right Notice in accordance with Section 4.01;

 

(vi) failure by the Company for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% principal amount of the Notes then outstanding has been received by the Company to comply with any of its other agreements contained in the Notes or this Indenture;

 

(vii) default by the Company or any of 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 debt for money borrowed (other than non-recourse debt of a Subsidiary of the Company) in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate of the Company and/or such Subsidiary, whether such debt now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default results (i) in such debt becoming or being declared due and payable, and such debt has not been discharged in full or such declaration rescinded or annulled within 60 days or (ii) from a failure to pay the principal of any such debt when due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon required repurchase, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise, and such defaulted payment shall not have been made, waived or extended within 60 days;

 

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(viii) a final judgment for the payment of $50,000,000 or more (excluding any amounts covered by insurance) rendered against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which judgment is not discharged, stayed, vacated, paid or otherwise satisfied 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;

 

(ix) the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself 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 any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any substantial part of its respective property, or shall consent 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 shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

 

(x) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries 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 the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or any substantial part of its respective property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days.

 

Section 7.02        Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(a)          If an Event of Default other than an event arising under Section 7.01(b)(ix) and (x) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare 100% of the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and accrued and unpaid interest shall become due and payable immediately. Upon an Event of Default arising out of Sections 7.01(b)(ix) and (x) (except, in either case, with respect to any Significant Subsidiary), the aggregate principal amount and accrued and unpaid interest shall be due and payable immediately without notice from the Trustee or Holders.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election of the Company, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default for the failure by the Company to comply with its obligations as set forth in Section 3.03 (any such Event of Default, a “Reporting Event of Default”) shall, for the first 365 days after the occurrence of such Reporting Event of Default, consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest (the “Additional Interest”) on the Notes at an annual rate equal to (i) 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the first

 

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185-day period on which such Reporting Event of Default is continuing beginning on, and including, the date on which such Reporting Event of Default first occurs and (ii) 0.50% per annum of the principal amount of the Notes outstanding for each day during the 180-day period on which such Reporting Event of Default is continuing beginning on, and including, the 181st day on which such Reporting Event of Default is continuing. If the Company so elects, the Additional Interest shall be payable as provided in Section 3.04. On the 366th day after such Reporting Event of Default (if the Reporting Event of Default is not cured or waived prior to such 366th day), the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all such Notes to be due and payable immediately (and, for the avoidance of doubt, Additional Interest will cease to accrue). The provisions described in this Section 7.02 shall not affect the rights of Holders in the event of the occurrence of any other Event of Default. In the event the Company does not elect to pay Additional Interest following a Reporting Event of Default in accordance with this paragraph or the Company elected to make such payment but does not pay such Additional Interest when due, the Notes shall be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above. In no event shall Additional Interest payable pursuant to the foregoing election accrue at a rate per year in excess of the applicable rate specified in this paragraph, regardless of the number of events or circumstances giving rise to requirements to pay such Additional Interest pursuant to this paragraph. With regard to any Reporting Event of Default, no Additional Interest shall accrue after such Reporting Event of Default has been cured.

 

(b)          If the Company elects to pay the Additional Interest as the sole remedy during the first 365 days after the occurrence of a Reporting Event of Default, the Company shall notify in writing the Holders, the Trustee and the Paying Agent of such election prior to the beginning of such 365-day period. Upon the Company’s failure to timely give such notice, the Notes will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided in the first paragraph of Section 7.02(a) above.

 

Section 7.03        Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

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

 

(b)          default is made in the payment of the principal of any Note when due and payable at the Stated Maturity thereof,

 

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

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders by such appropriate judicial

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proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 7.04        Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Notes), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the TIA in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 606 of the Base Indenture.

 

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

 

Section 7.05        Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Notes. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes 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 of the Notes in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 7.06        Application of Money Collected. Subject to Article V, any money or property money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Notes and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under the Indenture;

 

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

 

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

 

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Section 7.07        Limitation on Suits. Subject to Section 7.08, no Holder shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

 

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

 

(b)          the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

 

(c)          such Holders have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it against the loss, liability or expense to be incurred in compliance with such request (including attorneys’ fees, cost and expenses and court costs);

 

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

 

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

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders, 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 the Holders.

 

Section 7.08        Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest and to Convert. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Note shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Note when due and to convert such Note in accordance with Article V and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and right to convert, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 7.09        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 7.10        Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes 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

 

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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 7.11        Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Note 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 VII 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 7.12        Control by Holders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes 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, provided that:

 

(a)          such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and shall not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or result in personal liability to the Trustee, and

 

(b)          the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction or this Indenture;

 

and provided, further that, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity and/or security satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.

 

Section 7.13        Waiver of Past Defaults and Rescission. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes:

 

(a)          waive any existing Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, except a Default:

 

(i) in the payment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on any Note that remains uncured, or

 

(ii) in respect of the failure to deliver amounts due upon conversion of a Note in accordance with Section 5.01 hereunder, and

 

(b)          at any time after a declaration of acceleration has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VII provided, rescind and annul any such declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences, if:

 

(i) such rescission will not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, and

 

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(ii) all existing Events of Default (other than nonpayment of the principal of or accrued and unpaid interest on any Note or a failure to deliver amounts due upon conversion of a Note in accordance with Section 5.01 hereunder) have been cured or waived.

 

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 7.14        Undertaking for Costs. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the TIA; provided, that neither this Section nor the TIA shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit by any Holder or group of Holders holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes or in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Note in accordance with Article V or for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note on or after the maturity of such Note, including the Stated Maturity expressed in such Note.

 

Section 7.15        Notice of Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence of any events that constitute a Default or Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default, the status such events and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereof.

 

Section 7.16        Interest on Overdue Payments. Payments of any Fundamental Change Repurchase Price, Redemption Price, principal and interest that are not made when due will accrue interest per annum at the then-applicable interest rate from the required payment date.

 

Article VIII
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 8.01        Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms. This Section 8.01 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Section 801 of the Base Indenture.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to another Person, unless:

 

(i) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person, if other than the Company, is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Person, if not the Company, shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, all obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture;

 

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(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

(iii) the Company, or the successor Person if other than the Company, has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or transfer (and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture) comply with this Article VIII and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with and that such supplemental indenture is valid and binding against the successor entity.

 

Section 8.02        Successor Substituted. This Section 8.02 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede in its entirety Section 802 of the Base Indenture.

 

Upon any transaction referred to in Section 8.01 in accordance therewith, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company will (other than in the case of a lease) be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.

 

Article IX
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 9.01        Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

(a)          Subject to this Article IX, the provisions of Article VIII of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to the Notes.

 

(b)          Sections 401 and 402 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the Notes. For the avoidance of doubt, Section 403 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the cash and/or shares of Common Stock (or, if applicable, other Reference Property) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.01(c) and all money or other assets received by the Trustee in respect of shares of Common Stock (or, if applicable, other Reference Property) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.01(c).

 

(c)          When (i) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Notes theretofore authenticated (other than any Notes that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered) and not theretofore canceled, or (ii) all the Notes not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust (in the case of cash), or deliver to the Holders (in the case of common stock), as applicable, cash or shares of Common Stock (or, if applicable, other Reference Property), as applicable, sufficient to pay at the Stated Maturity, upon conversion of, or upon any Fundamental Change Date or Redemption Date with respect to, all of the Notes (other than any Notes that shall have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Notes shall have been authenticated and delivered) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and interest due or to become due to

 

- 38 -

 

 

such Stated Maturity, Fundamental Change Repurchase Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be, 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 (A) remaining rights of registration of transfer, substitution and exchange and conversion of Notes, (B) rights hereunder of Holders to receive payments of principal of and interest on, the Notes 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 (C) the rights, obligations, indemnities and immunities of the Trustee hereunder), and the Trustee, on written demand of the Company accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the reasonable cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture; the Company, however, hereby agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably and properly rendered by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Notes. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 606 of the Base Indenture, and if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to this Section 9.01(c), the provisions of Sections 305, 306, 403 and 404 of the Base Indenture shall survive.

 

Article X
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 10.01    Supplemental Indentures. Subject to Section 1.02, the provisions of Article IX of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture, shall apply to the Notes.

 

Any Notes held by the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be disregarded (from both the numerator and the denominator) for purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes have consented to a modification, amendment or waiver of the terms of the Indenture.

 

Section 10.02    Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders. This Section 10.02 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede Section 901 of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 10.03, 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 reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company and/or amend the Notes, for any of the following purposes:

 

(a)          to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; including to eliminate any conflict with the terms of the TIA;

 

(b)          to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture by a successor pursuant to Article VIII;

 

(c)          to provide any security for or add guarantees with respect to the Notes;

 

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(d)          to issue Additional Notes pursuant to Section 2.03;

 

(e)          to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;

 

(f)           to provide for conversion of the Notes into Reference Property pursuant to Section 5.05;

 

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

 

(h)          to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with any qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;

 

(i)            to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Notes to the “Description of Notes” section of the Company’s preliminary prospectus supplement dated April 6, 2020 relating to the offering of the Notes, as supplemented by the Company’s free writing prospectus dated April 7, 2020 relating thereto;

 

(j)           to evidence or provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor Trustee; or

 

(k)          to comply with the Applicable Procedures of the Depositary.

 

Section 10.03    Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders. This Section 10.03 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede 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 Notes, including without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, 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, of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders under this Indenture or waiving any past Default or compliance with any provisions of this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby,

 

(a)          reduce the amount of the Notes the Holders of which must consent to a supplement to this Indenture;

 

(b)          reduce the rate, or extend the stated time for payment, of interest (other than Additional Interest) on any Note;

 

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

 

(d)          make any change that adversely affects the conversion rights of any Note;

 

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(e)          reduce any Redemption Price or Fundamental Change Repurchase Price of any Note or amend or modify in any manner adverse to the Holders of the Notes, the Company’s right to redeem the Notes or its obligation to repurchase the Notes in connection with a Fundamental Change, whether through an amendment or waiver of provisions in the covenants, definitions or otherwise;

 

(f)           change the place or currency of payment of principal or interest in respect of any Note;

 

(g)          impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefore or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;

 

(h)          adversely affect the ranking of the Notes as the Company’s senior unsecured indebtedness; or

 

(i)            make any change in the amendment provisions which require each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions if such change adversely affects the rights of the Holders of the Notes.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act or consent of Holders under this Section 10.03 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.

 

Section 10.04    Notices of Supplemental Indentures. After a supplement under this Article X becomes effective, the Company will send to the Holders a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. The Company will send supplemental indentures to Holders upon request. Any failure of the Company to send such notice, or any defect therein, will not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

 

Article XI
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 11.01    Governing Law. This Section 11.01 shall, with respect to the Notes, supersede the first sentence of Section 113 of the Base Indenture in its entirety. This Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of New York.

 

Section 11.02    Calculations in Respect of Notes. The Company shall be responsible for making all calculations called for hereunder and under the Notes or in connection with a conversion. These calculations include, but are not limited to, determinations of the Last Reported Sale Price,

 

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accrued interest payable on the Notes, the Redemption Price and the Conversion Rate on the Notes. The Company shall make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, the Company’s calculations will be final and binding on the Holders. The Company shall provide a schedule of the Company’s calculations to each of the Trustee and the Conversion Agent, and each of the Trustee and the 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 written request of such Holder.

 

Section 11.03    No Representations or Warranties by the Trustee. The Trustee makes no representations or warranties with respect to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

Section 11.04    Payments on Business Days Only. This Section shall, with respect to the Notes, replace Section 114 of the Base Indenture in its entirety.

