UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 22, 2020

 

 

Gladstone Investment Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   814-00704   83-0423116

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100, McLean, Virginia 22102

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(703) 287-5800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share   GAIN   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
6.250% Series D Cumulative Term Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share   GAINM   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
6.375% Series E Cumulative Term Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share   GAINL   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

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

Dealer Manager Agreement

On May 22, 2020, Gladstone Investment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into a dealer manager agreement (the “Dealer Manager Agreement”), with Gladstone Securities, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company and affiliate of the Company (the “Dealer Manager”), whereby the Dealer Manager will serve as the Company’s exclusive dealer manager in connection with the Company’s offering (the “Offering”) of up to $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.00% Notes due 2040 (the “Notes”) on a “reasonable best efforts” basis. However, the Company can only offer for sale up to $200 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes pursuant to a prospectus supplement dated May 22, 2020 and a base prospectus dated July 24, 2019 (collectively, the “Prospectus”) relating to the registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333- 232124) (as the same may be amended and/or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company intends to file a new shelf registration statement on Form N-2 and a related prospectus supplement by July 2022, in order to register and offer for sale the aggregate principal amount of Notes pursuant to the terms of the Dealer Manager Agreement that remains unsold at that time.

Under the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Dealer Manager will provide certain sales, promotional and marketing services to the Company in connection with the Offering, and the Company will pay the Dealer Manager (i) selling commissions of 6.0% of the gross proceeds from sales of the Notes in the Offering and (ii) a dealer manager fee of 3.0% of the gross proceeds from sales of the Notes in the Offering (the “Dealer Manager Fee”). The Dealer Manager may, in its sole discretion, reallow a portion of the Dealer Manager Fee to participating broker-dealers in support of the Offering.

The terms of the Dealer Manager Agreement were approved by the Company’s board of directors, including all of its independent directors.

Pursuant to the Dealer Manager Agreement, the Company has agreed to indemnify the Dealer Manager and participating broker-dealers, and the Dealer Manager has agreed to indemnify the Company, against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including but not limited to those arising out of (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereto a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material act required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The foregoing description of the Dealer Manager Agreement is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Dealer Manager Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.

On May 22, 2020, Proskauer Rose LLP delivered its legality opinion with respect to the Notes to be sold pursuant to the Prospectus, a copy of which is filed Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

Indenture and the Notes

On May 22, 2020, the Company and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), entered into an indenture (the “Base Indenture”) and a first supplemental indenture thereto (the “Supplemental Indenture” and collectively with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Supplemental Indenture relates to the Company’s issuance and sale of the Notes.

The Notes mature on November 1, 2040, unless previously redeemed or repurchased in accordance with their terms. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.00% per year payable monthly in arrears on the first day of each month, commencing on the first such date after issuance of such Note. The Notes are the Company’s direct unsecured obligations and will rank equal in right of payment with the Company’s existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness, senior to any series of preferred stock currently outstanding or that the Company may issue in the future; senior to any of the Company’s future indebtedness that expressly provides it is subordinated to the Notes; effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s future secured indebtedness (including indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which the Company subsequently grants security), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness; and structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of any of the Company’s subsidiaries and any of its future subsidiaries, including borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility.


Subject to certain conditions and limitations, until the listing, if any, of the Notes on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) or another national securities exchange, Notes held by a natural person upon his or her death may be redeemed at the written request of the holder’s estate for a cash payment of $25.00 per Note plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption. In addition, subject to certain conditions and limitations, until the earlier to occur of (1) the date upon which the Company’s board of directors, by resolution, suspends or terminates the optional redemption right of the holders of Notes and (2) the date, if any, on which the Notes are listed on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, holders of the Notes may, at their option, tender any or all of their Notes for redemption for a cash payment of $22.50 per Note plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption.