 

If any Interest Payment Date (other than an Interest Payment Date coinciding with the Stated Maturity) falls on a day that is not a Business Day, such Interest Payment Date will be postponed to the next succeeding Business Day and no interest will accrue for such intervening period. If the Stated Maturity falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the required payment of interest and principal will be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no interest on such payment will accrue for such intervening period.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]

 

- 42 -

 

 

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.

 

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION

   
  By: /s/ Robert Colligan
   

Name: Robert Colligan

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to the First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee 

 

  By:  /s/ Barry D. Somrock  
   

Name: Barry D. Somrock

Title:   Vice President

  

[Signature Page to the First Supplemental Indenture]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

 

[THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL NOTE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY. THIS NOTE IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITORY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY, BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO THE DEPOSITORY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.] 1

 

 

1 This legend is to be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

A- 1

 

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023

 

No. [ ] [Initially]2 U.S. $[ ]

 

[CUSIP: [      ]]

 

[ISIN: [      ]]

 

Chimera Investment Corporation, a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of [ ] U.S. Dollars ($[ ]) [(which amount may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee, as custodian for the Depositary, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Depositary and in accordance with the below referred Indenture)]2 on April 1, 2023.

 

The original issue date of this Note is [      ].

 

Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof. Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have such meanings as are ascribed to such terms in the Indenture.

 

This Note shall be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of New York.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Page Follows]

 

 

2 This legend is to be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

A- 2

 

 

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

  

 

CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION 

 

  By:  
   

Name:

Title:

     
  Date:
   
  By:  
   

Name:

Title:

     
  Date:

 

A- 3

 

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATION OF AUTHENTICATION

  

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the Notes described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

  By:  
   

Name:

Title: Authorized Signatory

     
  Date:

 

A- 4

 

 

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF NOTE]

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

 

7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023

 

This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”) of the Company issued under an indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020 (as amended, modified and supplemented by the First Supplemental indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the “Indenture”) between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The terms of the Note include those stated in the Indenture, those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “TIA”), and those set forth in this Note. This Note is subject to all such terms, and Holders are referred to the Indenture and the TIA for a statement of all such terms. To the extent permitted by applicable law, if any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture unless otherwise indicated.

 

1.       Interest.

 

This Note shall bear interest at a rate of 7.00% per annum on the principal amount. Interest on this Note shall accrue from the original date of issuance or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, as the case may be. Interest will be due and payable semi-annually, in arrears, on each April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 2020, to the person in whose name a Note is registered at the Close of Business on the immediately preceding March 15 and September 15, as the case may be. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. As used in this Note, references to interest on the Notes will be deemed to include Additional Interest, if any, unless otherwise stated or unless the context requires otherwise.

 

Interest will cease to accrue on the Notes upon payment of the Notes in full at Stated Maturity, conversion of the Notes or repurchase by the Company at the option of the Holder upon the occurrence of a Fundamental Change.

 

2.       Method of Payment.

 

Payment of the principal of the Notes shall be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent, Registrar and Conversion Agent designated by the Company in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, in accordance with Section 3.01(c) of the First Supplemental Indenture.

 

3.       Paying Agent, Registrar and Conversion Agent.

 

Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent, Registrar and Conversion Agent. The Company may change the Paying Agent, Registrar and Conversion Agent without prior notice to the

 

A- 5

 

 

Holders of the Notes. The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or Conversion Agent.

 

4.       Ranking; No Limitation on Debt Incurrence.

 

The Notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the Company. The Indenture does not limit the ability of the Company to incur other debt, secured or unsecured.

 

5.       Repurchase by the Company at the Option of the Holder Upon a Fundamental Change.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, the Company shall become obligated to repurchase, at the option of any Holder, all or any portion of the Notes held by such Holder upon a Fundamental Change in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 at the Fundamental Change Repurchase Price. To exercise such right, a Holder shall deliver to the Paying Agent, and the Paying Agent must receive, a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice containing the information set forth in the Indenture, at any time prior to the Close of Business on the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date, and shall deliver the Notes to the Paying Agent as set forth in the Indenture.

 

Holders have the right to withdraw (in whole or in part) any Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice by delivering to the Paying Agent a written notice of withdrawal in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

 

6.       Redemption.

 

The Notes will be subject to redemption at the Company’s option only as provided in Article VI of the First Supplemental Indenture.

 

7.       Conversion.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture (including without limitation the conditions of conversion of Notes set forth in Article V of the First Supplemental Indenture), the Holder hereof has the right, at its option, to convert the principal amount hereof or any portion of such principal which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, into shares of Common Stock and an amount in cash, if any, at the Conversion Rate specified in the Indenture. The initial Conversion Rate is 153.8461 shares of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes (equivalent to an initial Conversion Price of approximately $6.50 per share of Common Stock), subject to adjustment in certain events described in the Indenture.

 

No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon any conversion. The Company shall make payment of an amount in cash, as provided in the Indenture, in respect of any fraction of a share of Common Stock which would otherwise be issuable upon the surrender of any Notes for conversion. Notes in respect of which a Holder is exercising its right to require repurchase on a Fundamental Change Repurchase Date may be converted only if such Holder withdraws its election to exercise such right in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

 

A- 6

 

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture or the Notes, no Holder will be entitled to receive shares of the Common Stock upon conversion of Notes to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in a violation of the Ownership Limitation. Any purported delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Notes will be void and have no effect to the extent (but only to the extent) that such delivery would result in violation of the Ownership Limitation.

 

8.       Denominations; Transfer; Exchange.

 

The Notes are in fully registered form, without interest coupons, in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. A Holder may register the transfer of or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and to pay any taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation thereto by law or permitted by the Indenture.

 

9.       Unclaimed Money or Securities.

 

The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall return to the Company upon request any cash or securities held by them for the payment of any amount with respect to the Notes that remains unclaimed for two years, subject to applicable unclaimed property law. After return to the Company, Holders entitled to the cash or securities must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.

 

10.       Amendment, Supplement and Waiver.

 

Subject to certain exceptions, the Notes or the Indenture may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, and an existing Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes and its consequence or compliance with any provision of the Notes or the Indenture may be waived, except in certain circumstances described in the Indenture, with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then outstanding. Without the consent of or notice to any Holder, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes in the circumstances set forth in the Indenture.

 

11.       Defaults and Remedies.

 

If any Event of Default other than as a result of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal of all the Notes then outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest, may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. If an Event of Default occurs as a result of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company, the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest shall become due and payable immediately without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, all to the extent provided in the Indenture.

 

A- 7

 

 

12.       Authentication.

 

This Note shall not be valid until the Trustee or an authenticating agent manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Note.

 

13.       Abbreviations.

 

Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of the Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (= Custodian) and UGMA (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).

 

14.       Indenture to Control; Governing Law.

 

To the extent permitted by applicable law, if any provision of this Note conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

 

This Note shall be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of New York.

 

A- 8

 

 

SCHEDULE OF EXCHANGES OF NOTES3

 

The following exchanges, purchases, repurchases or conversions of a part of this Global Note have been made:

 

Date of
Decrease or Increase

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Trustee or Custodian

Decrease in
Principal Amount of this Global Note

Increase in
Principal Amount of this Global Note

Principal Amount of this Global Note Following Such Decrease or Increase

         
         

 

 

3 This schedule is to be included only if the Note is a Global Note.

 

A- 9

 

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

If you want to assign this Note, fill in the form below and have your signature guaranteed:

 

I or we assign and this Note to: 

(Print or type name, address and zip code and social security or tax ID number of assignee)

 

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

 

Date:     Signed:  
     
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
 
Signature Guarantee:

 

Note: Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Exchange Act, as amended.

 

A- 10

 

 

CONVERSION NOTICE

 

If you want to exercise the option to convert this Note in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Note, check the box: ☐

 

To convert only part of this Note, state the principal amount to be converted (which must be $1,000 or a multiple of $1,000, provided that the portion not so converted is in a minimum principal amount of $1,000):

 

$_________________________________

 

If you want the share certificate, if any, made out in another person’s name, fill in the form below:

 

(Insert other person’s social security or tax ID no.)

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

 

Date:     Signed:  
     
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Note)
 
Signature Guarantee:

  

Note: Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Exchange Act, as amended.

 

A- 11

 

 

FORM OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE REPURCHASE NOTICE

 

Wilmington Trust, National Association

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, DE 19890-0001

Attention: Chimera Investment Corporation Administrator

Telephone: (612) 217-5667

Fax: (612) 217-5651

 

Re: Chimera Investment Corporation (the “Company”)

 

7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023

 

This is a Fundamental Change Repurchase Notice as defined in Section 4.01(a) of the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “First Supplemental Indenture,” and the Base Indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020, between the Company and the Trustee, as amended, modified and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indenture.

 

Certificate No(s). of Notes: ________________________

 

I intend to deliver the following aggregate principal amount of Notes for repurchase by the Company pursuant to Article IV of the First Supplemental Indenture (integral multiples of $1,000 with a minimum of $1,000):

 

$_____________________

 

I hereby agree that the Notes will be repurchased on the Fundamental Change Repurchase Date pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in the Notes and in the Indenture.

 

  Signed:  
   

 

A- 12

 

 

Exhibit 5.1(a)

 

[LETTERHEAD OF VENABLE LLP]

 

April 13, 2020

 

Chimera Investment Corporation
520 Madison Ave, 32nd Floor
New York, New York 10022

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-229255)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have served as Maryland counsel to Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law relating to the registration of $373,750,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”) of the Company (including $48,750,000 aggregate principal of Notes issuable pursuant to the exercise of an overallotment option granted to the underwriters in the offering of the Notes), in an underwritten public offering covered by the above-referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3, and all amendments thereto (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”).

 

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 and the related form of prospectus included therein and the supplement thereto, each substantially in the form in which it was filed with the Commission under the Securities Act;

 

2.             The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

 

3.             The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 

4.             A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

 

5.             Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), and by a duly authorized committee of the Board (the “Resolutions”), relating to, among other matters, the registration and issuance of the Notes and the Conversion Shares (as defined herein), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

 

6.             The Indenture, dated as of April 13, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as

 

 

 

 

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April 13, 2020

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supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture No. 1, dated as of April 13, 2020 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee;

 

7.             A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

 

8.             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.

 

5.             Upon the issuance of any shares (the “Conversion Shares”) of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company issuable upon the conversion of the Notes, 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.

 

 

 

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

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6.             The Conversion Shares will not be issued or transferred in violation of the restrictions on transfer and ownership contained in Article VII 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 and, when and if issued and delivered by the Company upon conversion of the Notes in accordance with the terms of the Notes, the Indenture, the Charter and the Resolutions, 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 laws of any other jurisdiction. We express no opinion as to compliance with any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to 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.

 

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 (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 the said incorporation by reference 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 5.1(b)

 

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Hunton ANDREWS KURTH LLP

 

FILE NO: 087330.0000037

   
April 13, 2020  

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

520 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor

New York, New York 10022 

 

Re: 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 issued by Chimera Investment Corporation

  

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as special counsel to Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Issuer”), in connection with the Underwriting Agreement dated April 7, 2020 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among (i) the Issuer and (ii) Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”), relating to the sale by the Issuer to the Underwriters of $373.75 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Securities”).

 

The Securities are being issued under an Indenture dated as of April 13, 2020 (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 April 13, 2020 (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. 333-229255), 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

 

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www.HuntonAK.com

 

 

 

 

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January 14, 2019, and 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, at the time it became effective upon filing 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 April 6, 2020, 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 April 7, 2020, 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 April 7, 2020, 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)     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 $373.75 million, 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)     the Underwriting Agreement; and

 

(k)   a certificate dated the date hereof (the “Opinion Support Certificate”), executed by the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of the Issuer.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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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:

 

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.

 

Our opinions expressed herein are subject to the following additional assumptions and qualifications:

 

(i)      Our opinion in paragraph 1 above may be:

 

 

 

 

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(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;

 

(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

 

 

 

 

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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;

 

(13)             purporting to waive the benefit or advantage of any stay, extension or usury law; or

 

 

 

 

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(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.

 

(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

 

 

 

 

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Chimera Investment Corporation

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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 submissions 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.

 

 

 

 

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Chimera Investment Corporation

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Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

 

 

 

 

Schedule A

 

1. The Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on February 24, 2020.

 

2. The information specifically incorporated by reference into the Issuer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 from the Issuer’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on April 15, 2019.

 

3. The Issuer’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on January 18, 2019 and April 6, 2020.

 

4. The description of the Issuer’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, included in the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on November 5, 2007.

 

5. The description of the Issuer’s 8.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, included in the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on October 12, 2016.

 

6. The description of the Issuer’s 8.00% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, included in the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on February 24, 2017.

 

7. The description of the Issuer’s 7.75% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, included in the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on September 18, 2018.

 

8. The description of the Issuer’s 8.00% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, included in the Issuer’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as filed by the Issuer with the SEC on January 17, 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 8.1

 

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP

FILE NO: 87330.37 

   
April 13, 2020  

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

520 Madison Avenue Floor 32

New York, New York 10022

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

Qualification as

Real Estate Investment Trust

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Chimera Investment Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the offer and sale of up to $325,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the “Notes”), pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated April 7, 2020 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), to a prospectus, dated January 14, 2019 (the “Prospectus”), as part of a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-229255) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on January 14, 2019 (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 April 13, 2020, between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, as supplemented by an indenture supplement, dated April 13, 2020, pursuant to which the Notes are issued;

 

3. the Company’s Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as filed on November 15, 2007 with the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland, as amended and supplemented through the date hereof; and

 

4. such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

 

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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Chimera Investment Corporation

April 13, 2020

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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, 2020, 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 contained in the Officer’s Certificate and the factual matters discussed in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement that relate to the Company’s status as a REIT. 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 individual 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” (which are incorporated herein by reference), we are of the opinion that:

 

(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, 2016 through

 

 

 

 

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December 31, 2019, 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, 2020, 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” are correct in all material respects.

 

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 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.

 

 

 

 

(LOGO)

 

Chimera Investment Corporation

April 13, 2020

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

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

Execution

 

Credit Suisse Capital LLC 

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC 

11 Madison Avenue 

New York, NY 10010

 

  April [__], 2020

  

To: Chimera Investment Corporation
520 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor 

New York, NY 10022 

Attention: Rob Colligan, Chief Financial Officer
Telephone No.: (212) 626-2300

 

Re: Base Call Option Transaction

 

The purpose of this letter agreement (this “Confirmation”) is to confirm the terms and conditions of the call option transaction entered into between Credit Suisse Capital LLC (“Dealer”) and Chimera Investment Corporation (“Counterparty”) as of the Trade Date specified below (the “Transaction”), with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Agent (the “Agent”). This letter agreement constitutes a “Confirmation” as referred to in the ISDA Master Agreement specified below. Each party further agrees that this Confirmation together with the Agreement evidence a complete binding agreement between Counterparty and Dealer as to the subject matter and terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates, and shall supersede all prior or contemporaneous written or oral communications with respect thereto.

 

The definitions and provisions contained in the 2002 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions (the “Equity Definitions”), as published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. (“ISDA”) are incorporated into this Confirmation. For purposes of the Equity Definitions, the Transaction shall be deemed to be a Share Option Transaction. In the event of any inconsistency between the Equity Definitions and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern. Reference is made to that certain prospectus supplement dated April 6, 2020, relating to the offering of the Convertible Notes (the “Prospectus Supplement”). Certain defined terms used herein are based on terms that are defined in the Indenture, to be dated April 13, 2020, by and between Chimera Investment Corporation and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, to be dated April 13, 2020, by and between Chimera Investment Corporation and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). In the event of any inconsistency between the terms defined in the Prospectus Supplement, the Indenture and this Confirmation, this Confirmation shall govern. The parties acknowledge that this Confirmation is entered into on the date hereof with the understanding that (i) definitions set forth in the Indenture which are also defined herein by reference to the Indenture and (ii) sections of the Indenture that are referred to herein will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus Supplement. If any such definitions in the Indenture or any such sections of the Indenture differ from the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus Supplement, the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus Supplement will govern for purposes of this Confirmation. The parties further acknowledge that the Indenture section numbers used herein are based on the draft of the Indenture last reviewed by Dealer as of the date of this Confirmation, and if any such section numbers are changed in the Indenture as executed, the parties will amend this Confirmation in good faith to preserve the intent of the parties. Subject to the foregoing, references to the Indenture herein are references to the Indenture as in effect on the date of its execution, and if the Indenture is amended or

 

 

 

supplemented following such date, any such amendment or supplement will be disregarded for purposes of this Confirmation unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

 

Each party is hereby advised, and each such party acknowledges, that the other party has engaged in, or refrained from engaging in, substantial financial transactions and has taken other material actions in reliance upon the parties’ entry into the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates on the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

1.              This Confirmation evidences a complete and binding agreement between Dealer and Counterparty as to the terms of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. This Confirmation shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to an agreement in the form of the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement (the “Agreement”) as if Dealer and Counterparty had executed an agreement in such form (but without any Schedule except for the election of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law (without reference to choice of law doctrine other than New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401)) on the Trade Date. In the event of any inconsistency between provisions of the Agreement and this Confirmation, this Confirmation will prevail for the purpose of the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates. The parties hereby agree that no transaction other than the Transaction to which this Confirmation relates shall be governed by the Agreement.

 

2.              The terms of the particular Transaction to which this Confirmation relates are as follows:

 

General Terms.

 

Trade Date: April [__], 2020

 

Effective Date: The second Exchange Business Day immediately prior to the Premium Payment Date, subject to Section 9(v) below.

 

Components: The Transaction will be divided into individual Components, each with the terms set forth in this Confirmation, and, in particular, with the Number of Options and Expiration Date set forth in Annex A to this Confirmation. The exercise, valuation and settlement of the Transaction will be effected separately for each Component as if each Component were a separate Transaction under the Agreement.

 

Option Style: European

 

Option Type: Call

 

Buyer: Counterparty

 

Seller: Dealer

 

Shares: The common stock, par value USD 0.01 per share, of Counterparty (Exchange symbol: CIM) (sometimes referred to herein as the “Issuer”).

 

Number of Options: For each Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation.

 

Strike Price: USD [__]

 

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Cap Price: USD [__]

 

Premium: USD [__]

 

Premium Payment Date: April [__], 2020

 

Exchange: The New York Stock Exchange

 

Related Exchange(s): All Exchanges

 

Procedures for Exercise.

 

Expiration Time: The Valuation Time

 

Expiration Date:

For any Component, as provided in Annex A to this Confirmation (or, if such date is not a Scheduled Valid Day, the next following Scheduled Valid Day that is not already an Expiration Date for another Component); provided that if that date is a Disrupted Day, the Expiration Date for such Component shall be the first succeeding Scheduled Valid Day that is not a Disrupted Day and is not or is not deemed to be an Expiration Date in respect of any other Component of the Transaction hereunder; and provided further that in no event shall the Expiration Date be postponed to a date later than the Final Termination Date (as defined in Section 9(p)) and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation or the Equity Definitions, if the Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day, the Relevant Price for such Expiration Date shall be the prevailing market value per Share determined by the Calculation Agent in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner. Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions, if a Market Disruption Event occurs on any Expiration Date, the Calculation Agent may determine in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner that such Expiration Date is a Disrupted Day only in part, in which case the Calculation Agent shall make commercially reasonable adjustments to the Number of Options for the relevant Component for which such day shall be the Expiration Date, shall designate the Scheduled Valid Day determined in the manner described in the immediately preceding sentence as the Expiration Date for the remaining Options for such Component and may determine the Relevant Price based on transactions in the Shares on such Disrupted Day taking into account the nature and duration of such Market Disruption Event on such day. Any Scheduled Valid Day on which, as of the date hereof, the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its normal 

 

3  

 

close of trading shall be deemed not to be a Scheduled Valid Day; if a closure of the Exchange prior to its normal close of trading on any Scheduled Valid Day is scheduled following the date hereof, then such Scheduled Valid Day shall be deemed to be a Disrupted Day in full. Section 6.6 of the Equity Definitions shall not apply to any Valuation Date occurring on an Expiration Date.

 

Automatic Exercise: Applicable; and means that the Number of Options for the relevant Component will be deemed to be automatically exercised at the Expiration Time on the Expiration Date for such Component if at such time such Component is In-the-Money. “In-the-Money” means, in respect of any Component, that the Relevant Price on the Expiration Date for such Component is greater than the Strike Price for such Component.

 

Valuation Time: At the close of trading of the regular trading session on the Exchange; provided that if the principal trading session is extended, the Calculation Agent shall determine the Valuation Time in its reasonable discretion.

 

Valuation Date: For any Component, the Expiration Date therefor.

 

Market Disruption Event: The first sentence of Section 6.3(a) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended (A) by deleting the words “during the one hour period that ends at the relevant Valuation Time, Latest Exercise Time, Knock-in Valuation Time or Knock-out Valuation Time, as the case may be” in the third, fourth and fifth lines thereof, and (B) by replacing the words “or (iii) an Early Closure.” therein with “(iii) an Early Closure, or (iv) a Regulatory Disruption.”

 

Section 6.3(d) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the remainder of the provision following the term “Scheduled Closing Time” in the fourth line thereof.

 

Regulatory Disruption: Any event that Dealer, in its reasonable discretion, determines makes it appropriate with regard to any legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements or related policies and procedures (whether or not such requirements, policies or procedures are imposed by law or have been voluntarily adopted by Dealer but only if similarly applied by it to others in like circumstances, and including, without limitation, Sections 9 or 10 of the Securities Exchange Act of

 

4  

 

1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), Rule 10b-18, Rule 10b-5 and Regulation 14E under the Exchange Act, and Regulation M), for Dealer to refrain from or decrease any market activity in connection with the Transaction. Dealer shall notify Counterparty as soon as reasonably practicable that a Regulatory Disruption has occurred and the Exchange Business Days affected by it.

 

Settlement Terms.

 

Settlement Method Election: Applicable; provided that (i) Section 7.1 of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the word “Physical” in the sixth line thereof and replacing it with the words “Net Share”; (ii) Counterparty must make a single irrevocable election for all Components; and (iii) Counterparty may elect Cash Settlement only if Counterparty delivers a notice to Dealer that must contain in writing the following representations and warranties from Counterparty to Dealer as of such notice delivery date:

 

(A) none of Counterparty and its officers or directors, or any person that controls, potentially controls, or otherwise exercises influence over, Counterparty’s decision to elect Cash Settlement is in possession of any material non-public information with respect to Counterparty or the Shares;

 

(B) Counterparty is electing Cash Settlement in good faith and not as part of a plan or scheme to evade compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws; Counterparty is not electing Cash Settlement to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act; and Counterparty has not entered into or altered any hedging transaction relating to the Shares corresponding to or offsetting the Transaction;

 

(C) Counterparty has the power to make such election and to execute and deliver any documentation relating to such election that it is required by this Confirmation to deliver and to perform its obligations under this Confirmation and has taken all necessary action to authorize such election, execution, delivery and performance;

 

5  

 

(D) such election and performance of its obligations under this Confirmation do not violate or conflict with any law applicable to it, any provision of its constitutional documents, any order or judgment of any court or other agency of government applicable to it or any of its assets or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting it or any of its assets; and

 

(E) any transaction that Dealer makes with respect to the Shares during the period beginning at the time that Counterparty delivers such notice and ending at the close of business on the Settlement Date shall be made by Dealer at Dealer’s sole discretion for Dealer’s own account and Counterparty shall not have, and shall not attempt to exercise, any influence over how, when, whether or at what price Dealer effects such transactions, including, without limitation, the prices paid or received by Dealer per Share pursuant to such transactions, or whether such transactions are made on any securities exchange or privately.

 

Default Settlement Method: Net Share Settlement

 

Settlement Method Election Date: The fifth Scheduled Valid Day prior to the scheduled Expiration Date for the Component with the earliest scheduled Expiration Date.

 

Net Share Settlement: With respect to any Component, if Net Share Settlement is applicable to the Options exercised or deemed exercised hereunder, Dealer will deliver to Counterparty, on the relevant Settlement Date for such Component, a number of Shares (the “Net Share Settlement Amount”) equal to (i) the Daily Option Value on the Expiration Date of such Component divided by (ii) the Relevant Price on such Expiration Date.

 

Dealer will deliver cash in lieu of any fractional Shares to be delivered with respect to any Net Share Settlement Share Amount valued at the Relevant Price for the Expiration Date of such Component.

 

  Cash Settlement: With respect to any Component, if Cash Settlement is applicable to the Options exercised or deemed exercised hereunder, in lieu of Section 8.1 of the Equity Definitions, Dealer will pay to Counterparty, on the relevant Settlement Date for each such Option, an amount of cash (the “Cash Settlement Amount”) equal to the Daily Option Value on the Expiration Date of such Component.

 

6  

 

  Delivery Obligation: For any Settlement Date, the Net Share Settlement Amount or the Cash Settlement Amount payable or deliverable on such Settlement Date.
     
  Daily Option Value: For any Component, an amount equal to (i) the Number of Options in such Component, multiplied by (ii) (A) the lesser of the Relevant Price on the Expiration Date of such Component and the Cap Price, minus (B) the Strike Price on such Expiration Day; provided that if the calculation contained in clause (ii) above results in a negative number, the Daily Option Value for such Component shall be deemed to be zero. In no event will the Daily Option Value be less than zero.
     
  Valid Day: A day on which (i) there is no Market Disruption Event and (ii) trading in the Shares generally occurs on the Exchange.
     
  Scheduled Valid Day: A day that is scheduled to be a Valid Day on the Exchange.
     
  Business Day: Any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close or be closed in the State of New York.
     
  Relevant Price: On any Valid Day, the per Share volume-weighted average price as displayed under the heading “Bloomberg VWAP” on Bloomberg page “https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/CIM:US <equity> AQR” (or its equivalent successor if such page is not available) at 4:15 p.m. New York time (or 15 minutes following the end of any extension of the regular trading session) on such Valid Day (the “VWAP”) in respect of the period from the scheduled open of trading until the scheduled close of trading of the primary trading session on such Valid Day (or, if such volume-weighted average price is not so reported at such time, the volume-weighted average price at which the Shares trade on such Valid Day, as determined by the Calculation Agent in a good faith and commercially reasonable manner using a volume-weighted average method substantially similar to the method for determining the VWAP). The Relevant Price will be determined without regard to after-hours trading or any other trading outside of the regular trading session trading hours.
     
  Settlement Date: For all Components of the Transaction, the date one Settlement Cycle immediately following the Expiration Date for the Component with the latest scheduled Expiration Date.

 

Settlement Currency: USD

 

Other Applicable Provisions: The provisions of Sections 9.1(c), 9.8, 9.9 and 9.11 of the Equity Definitions will be applicable, except that all references in such provisions to “Physically-settled” shall be read as references to “Net Share Settled”. “Net Share Settled” in relation to any

 

7  

 

    Option means that Net Share Settlement is applicable to that Option.
     
Representation and Agreement: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Equity Definitions (including, but not limited to, Section 9.11 thereof), the parties acknowledge that (i) any Shares delivered to Counterparty shall be, upon delivery, subject to restrictions and limitations arising from Counterparty’s status as issuer of the Shares under applicable securities laws, (ii) Dealer may deliver any Shares required to be delivered hereunder in certificated form or restricted book-entry form, in each case, in lieu of delivery through the Clearance System and (iii) any Shares delivered to Counterparty may be “restricted securities” (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)).

 

3. Additional Terms applicable to the Transaction.

 

Adjustments applicable to the Transaction:

 

Method of Adjustment: Calculation Agent Adjustment, which means that, notwithstanding Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions, upon any Potential Adjustment Event, the Calculation Agent shall make a corresponding adjustment to any one or more of the Strike Price, Number of Options, Option Entitlement and any other variable relevant to the exercise, settlement or payment for the Transaction.

 

Extraordinary Events applicable to the Transaction:

 

New Shares: In the definition of New Shares in Section 12.1(i) of the Equity Definitions, the text in clause (i) shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with “publicly quoted, traded or listed on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors)”.

 

Consequences of Merger Events:

 

(a)     Share-for-Share: Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment.

 

(b)    Share-for-Other: Cancellation and Payment (Calculation Agent Determination).

 

(c)    Share-for-Combined: Component Adjustment.

 

Tender Offer: Applicable

 

Consequences of Tender Offers:

 

(a)     Share-for-Share: Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment.

 

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(b)    Share-for-Other: Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment.

 

(c)    Share-for-Combined: Modified Calculation Agent Adjustment.

 

Announcement Date: The definition of “Announcement Date” in Section 12.1 of the Equity Definitions shall be amended by (i) replacing the word “leads to the” in the third and the fifth lines thereof with the words “, if completed, would lead to a”, (ii) replacing the words “voting shares” in the fifth line thereof with the word “Shares”, (iii) inserting the words “by any entity” after the word “announcement” in the second and the fourth lines thereof, (iv) inserting the words “or to explore the possibility of engaging in” after the words “engage in” in the second line thereto, (v) inserting the words “or to explore the possibility of purchasing or otherwise obtaining” after the word “obtain” in the fourth line thereto, (vi) deleting the parenthetical in the third and the fifth line thereof, (vii) replacing “that” in the third and the fifth line thereof with “whether or not such announcement”, (viii) adding immediately after the words “Merger Event” in the third line thereof “, and any publicly announced change or amendment to such an announcement (including the announcement of an abandonment of such intention)” and (ix) adding immediately after the words “Tender Offer” in the fifth line thereof “, and any publicly announced change or amendment to such an announcement (including the announcement of an abandonment of such intention).

 

Announcement Event: If an Announcement Event has occurred, the Calculation Agent shall have the right to determine the economic effect of such Announcement Event on the value of the Transaction (including without limitation the effect of any change in volatility, stock loan rate or liquidity relevant to the Shares or to the Transaction) (i) at a time that it deems appropriate, from the date on which such Announcement Event occurs to the date of such determination (a “Determination Date”), and (ii) on the earliest to occur of (x) the relevant Merger Date or Tender Offer Date or other date of consummation of the relevant transaction and (y) a date on which a payment amount is determined pursuant to Sections 12.7 or 12.8 of the Equity Definitions (such earliest date, a “Final Determination Date”). If any such economic effect is material, the Calculation Agent may either, at its election, (i) adjust the terms of the Transaction to account for such economic effect or (ii) terminate the Transaction as if Cancellation and Payment applied in respect of an Extraordinary Event, in which case the Determining Party will determine the Cancellation Amount payable by one party to the other;

 

9  

 

provided that the reference in Section 12.8(a) of the Equity Definitions to “Extraordinary Event” shall be replaced for this purpose with a reference to “Announcement Event.” “Announcement Event” means (i) any announcement of an Acquisition Transaction, (ii) any announcement that Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries has entered into an agreement, a letter of intent or an understanding designed to result in an Acquisition Transaction, (iii) any announcement of Counterparty’s intention to solicit or enter into, or to explore strategic alternatives or other similar undertaking that may include, an Acquisition Transaction, (iv) any other announcement by any person that in the reasonable judgment of the Calculation Agent is reasonably likely to result in an Acquisition Transaction or (v) any announcement of any change or amendment to any previous announcement described in clauses (i)-(iv) (including any announcement of the abandonment of any such previously announced Acquisition Transaction, agreement, letter of intent, understanding or intention). “Acquisition Transaction” means (i) any Merger Event (with the definition of Merger Event deemed to be amended for this purpose so that the references therein to “100%” are replaced by “25%” and to “50%” by “75%” and without reference to the clause beginning immediately following the definition of Reverse Merger therein to the end of such definition) or Tender Offer or any other transaction involving the merger of Counterparty with or into any third party, (ii) the sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Counterparty, (iii) a recapitalization, reclassification, binding share exchange in respect of Shares or other similar transaction, (iv) any acquisition, lease, exchange, transfer, disposition (including by way of spin-off or distribution) of assets (including any capital stock or other ownership interests in subsidiaries) or other similar event by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries where the aggregate consideration transferable or receivable by or to Counterparty or its subsidiaries exceeds 25% of the market capitalization of Counterparty or (v) any transaction in which Counterparty or its board of directors has a legal obligation to make a recommendation to its shareholders in respect of such transaction (whether pursuant to Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act or otherwise).

 

Nationalization, Insolvency 

or Delisting: Cancellation and Payment; provided that in addition to the provisions of Section 12.6(a)(iii) of the Equity Definitions, it shall also constitute a Delisting if the Exchange is located in the United States and the Shares

 

10  

 

are not immediately re-listed or re-traded on any of the New York Stock Exchange, The NASDAQ Global Select Market or The NASDAQ Global Market (or their respective successors); if the Shares are immediately re-listed or re-traded on any such exchange, such exchange shall thereafter be deemed to be the Exchange.

 

Additional Disruption Events:

 

Change in Law: Applicable; provided that Section 12.9(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (i) replacing the phrase “the interpretation” in the third line thereof with the phrase “, or public announcement of, the formal or informal interpretation”, (ii) replacing the word “Shares” where it appears in clause (X) thereof with the words “Hedge Position” and (iii) replacing the parenthetical beginning after the word “regulation” in the second line thereof with the words “(including, for the avoidance of doubt and without limitation, (x) any tax law or (y) adoption, effectiveness or promulgation of new regulations authorized or mandated by existing statute)”.

 

Failure to Deliver: Applicable

 

Hedging Disruption: Applicable; provided that:

 

(i) Section 12.9(a)(v) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (a) inserting the following words at the end of clause (A) thereof: “in the manner contemplated by the Hedging Party on the Trade Date” and (b) inserting the following two phrases at the end of such Section:

 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the term “equity price risk” shall be deemed to include, but shall not be limited to, stock price and volatility risk. And, for the further avoidance of doubt, any such transactions or assets referred to in phrases (A) or (B) above must be available on commercially reasonable pricing terms.”; and

 

(ii) Section 12.9(b)(iii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by inserting in the third line thereof, after the words “to terminate the Transaction”, the words “or a portion of the Transaction affected by such Hedging Disruption”.

 

Increased Cost of Hedging: Applicable

 

Hedging Party: For all applicable Additional Disruption Events, Dealer.

 

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Determining Party: For all applicable Extraordinary Events, Dealer.

 

Non-Reliance: Applicable

 

Agreements and Acknowledgments 

Regarding Hedging Activities: Applicable

 

Additional Acknowledgments: Applicable

 

Dividends:

 

Dividend Amount: Dealer shall pay to Counterparty,

 

(a) with respect to a dividend paid in cash, in respect of each Component, the product of (i) the relevant Dividend Percentage, (ii) the Ex Amount, and (iii) the number of Shares that the Calculation Agent determines Dealer theoretically would be long with respect to such Component on the Exchange Business Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such Dividend; or

 

(b) with respect to a dividend paid in-kind, in respect of each Component, in the Dealer’s sole discretion, either (i) a portion corresponding to the relevant Dividend Percentage of the product of (x) the Ex Amount, and (y) the number of Shares that the Calculation Agent determines Dealer theoretically would be long with respect to such Component on the Exchange Business Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such Dividend, or (ii) the product of (x) the relevant Dividend Percentage, (y) cash value of the Ex Amount, as determined by Dealer, and (z) the number of Shares that the Calculation Agent determines Dealer theoretically would be long with respect to such Component on the Exchange Business Day immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for such Dividend.

 

Any interest on capital distribution by the Issuer shall constitute a “gross cash dividend” for the purposes of Section 10.1 of the Equity Definitions.

 

Dividend Payment Date(s): The date on which the Issuer of the Shares pays the relevant dividend to holders of record of such Share.

 

Dividend Percentage: With respect to each Share, 70%, provided, however, that if the rate for withholding or deduction of taxes at the source by or on behalf of any applicable authority having the power to tax in respect of such dividend increases from such rates as applicable on Trade Date, the Calculation Agent shall adjust the foregoing percentage to account for such change.

 

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Re-investment of Dividends: Not Applicable.

 

4. Calculation Agent. Dealer, provided that, following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(vii) of the Agreement with respect to which Dealer is the Defaulting Party, Counterparty shall have the right to designate a leading dealer in the over-the-counter equity derivatives market to act as the replacement Calculation Agent, and the parties shall work in good faith to execute any appropriate documentation required by such replacement Calculation Agent. Following any adjustment, determination or calculation by the Calculation Agent hereunder, the Calculation Agent shall promptly provide to Counterparty a report (in a commonly used file format for the storage and manipulation of financial data but without disclosing any proprietary models or other information that it determines in good faith is proprietary or subject to contractual, legal or regulatory obligations not to disclose such information) displaying in reasonable detail such determination, adjustment or calculation, as the case may be, and the basis therefor (including any quotations, market data or information from internal or external sources and any assumptions used in making the same). Whenever the Calculation Agent is required or permitted to make adjustments, determinations or calculations or to exercise discretion in any other way, it will do so in good faith and in a commercially reasonable manner.

 

5. Account Details.

 

(a) Account for payments to Counterparty:

 

To be provided.

 

Account for delivery of Shares to Counterparty:

 

To be provided.

 

(b) Account for payments to Dealer: To be provided by Dealer.

 

Account for delivery of Shares from Dealer: To be provided by Dealer.

 

6. Offices.

 

(a) The Office of Counterparty for the Transaction is: Inapplicable, Counterparty is not a Multibranch Party.

 

(b) The Office of Dealer for the Transaction is: Not Applicable.

 

7. Notices.

 

(a) Address for notices or communications to Counterparty:

 

Chimera Investment Corporation 

520 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor 

New York, NY 10022
Attention: Rob Colligan, Chief Financial Officer

Telephone No.: 212-626-2300
Email: Rob.Colligan@chimerareit.com

 

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(b) Address for notices or communications to Dealer:

 

Any and all notices, demands, or communications of any kind relating to this Transaction between Dealer and Counterparty shall be transmitted exclusively through Agent at the following address:

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010 

Attention:         Tucker Martin 

Telephone:       (212) 325-9182 

Facsimile:        (212) 743-3661 

Email:             list.elo-equ-der@credit-suisse.com

 

With a copy to: 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC 

11 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor 

New York, New York 10010 

Attn: Senior Legal Officer 

Telephone: (212) 538-2616 

Facsimile: (212) 325-8036 

Email: list.otceqderivlegal@credit-suisse.com

 

For payments and deliveries:
Facsimile No.: (212) 325 8175
Telephone No.: (212) 325 8678 / (212) 325 3213

 

For all other communications: 

Telephone: (212) 538-6040 

Facsimile: (917) 326-8603

 

The date and time of the Transaction evidenced hereby will be furnished by the Agent to Dealer and Counterparty upon written request.

 

The Agent will furnish to Counterparty upon written request a statement as to the source and amount of any remuneration received or to be received by the Agent in connection with the Transaction evidenced hereby.

 

Dealer is not a member of the SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation).

 

Dealer represents that it is an “OTC derivatives dealer” as such term is defined in the Exchange Act and is an affiliate of a broker-dealer that is registered with and fully-regulated by the SEC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

 

8. Representations and Warranties of Counterparty.

 

Each of the representations and warranties of Counterparty set forth in Section 3 of the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) dated as of April 7, 2020, between Counterparty and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Representative of the several Underwriters set forth on Schedule A thereto, are true and correct and are hereby deemed to be repeated to Dealer as if set forth herein. Counterparty hereby further represents and warrants to Dealer on the date hereof and on and as of the Premium Payment Date that:

 

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(a) Counterparty has all necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in respect of the Transaction; such execution, delivery and performance have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on Counterparty’s part; and this Confirmation has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Counterparty and constitutes its valid and binding obligation, enforceable against Counterparty in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) and except that rights to indemnification and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws or public policy relating thereto.

 

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Confirmation nor the incurrence or performance of obligations of Counterparty hereunder will conflict with or result in a breach of the memorandum and articles of association or by-laws (or any equivalent documents) of Counterparty, or any applicable law or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or governmental authority or agency, or any agreement or instrument to which Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries is subject, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any lien under, any such agreement or instrument.

 

(c) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by Counterparty of this Confirmation, except such as have been obtained or made and such as may be required under the Securities Act or state securities laws.

 

(d) Counterparty is not and, after consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will not be required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(e) Counterparty is an “eligible contract participant” (as such term is defined in Section 1a(18) of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended, other than a person that is an eligible contract participant under Section 1a(18)(C) of the Commodity Exchange Act).

 

(f) On the Trade Date (A) Neither Counterparty nor its affiliates are in possession of any material nonpublic information regarding Counterparty or the Shares and (B) all reports and other documents filed by Counterparty with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act when considered as a whole (with the more recent such reports and documents deemed to amend inconsistent statements contained in any earlier such reports and documents), do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

 

(g) No state or local (including any non-U.S. jurisdiction’s) law, rule, regulation or regulatory order applicable to the Shares would give rise to any reporting, consent, registration or other requirement (including without limitation a requirement to obtain prior approval from any person or entity) as a result of Dealer or its affiliates owning or holding (however defined) Shares.

 

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(h) Counterparty (A) is capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities; (B) will exercise independent judgment in evaluating the recommendations of any broker-dealer or its associated persons, unless it has otherwise notified the broker-dealer in writing; (C) has total assets of at least USD 50 million; and (D) is acting for its own account, and it has made its own independent decisions to enter into the Transaction and as to whether the Transaction is appropriate or proper for it (including as to any legal, regulatory, tax, accounting or economic consequences arising from the Transaction) based upon its own judgment and upon advice from such advisers as it has deemed necessary (including legal, financial and accounting advisors).

 

(i) Counterparty as of and immediately after the Trade Date and the Premium Payment Date (x) is not, and shall not be after giving effect to the transactions contemplated hereby, “insolvent” (as such term is defined in Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code, (y) would be able to purchase [__] Shares, and (z) is able to pay its debts.

 

(j) Counterparty’s board of directors (the “Board”) has concluded that (A) the Transaction is suitable for Counterparty, for its commercial benefit and in its best interests, in light of its own investment objectives, financial condition and expertise and (B) the Transaction has been duly approved and authorized by the Board after due consideration by the Board of the foregoing matters and those referred to at sub-paragraph (h)(D) above.

 

(k) Without limiting the generality of Section 13.1 of the Equity Definitions, Counterparty acknowledges that neither Dealer nor any of its affiliates is making any representations or warranties or taking any position or expressing any view with respect to the treatment of the Transaction under any accounting standards including ASC Topic 260, Earnings Per Share, ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, or ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity and ASC Topic 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (or any successor issue statements), or under FASB’s Liabilities & Equity Project.

 

(l) Without limiting the generality of Section 3(a)(iii) of the Agreement, the Transaction will not violate Rule 13e-1 or Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act.

 

9. Other Provisions.

 

(a) Deliverables. Counterparty shall deliver to Dealer (A) an opinion of U.S. counsel dated as of the Trade Date, with respect to, among other things, the matters set forth in Sections 8(a) through (c) of this Confirmation. Delivery of such opinions to Dealer shall be a condition precedent for the purpose of Section 2(a)(iii) of the Agreement with respect to each obligation of Dealer under Section 2(a)(i) of the Agreement; (B) a resolution of the Board authorizing the Transaction; and (C) on or before the Premium Payment Date, a solvency certificate with respect to Counterparty signed by a member of the Board, the chief executive officer or the chief financial officer of the Counterparty certifying the solvency of Counterparty as of and immediately after the Premium Payment Date (after giving effect to Counterparty’s payment of amounts required to be paid by Counterparty on such date under the Transaction and the other transactions described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus Supplement related to the offering of the Convertible Notes), which solvency certificate is reasonably satisfactory to Dealer.

 

(b) Repurchase Notices. Counterparty shall, on any day on which Counterparty effects any repurchase of Shares, promptly give Dealer a written notice of such repurchase (a

 

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Repurchase Notice”) on such day if following such repurchase, the number of outstanding Shares as determined on such day is (i) less than [__] (in the case of the first such notice) or (ii) thereafter more than [__] less than the number of Shares included in the immediately preceding Repurchase Notice. Counterparty agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Dealer and its affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, affiliates, advisors, agents and controlling persons (each, an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any and all losses (including losses relating to Dealer’s hedging activities as a consequence of becoming, or of the risk of becoming, a Section 16 “insider”, including without limitation, any forbearance from hedging activities or cessation of hedging activities and any losses in connection therewith with respect to the Transaction), claims, damages, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), joint or several, which an Indemnified Person may become subject to, as a result of Counterparty’s failure to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice on the day and in the manner specified in this paragraph, and to reimburse, within 30 days, upon written request, each of such Indemnified Persons for any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for, providing testimony or other evidence in connection with or defending any of the foregoing. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against the Indemnified Person as a result of Counterparty’s failure to provide Dealer with a Repurchase Notice in accordance with this paragraph, such Indemnified Person shall promptly notify Counterparty in writing, and Counterparty, upon request of the Indemnified Person, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others Counterparty may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding. Counterparty shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding contemplated by this paragraph that is effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, Counterparty agrees to indemnify any Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Counterparty shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding contemplated by this paragraph that is in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding on terms reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person. If the indemnification provided for in this paragraph is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then Counterparty hereunder, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities. The remedies provided for in this paragraph (b) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this paragraph shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the termination of the Transaction.

 

(c) Regulation M. Counterparty is not on the Trade Date engaged in a distribution, as such term is used in Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of any securities of Counterparty, other than a distribution meeting the requirements of the exception set forth in Rules 101(b)(10) and 102(b)(7) of Regulation M. Counterparty shall not, until the second Scheduled Trading Day immediately following the Effective Date, engage in any such distribution.

 

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(d) No Manipulation. Counterparty is not entering into the Transaction to create actual or apparent trading activity in the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) or to raise or depress or otherwise manipulate the price of the Shares (or any security convertible into or exchangeable for the Shares) or otherwise in violation of the Exchange Act.

 

(e) Transfer or Assignment.

 

(i) Counterparty may not transfer any of its rights or obligations under the Transaction without the prior written consent of Dealer.

 

(ii) Dealer may, without Counterparty’s consent, transfer or assign all or any part of its rights or obligations under the Transaction to any affiliate of Dealer (1) that has a long-term issuer rating that is equal to or better than Dealer’s credit rating at the time of such transfer or assignment and (2) whose obligations hereunder will be guaranteed pursuant to the Credit Support Document (as specified below) and pursuant to the terms of a reasonable and customary guarantee of payment, which may be in a form used by Dealer generally for similar transactions, by Dealer or Dealer’s ultimate parent entity, provided that (A) no Event of Default, Potential Event of Default or Termination Event with respect to which Dealer or such affiliate is the Defaulting Party or an Affected Party, as the case may be, exists or would result therefrom, (B) no event giving rise to a right or responsibility to terminate or cancel, make an adjustment to the terms of or demand a payment under the Transaction (or any portion thereof) would result therefrom, and (C) Counterparty shall not, as a result of such assignment or transfer, (i) be required to pay to Dealer or such affiliate an additional amount in respect of an Indemnifiable Tax, (ii) receive a payment from which an amount is required to be deducted or withheld for or on account of a Tax as to which no additional amount is required to be paid, or (iii) become subject to the laws or jurisdiction of any country other than the United States of America.

 

(iii) If at any time at which (A) the Section 13 Percentage exceeds 7.5%, (B) the Option Equity Percentage exceeds 7.5%, (C) the Share Amount exceeds the Applicable Share Limit (if any applies), or (D) the REIT Tax Ownership exceeds 7.5% in value or in number (whichever is more restrictive) of Shares (any such condition described in clauses (A), (B), (C), or (D), an “Excess Ownership Position”), then Dealer may designate any Exchange Business Day as an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction (the “Terminated Portion”), such that following such partial termination no Excess Ownership Position exists. In the event that Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, a payment shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Options equal to the number of Options underlying the Terminated Portion, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such partial termination and (3) the Terminated Portion were the sole Affected Transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 9(l) shall apply to any amount that is payable by Dealer to Counterparty pursuant to this sentence as if Counterparty was not the Affected Party). The “Section 13 Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the number of Shares that Dealer and any of its affiliates or any other person subject to aggregation with Dealer for purposes of the “beneficial ownership” test under Section 13 of the Exchange Act,

 

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or any “group” (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act) of which Dealer is or may be deemed to be a part beneficially owns (within the meaning of Section 13 of the Exchange Act), without duplication, on such day (or, to the extent that for any reason the equivalent calculation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act applies with respect to the Shares and the rules and regulations thereunder results in a higher number, such higher number) and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding on such day. The “Option Equity Percentage” as of any day is the fraction, expressed as a percentage, (A) the numerator of which is the sum of (1) the product of (x) the Number of Options, (y) the Option Entitlement and (z) the number of Shares represented by one Share and (2) the aggregate number of Shares underlying any other call option transaction sold by Dealer to Counterparty, and (B) the denominator of which is the number of Shares outstanding. The “Share Amount” as of any day is the number of Shares that Dealer and any person whose ownership position would be aggregated with that of Dealer (Dealer or any such person, a “Dealer Person”) under any law, rule, regulation, regulatory order or organizational documents or contracts of Counterparty that are, in each case, applicable to ownership of Shares (“Applicable Restrictions”), owns, beneficially owns, constructively owns, controls, holds the power to vote or otherwise meets a relevant definition of ownership under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion. The “Applicable Share Limit” means a number of Shares equal to (A) the minimum number of Shares that could give rise to reporting or registration obligations or other requirements (including obtaining prior approval from any person or entity) of a Dealer Person, or could result in an adverse effect on a Dealer Person, under any Applicable Restriction, as determined by Dealer in its reasonable discretion, minus (B) 1% of the number of Shares outstanding. The “REIT Tax Ownership” means as of any day, the ownership of Shares by Dealer held directly or indirectly (including by nominee), and includes (i) interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 544 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Tax Code”), as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Tax Code, and (ii) interests that would be treated as owned through the application of Section 318(a) of the Tax Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Tax Code.

 

(iv) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Confirmation to the contrary requiring or allowing Dealer to purchase, sell, receive or deliver any Shares or other securities, or make or receive any payment in cash, to or from Counterparty, Dealer may designate any of its affiliates to purchase, sell, receive or deliver such Shares or other securities, or to make or receive such payment in cash, and otherwise to perform Dealer’s obligations in respect of the Transaction and any such designee may assume such obligations. Dealer shall be discharged of its obligations to Counterparty to the extent of any such performance.

 

(f) Staggered Settlement. If upon advice of counsel with respect to applicable legal and regulatory requirements, including any requirements relating to Dealer’s hedging activities hereunder, Dealer reasonably determines that it would not be practicable or advisable to deliver, or to acquire Shares to deliver, any or all of the Shares to be delivered by Dealer on any Settlement Date for the Transaction, Dealer may, by notice to Counterparty on or prior to any Settlement Date (a “Nominal Settlement Date”), elect to deliver the Shares on two or more dates (each, a “Staggered Settlement Date”) as follows:

 

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(i) in such notice, Dealer will specify to Counterparty the related Staggered Settlement Dates (the first of which will be prior to such Nominal Settlement Date and the last of which will be no later than such Nominal Settlement Date) and the number of Shares that it will deliver on each Staggered Settlement Date;

 

(ii) the aggregate number of Shares that Dealer will deliver to Counterparty hereunder on all such Staggered Settlement Dates will equal the number of Shares that Dealer would otherwise be required to deliver on such Nominal Settlement Date; and

 

(iii) if the Net Share Settlement terms set forth above were to apply on the Nominal Settlement Date, then the Net Share Settlement terms will apply on each Staggered Settlement Date, except that the Shares otherwise deliverable on such Nominal Settlement Date will be allocated among such Staggered Settlement Dates as specified by Dealer in the notice referred to in clause (i) above.

 

(g) Role of Agent. As a broker-dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC in its capacity as Agent will be responsible for (i) effecting the Transactions, (ii) issuing all required confirmations and statements to Dealer and Counterparty, (iii) maintaining books and records relating to the Transactions as required by Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 under the Exchange Act and (iv) unless otherwise requested by Counterparty, receiving, delivering, and safeguarding Counterparty’s funds and any securities in connection with each Transaction, in compliance with Rule 15c3-3 under the Exchange Act.

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC is acting in connection with the Transactions solely in its capacity as Agent for Dealer and Counterparty pursuant to instructions from Dealer and Counterparty. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC shall have no responsibility or personal liability to Dealer or Counterparty arising from any failure by Dealer or Counterparty to pay or perform any obligations hereunder, or to monitor or enforce compliance by Dealer or Counterparty with any obligation hereunder, including without limitation, any obligations to maintain collateral. Each of Dealer and Counterparty agrees to proceed solely against the other to collect or recover any securities or monies owing to it in connection with or as a result of the Transactions. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC shall otherwise have no liability in respect of the Transactions, except for its gross negligence or willful misconduct in performing its duties as Agent.

 

(h) QFC Stay Provisions. To the extent that the QFC Stay Rules are applicable hereto, then the parties agree that (i) to the extent that prior to the date hereof both parties have adhered to the ISDA 2018 U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol (the “Protocol”), the terms of the Protocol are incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation, and for such purposes this Confirmation shall be deemed a Protocol Covered Agreement and each party shall be deemed to have the same status as “Regulated Entity” and/or “Adhering Party” as applicable to it under the Protocol; (ii) to the extent that prior to the date hereof the parties have executed a separate agreement the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between them to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules (the “Bilateral Agreement”), the terms of the Bilateral Agreement are incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation and each party shall be deemed to have the status of “Covered Entity” or “Counterparty Entity” (or other similar term) as applicable to it under the Bilateral Agreement; or (iii) if clause (i) and clause (ii) do not apply, the terms of Section 1 and Section 2 and the related defined terms (together, the “Bilateral Terms”) of the form of bilateral template entitled “Full-Length Omnibus (for use between U.S. G-SIBs and Corporate Groups)” published by ISDA on November 2, 2018 (currently available on

 

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the 2018 ISDA U.S. Resolution Stay Protocol page at www.isda.org and, a copy of which is available upon request), the effect of which is to amend the qualified financial contracts between the parties thereto to conform with the requirements of the QFC Stay Rules, are hereby incorporated into and form a part of this Confirmation, and for such purposes this Confirmation shall be deemed a “Covered Agreement,” Dealer shall be deemed a “Covered Entity” and Counterparty shall be deemed a “Counterparty Entity.” In the event that, after the date of this Confirmation, both parties hereto become adhering parties to the Protocol, the terms of the Protocol will replace the terms of this paragraph. In the event of any inconsistencies between this Confirmation and the terms of the Protocol, the Bilateral Agreement or the Bilateral Terms (each, the “QFC Stay Terms”), as applicable, the QFC Stay Terms will govern. Terms used in this paragraph without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them under the QFC Stay Rules. For purposes of this paragraph, references to “this Confirmation” include any related credit enhancements entered into between the parties or provided by one to the other. In addition, the parties agree that the terms of this paragraph shall be incorporated into any related covered affiliate credit enhancements, with all references to Dealer replaced by references to the covered affiliate support provider.

 

QFC Stay Rules” means the regulations codified at 12 C.F.R. 252.2, 252.81–8, 12 C.F.R. 382.1-7 and 12 C.F.R. 47.1-8, which, subject to limited exceptions, require an express recognition of the stay-and-transfer powers of the FDIC under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Orderly Liquidation Authority under Title II of the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the override of default rights related directly or indirectly to the entry of an affiliate into certain insolvency proceedings and any restrictions on the transfer of any covered affiliate credit enhancements.

 

(i) Additional Termination Events.

 

(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, upon any conversion of a Convertible Note occurring prior to the 5th Scheduled Valid Day immediately prior to the earliest scheduled Expiration Date, regardless of Component, listed on Annex A to this Confirmation (any such conversion, an “Early Conversion”) in respect of which a Conversion Notice that is effective as to Counterparty has been delivered by the relevant converting Holder:

 

(A) Counterparty may, within one Scheduled Trading Day of the date on which the Holder (as such term is defined in the Indenture) of such Convertible Note satisfies all of the requirements for conversion thereof as set forth in Section 5.02 of the Indenture (the “Conversion Date”) for such Early Conversion, provide written notice (an “Early Conversion Notice”) to Dealer specifying the number of Convertible Notes surrendered for conversion on such Conversion Date (such Convertible Notes, the “Affected Convertible Notes”), and the giving of such Early Conversion Notice shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this clause (i) (provided that Counterparty acknowledges its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of any Early Conversion Notice);

 

(B)

upon receipt of any such Early Conversion Notice, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day as an Early Termination Date (which Exchange Business Day shall be no earlier than one Scheduled Trading Day

 

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following the Conversion Date for such Early Conversion) with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Affected Number of Options”) equal to the lesser of (x) the number of Affected Convertible Notes and (y) the Number of Options as of the Conversion Date for such Early Conversion;

 

(C) any payment hereunder with respect to such termination shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (x) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Options equal to the Affected Number of Options, (y) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (z) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction;

 

(D) for the avoidance of doubt, in determining the amount payable in respect of such Affected Transaction pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement, the Calculation Agent shall assume that (x) the relevant Early Conversion and any conversions, adjustments, agreements, payments, deliveries or acquisitions by or on behalf of Counterparty leading thereto had not occurred, (y) no adjustments to the Conversion Rate have occurred pursuant to any Excluded Provision and (z) the corresponding Convertible Notes remain outstanding; and

 

(E) the Transaction shall remain in full force and effect, except that, as of the Conversion Date for such Early Conversion, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the Affected Number of Options.

 

(ii) Promptly (but in any event within five Scheduled Trading Days) following any Repurchase Event (as defined below), Counterparty may notify Dealer of such Repurchase Event and the aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes subject to such Repurchase Event (any such notice, a “Convertible Notes Repurchase Notice”); provided that any such Convertible Notes Repurchase Notice shall contain an acknowledgment by Counterparty of its responsibilities under applicable securities laws, and in particular Section 9 and Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, in respect of such Repurchase Event and the delivery of such Convertible Notes Repurchase Notice. The receipt by Dealer from Counterparty of any Convertible Notes Repurchase Notice shall constitute an Additional Termination Event as provided in this paragraph. Upon receipt of any such Convertible Notes Repurchase Notice, Dealer shall designate an Exchange Business Day following receipt of such Convertible Notes Repurchase Notice (which Exchange Business Day shall be no earlier than one Scheduled Trading Day following the settlement date for such Repurchase Event) as an Early Termination Date with respect to the portion of the Transaction corresponding to a number of Options (the “Repurchase Options”) equal to the lesser of (A) the aggregate principal amount of such Convertible Notes specified in such Convertible Notes Repurchase Notice, divided by USD 1,000 and (B) the Number of Options as of the date Dealer designates such Early Termination Date and, as of such date, the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Repurchase Options. Any payment hereunder with respect to such termination (the “Repurchase Unwind Payment”) shall be calculated pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if (1) an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Options

 

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equal to the number of Repurchase Options, (2) Counterparty were the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the terminated portion of the Transaction were the sole Affected Transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, in determining the amount payable in respect of such Affected Transaction pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement, Dealer shall assume that (x) the relevant Repurchase Event and any conversions, adjustments, agreements, payments, deliveries or acquisitions by or on behalf of Counterparty leading thereto had not occurred, (y) no adjustments to the Conversion Rate have occurred pursuant to any Excluded Provisions and (z) the corresponding Convertible Notes remain outstanding). “Repurchase Event” means that (i) any Convertible Notes are repurchased (whether pursuant to Section 4.01 of the Indenture, Section 6.01 of the Indenture or otherwise) by Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any Convertible Notes are delivered to Counterparty in exchange for delivery of any property or assets of Counterparty or any of its subsidiaries (howsoever described), (iii) any principal of any of the Convertible Notes is repaid prior to the final maturity date of the Convertible Notes (other than upon acceleration of the Convertible Notes described in clause (a) of this Section), or (iv) any Convertible Notes are exchanged by or for the benefit of the holders thereof for any other securities of Counterparty or any of its affiliates (or any other property, or any combination thereof) pursuant to any exchange offer or similar transaction; provided that any conversion of Convertible Notes pursuant to the terms of the Indenture shall not constitute a Repurchase Event. Counterparty acknowledges and agrees that if an Additional Termination Event has occurred under this Section 9(i)(ii) that any related Convertible Notes subject to a Repurchase Event will be promptly cancelled under the applicable provisions of the Indenture and, in any event, will be deemed to be cancelled and disregarded and no longer outstanding for all purposes hereunder.

 

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Confirmation, upon the occurrence of a Share Price Event (as defined below), (1) Dealer shall have the right to designate such event an Additional Termination Event and designate an Early Termination Date pursuant to Section 6(b) of the Agreement, (2) Counterparty shall be deemed the sole Affected Party with respect to such Additional Termination Event and (3) the Transaction, or, at the election of Dealer in its reasonable discretion, any portion of the Transaction, shall be deemed the sole Affected Transaction; provided that if Dealer so designates an Early Termination Date with respect to a portion of the Transaction, (a) a payment shall be made pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement as if an Early Termination Date had been designated in respect of a Transaction having terms identical to the Transaction and a Number of Options equal to the number of Options included in the terminated portion of the Transaction, and (b) for the avoidance of doubt, the Transaction shall remain in full force and effect except that the Number of Options shall be reduced by the number of Options included in such terminated portion:

 

Share Price Event” means as of the Valuation Time on any three Valid Days during a period of five consecutive Valid Days the price per Share is (i) equal to or less than 60% of the price per Share as of the Valuation Time on the Trade Date (the “Initial Share Price”) or (ii) equal to or greater than 170% of the Initial Share Price.

 

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(j) Amendments to Equity Definitions.

 

(i) Section 11.2(e)(vii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by deleting the words “a diluting or concentrative” and replacing them with the words “a material” and adding the phrase “or the Options” at the end of the sentence.

 

(ii) Section 12.6(a)(ii) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) inserting “(1)” immediately following the word “means” in the first line thereof and (2) inserting immediately prior to the semi-colon at the end of subsection (B) thereof the following words: “or (2) the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 5(a)(vii)(1) through (9) of the ISDA Master Agreement with respect to that Issuer”.

 

(iii) Section 12.9(b)(i) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) replacing “either party may elect” with “Dealer may elect” and (2) replacing “notice to the other party” with “notice to Counterparty” in the first sentence of such section.

 

(iv) Section 12.9(b)(vi) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (1) adding the word “or” immediately before subsection “(B)”, (2) deleting the comma at the end of subsection (A), (3) deleting subsection (C) in its entirety, (4) deleting the word “or” immediately preceding subsection (C) and (5) replacing the words “either party” in the last sentence of such Section with “Dealer”.

 

(v) Section 11.2(c) of the Equity Definitions is hereby amended by (x) replacing the words “a diluting or concentrative” with “an”, (y) adding the phrase “or Options” after the words “the relevant Shares” in the same sentence and (z) deleting the phrase “(provided that no adjustments will be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares)” and replacing it with the phrase “(and, for the avoidance of doubt, adjustments may be made to account solely for changes in volatility, expected dividends, stock loan rate or liquidity relative to the relevant Shares).”

 

(k) No Setoff. Neither party shall have the right to set off any obligation that it may have to the other party under the Transaction against any obligation such other party may have to it, whether arising under the Agreement, this Confirmation or any other agreement between the parties hereto, by operation of law or otherwise, and each party hereby waives any such right to setoff.

 

(l)

Alternative Calculations and Payment on Early Termination and on Certain Extraordinary Events. If (a) an Early Termination Date (whether as a result of an Event of Default or a Termination Event) occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction or (b) the Transaction is cancelled or terminated upon the occurrence of an Extraordinary Event (except as a result of (i) a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event in which the consideration to be paid to holders of Shares consists solely of cash, (ii) an Announcement Event, Merger Event or Tender Offer that is within Counterparty’s control, or (iii) an Event of Default in which Counterparty is the Defaulting Party or a Termination Event in which Counterparty is the Affected Party other than an Event of Default of the type described in Section 5(a)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) of the Agreement or a Termination Event of the type described in Section 5(b) of the Agreement, in each case that resulted from an event or events outside Counterparty’s control), and if Dealer would owe any amount to Counterparty pursuant to Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement or any Cancellation Amount pursuant to Article 12 of the Equity Definitions (any such amount, a “Payment

 

24  

 

Obligation”), then Dealer shall satisfy the Payment Obligation by the Share Termination Alternative (as defined below), unless (a) Counterparty gives irrevocable telephonic notice to Dealer, confirmed in writing within one Scheduled Trading Day, no later than 12:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date of the Announcement Event, Merger Date, Tender Offer Date, Announcement Date (in the case of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Delisting), Early Termination Date or date of cancellation, as applicable, of its election that the Share Termination Alternative shall not apply, (b) Counterparty remakes the representation set forth in Section 8(f) as of the date of such election and (c) Dealer agrees, in its sole discretion, to such election, in which case the provisions of Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, or the provisions of Section 6(d)(ii) of the Agreement, as the case may be, shall apply.

 

Share Termination Alternative: If applicable, Dealer shall deliver to Counterparty the Share Termination Delivery Property on, or within a commercially reasonable period of time after, the date when the relevant Payment Obligation would otherwise be due pursuant to Section 12.7 or 12.9 of the Equity Definitions or Section 6(d)(ii) and 6(e) of the Agreement, as applicable, in satisfaction of such Payment Obligation in the manner reasonably requested by Counterparty free of payment.

 

Share Termination Delivery Property: A number of Share Termination Delivery Units, as calculated by the Calculation Agent, equal to the Payment Obligation divided by the Share Termination Unit Price. The Calculation Agent shall adjust the Share Termination Delivery Property by replacing any fractional portion of a security therein with an amount of cash equal to the value of such fractional security based on the values used to calculate the Share Termination Unit Price.

 

Share Termination Unit Price: The value to Dealer of property contained in one Share Termination Delivery Unit, as determined by the Calculation Agent in its discretion by commercially reasonable means and notified by the Calculation Agent to Dealer at the time of notification of the Payment Obligation. For the avoidance of doubt, the parties agree that in determining the Share Termination Delivery Unit Price the Calculation Agent may consider the purchase price paid in connection with the purchase of Share Termination Delivery Property.

 

Share Termination Delivery Unit:

One Share or, if the Shares have changed into cash or any other property or the right to receive cash or any other property as the result of a Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event (any such cash or other property, the “Exchange Property”), a unit consisting of the type and

 

25  

 

amount of such Exchange Property received by a holder of one Share (without consideration of any requirement to pay cash or other consideration in lieu of fractional amounts of any securities) in such Nationalization, Insolvency or Merger Event, as determined by the Calculation Agent.

 

Failure to Deliver: Applicable

 

Other applicable provisions: If Share Termination Alternative is applicable, the provisions of Sections 9.8, 9.9 and 9.11 (as modified above) of the Equity Definitions and the provisions set forth opposite the caption “Representation and Agreement” in Section 2 will be applicable, except that all references in such provisions to “Physically-settled” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Settled” and all references to “Shares” shall be read as references to “Share Termination Delivery Units”. “Share Termination Settled” in relation to the Transaction means that Share Termination Alternative is applicable to the Transaction.

 

(m) Waiver of Jury Trial. Each party waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any suit, action or proceeding relating to the Transaction. Each party (i) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of either party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of such a suit, action or proceeding, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver and (ii) acknowledges that it and the other party have been induced to enter into the Transaction, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications provided herein.

 

(n) Registration. Counterparty hereby agrees that if, in the good faith reasonable judgment of Dealer, the Shares (“Hedge Shares”) acquired by Dealer for the purpose of hedging its obligations pursuant to the Transaction cannot be sold in the public market by Dealer without registration under the Securities Act, Counterparty shall, at its election, either (i) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a registered offering, make available to Dealer an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and enter into an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Dealer, substantially in the form of an underwriting agreement for a registered secondary offering; provided, however, that if Dealer, in its sole reasonable discretion, is not satisfied with access to due diligence materials, the results of its due diligence investigation, or the procedures and documentation for the registered offering referred to above, then clause (ii) or clause (iii) of this paragraph shall apply at the election of Counterparty, (ii) in order to allow Dealer to sell the Hedge Shares in a private placement, enter into a private placement agreement substantially similar to private placement purchase agreements customary for private placements of equity securities, in form and substance satisfactory to Dealer (in which case, the Calculation Agent shall make any adjustments to the terms of the Transaction that are necessary, in its reasonable judgment, to compensate Dealer for any discount from the public market price of the Shares incurred on the sale of Hedge Shares in a private placement), or (iii) purchase the Hedge Shares from Dealer at the then-current market price

 

26  

 

on such Exchange Business Days, and in the amounts and at such time(s), requested by Dealer.

 

(o) Tax Disclosure. Effective from the date of commencement of discussions concerning the Transaction, Counterparty and each of its employees, representatives, or other agents may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the Transaction and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to Counterparty relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.

 

(p) Right to Extend. Dealer may divide any Component into additional Components and designate the Expiration Date and the Number of Options for each such Component if Dealer determines, in good faith and a commercially reasonable manner, that such further division is necessary or advisable (i) to preserve Dealer’s hedging or hedge unwind activity hereunder in light of existing liquidity conditions, or (ii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that would, if Dealer were Counterparty or an affiliated purchaser of Counterparty, be compliant and consistent with applicable legal, regulatory or self-regulatory requirements, or with related policies and procedures, generally applicable to transactions of the type of the Transactions, or (iii) to enable Dealer to effect purchases of Shares in connection with its hedging, hedge unwind or settlement activity hereunder in a manner that not would result in the REIT Tax Ownership (as defined in Section 9(e)(iii)) to exceed 7.5% in value or in number (whichever is more restrictive) of Shares; provided that in no event shall any Expiration Date for any Component be postponed to a date later than sixty Scheduled Valid Days after the latest scheduled Expiration Date, regardless of Component, listed on Annex A to this confirmation (the “Final Termination Date”).

 

(q) Status of Claims in Bankruptcy. Dealer acknowledges and agrees that this Confirmation is not intended to convey to Dealer rights against Counterparty with respect to the Transaction that are senior to the claims of common or ordinary shareholders of Counterparty in any United States proceedings of Counterparty; provided that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s right to pursue remedies in the event of a breach by Counterparty of its obligations and agreements with respect to the Transaction; provided, further that nothing herein shall limit or shall be deemed to limit Dealer’s rights in respect of any transactions other than the Transaction.

 

(r) Securities Contract; Swap Agreement. The parties hereto intend for (i) the Transaction to be a “securities contract” and a “swap agreement” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) (the “Bankruptcy Code”), and the parties hereto to be entitled to the protections afforded by, among other Sections, Sections 362(b)(6), 362(b)(17), 546(e), 546(g), 555 and 560 of the Bankruptcy Code, (ii) a party’s right to liquidate the Transaction and to exercise any other remedies upon the occurrence of any Event of Default under the Agreement with respect to the other party to constitute a “contractual right” as described in the Bankruptcy Code, and (iii) each payment and delivery of cash, securities or other property hereunder to constitute a “margin payment” or “settlement payment” and a “transfer” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code.

 

(s)

Notice of Certain Other Events. Counterparty covenants and agrees that promptly following the public announcement of the results of any election by the holders of Shares with respect to the consideration due upon consummation of any Merger Event, Counterparty shall give Dealer written notice of (x) the weighted average of the types and amounts of consideration that holders of Shares have elected to receive upon consummation of such Merger Event or (y) if no holders of Shares affirmatively make such

 

27  

 

election, the types and amounts of consideration actually received by holders of Shares (the date of such notification, the “Consideration Notification Date”); provided that in no event shall the Consideration Notification Date be later than the date on which such Merger Event is consummated.

 

(t) Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act. In connection with Section 739 of the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act of 2010 (“WSTAA”), the parties hereby agree that neither the enactment of WSTAA or any regulation under the WSTAA, nor any requirement under WSTAA or an amendment made by WSTAA, shall limit or otherwise impair either party’s otherwise applicable rights to terminate, renegotiate, modify, amend or supplement this Confirmation or the Agreement, as applicable, arising from a termination event, force majeure, illegality, increased costs, regulatory change or similar event under this Confirmation, the Equity Definitions incorporated herein, or the Agreement (including, but not limited to, rights arising from Change in Law, Hedging Disruption, Increased Cost of Hedging, an Excess Ownership Position, or Illegality (as defined in the Agreement)).

 

(u) Agreements and Acknowledgements Regarding Hedging. Counterparty understands, acknowledges and agrees that: (A) at any time on and prior to the Expiration Date, Dealer and its affiliates may buy or sell Shares or other securities or buy or sell options or futures contracts or enter into swaps or other derivative securities in order to adjust its hedge position with respect to the Transaction; (B) Dealer and its affiliates also may be active in the market for Shares other than in connection with hedging activities in relation to the Transaction; (C) Dealer shall make its own determination as to whether, when or in what manner any hedging or market activities in securities of Issuer shall be conducted and shall do so in a manner that it deems appropriate to hedge its price and market risk with respect to the Relevant Prices; and (D) any market activities of Dealer and its affiliates with respect to Shares may affect the market price and volatility of Shares, as well as the Relevant Prices, each in a manner that may be adverse to Counterparty.

 

(v) Early Unwind. In the event the sale of the “Underwritten Securities” (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) is not consummated with the Initial Purchasers for any reason, or Counterparty fails to deliver to Dealer opinions of counsel as required pursuant to Section 9(a), in each case by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the Premium Payment Date, or such later date as agreed upon by the parties (the Premium Payment Date or such later date the “Early Unwind Date”), the Transaction shall automatically terminate (the “Early Unwind”), on the Early Unwind Date and (i) the Transaction and all of the respective rights and obligations of Dealer and Counterparty under the Transaction shall be cancelled and terminated and (ii) each party shall be released and discharged by the other party from and agrees not to make any claim against the other party with respect to any obligations or liabilities of the other party arising out of and to be performed in connection with the Transaction either prior to or after the Early Unwind Date. Each of Dealer and Counterparty represents and acknowledges to the other that, subject to the proviso included in this Section 9(v), upon an Early Unwind, all obligations with respect to the Transaction shall be deemed fully and finally discharged.

 

(w)

Payment by Counterparty. In the event that, following payment of the Premium, (i) an Early Termination Date occurs or is designated with respect to the Transaction as a result of a Termination Event or an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default arising under Section 5(a)(ii) or 5(a)(iv) of the Agreement) and, as a result, Counterparty owes to Dealer an amount calculated under Section 6(e) of the Agreement, or (ii) Counterparty owes to Dealer, pursuant to Section 12.7 or Section 12.9 of the Equity Definitions, an amount

 

28  

 

calculated under Section 12.8 of the Equity Definitions, such amount shall be deemed to be zero.

 

(x) Guarantee of Credit Suisse (USA), Inc.

 

Credit Support Provider means in relation to Dealer: Credit Suisse (USA), Inc.

 

Credit Support Document, with respect to Dealer: The Guarantee dated May 16, 2001 made by Credit Suisse (USA), Inc., a Delaware corporation in favor of each and every counterparty to one or more Financial Transactions (as defined therein) with Dealer.

 

(y) [Reserved].

 

(z) Certain Withholding Taxes.

 

(i) Withholding Tax imposed on payments to non-US counterparties under the United States Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. “Indemnifiable Tax” as defined in Section 14 of the Agreement shall not include any tax imposed or collected pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreement entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b) of the Code, or any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code (a “FATCA Withholding Tax”). For the avoidance of doubt, a FATCA Withholding Tax is a Tax the deduction or withholding of which is required by applicable law for the purposes of Section 2(d) of the Agreement.

 

(ii) Incorporation of ISDA 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol Provisions. To the extent that either party to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction is not an adhering party to the ISDA 2015 Section 871(m) Protocol published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. on November 2, 2015 and available at www.isda.org, as may be amended, supplemented, replaced or superseded from time to time (the “871(m) Protocol”), the parties agree that the provisions and amendments contained in the Attachment to the 871(m) Protocol are incorporated into and apply to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction as if set forth in full herein. The parties further agree that, solely for purposes of applying such provisions and amendments to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction, references to “each Covered Master Agreement” in the 871(m) Protocol will be deemed to be references to the Agreement with respect to this Transaction, and references to the “Implementation Date” in the 871(m) Protocol will be deemed to be references to the Trade Date of this Transaction. 

 

(aa) U.S. Tax Forms. 

 

(i) Counterparty shall provide to Dealer a valid U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9 on or before the date of execution of this Confirmation and will promptly tender an updated IRS Form W-9 if the previously tendered IRS Form W-9 becomes incorrect as a result of a change in facts. Dealer shall provide Counterparty a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8 on or before the date of execution of this Confirmation and will promptly tender an updated IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS FormW-8 if the previously tendered IRS Form W-9 or applicable IRS Form W-8 becomes incorrect as a result of a change in facts.

 

29  

 

For the purpose of Section 3(f) of the Agreement, Counterparty is a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Counterparty is a “U.S. person” (as that term is used in section 1.1441-4(a)(3)(ii) of United States Treasury Regulations) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and an exempt recipient under Treasury Regulation Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii).

 

(bb) Each of Dealer and Counterparty acknowledges that the offer and sale of the Transaction to it is intended to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act, by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof. Accordingly, Counterparty represents and warrants to Dealer that (i) it has the financial ability to bear the economic risk of its investment in the Transaction and is able to bear a total loss of its investment and its investments in and liabilities in respect of the Transaction, which it understands are not readily marketable, are not disproportionate to its net worth, and it is able to bear any loss in connection with the Transaction, including the loss of its entire investment in the Transaction, (ii) it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act, (iii) it is entering into the Transaction for its own account and without a view to the distribution or resale thereof, (iv) the assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Transaction has not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and is restricted under this Confirmation, the Securities Act and state securities laws, and (v) its financial condition is such that it has no need for liquidity with respect to its investment in the Transaction and no need to dispose of any portion thereof to satisfy any existing or contemplated undertaking or indebtedness and is capable of assessing the merits of and understanding (on its own behalf or through independent professional advice), and understands and accepts, the terms, conditions and risks of the Transaction.

 

30  

 

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of our agreement by executing this Confirmation and returning it to Dealer. 

 

  Very truly yours,
     
    Credit Suisse Capital LLC
     
    By:  
    Authorized Signatory
    Name:
     
    By:  
    Authorized Signatory
    Name:
     
   

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Agent

 

    By:  
    Authorized Signatory
    Name:

 

Accepted and confirmed
as of the Trade Date:

 

Chimera Investment Corporation  
   
By:    
Authorized Signatory  
Name:  

 

31  

 

Annex A

 

For each Component of the Transaction, the Number of Options and Expiration Date is set forth below.

 

Component Number Number of Options Expiration Date
1    
2    
3    
4    
5    
6    
7    
8    
9    
10    
11    
12    
13    
14    
15    
16    
17    
18    
19    
20    
21    
22    
23    
24    
25    
26    
27    
28    
29    
30    
31    
32    
33    
34    
35    
36    
37    
38    
39    
40    
41    
42    
43    
44    
45    
46    

 

32  

 

47    
48    
49    
50    
51    
52    
53    
54    
55    
56    
57    
58    
59    
60    
61    
62    
63    
64    
65    
66    
67    
68    
69    
70    
71    
72    
73    
74    
75    
76    
77    
78    
79    
80    
81    
82    
83    
84    
85    
86    
87    
88    
89    
90    
91    
92    
93    
94    
95    
96    
97    
98    
99    
100    
     

 

33