The Notes may be redeemed, at the Company’s option, in whole or in part at any time or from time to time on or after the later of (1) the one-year anniversary of the Offering’s termination and (2) July 1, 2025 (such later date, the “Call Date”). Prior to the Call Date, the Company may redeem all, but not less than all, of the outstanding Notes at its option within 90 days of a Change of Control (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture). In addition, prior to the Call Date, the Company may redeem all or a portion of the outstanding Notes in order to comply with any applicable law, including the asset coverage requirements under Section 18, as modified by Section 61, of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); provided that in connection with any such redemption to maintain the asset coverage required by the 1940 Act, the Company may, at its sole option, redeem such additional amount of Notes that will result in the Company having asset coverage (as defined in the 1940 Act) of up to and including 250%. The redemption price for any redemption at the Company’s option will be $25.00 per Note, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption.

The Indenture contains certain covenants, including covenants requiring the Company to (1) comply with Section 18(a)(1)(A) and (B), each as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the 1940 Act, or any successor provisions and (2) provide financial information to the holders of the Notes and the Trustee if the Company should no longer be subject to the reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These covenants are subject to important limitations and exceptions that are set forth in the Indenture.

The description of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Notes above is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Base Indenture, Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, respectively, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

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

The information provided under the caption “Indenture and the Notes” in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.
  

Description

1.1    Dealer Manager Agreement, dated as of May 22, 2020, by and between Gladstone Investment Corporation and Gladstone Securities, LLC.
4.1    Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2020, between Gladstone Investment Corporation and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee
4.2    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2020, relating to the 6.00% Notes due 2040, between Gladstone Investment Corporation and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee
4.3    Form of 6.00% Notes due 2040 (contained in the First Supplemental Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.2 hereto)
5.1    Opinion of Proskauer Rose LLP, dated May 22, 2020.
23.1    Consent of Proskauer Rose LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).


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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

    Gladstone Investment Corporation
Date: May 22, 2020     By:   /s/ Julia Ryan
      Julia Ryan
      Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit 1.1

 

LOGO

DEALER MANAGER

AGREEMENT

$350,000,000 of 6.00% Notes due 2040 — $25.00 per note

May 22, 2020

Gladstone Securities, LLC

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

Attn: John Kent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Gladstone Investment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is offering a maximum of $350,000,000 of its 6.00% notes due 2040 (the “Notes”) for sale to the public (the “Offering”). Except as described in the Prospectus (as defined below) or in Section 5 hereof, the Notes are to be sold pursuant to the Offering for a cash price of $25.00 per Note.

The redemption price per Note will be equal to $22.50 in cash, other than a redemption in connection with the death of an investor who held Notes. The maximum dollar amount that the Company will make available each calendar year to redeem Notes will not be subject to an annual limit; provided, that its obligation to redeem Notes is limited to the extent that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Company does not have sufficient funds available to fund any such redemption or the Company is restricted by applicable law from making such redemption; and is also limited to the extent the Board of Directors suspends or terminates the optional redemption right at any time or for any reason, including after delivery of notice by a noteholder to cause the Company to redeem the Notes. The right of redemption will also cease on the date on which the Notes are listed on Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) or another securities exchange.

The Company hereby appoints Gladstone Securities, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company (the “Dealer Manager”), as its agent and principal distributor during the Offering Period (as defined below) for the purpose of selling for cash, on a “reasonable best efforts” basis, the Notes through such wholesalers and securities dealers that the Dealer Manager may retain (individually, a “Dealer” and collectively, the “Dealers”), all of whom shall be members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), pursuant to a Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A (the “Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement”). The Dealer Manager may also sell Notes for cash directly to its own clients and customers subject to the terms and conditions stated in the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager hereby accepts such agency and distributorship and agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to sell the Notes on said terms and conditions.

The minimum initial purchase by any one person shall be $5,000, or 200 Notes, except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus or determined by the Company in its sole discretion in consultation with the Dealer Manager. The Company shall have the right to approve any material modifications or addenda to the form of the Participating Dealer Agreement. Terms not defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.

The term “Offering Period” shall mean that period during which Notes may be offered for sale, commencing on the date the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below) was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), during which period offers and sales of the Notes shall occur continuously unless and until the Offering is terminated, except that the Dealer Manager and the Dealers shall immediately suspend or terminate the offering of the Notes upon request of the Company at any time and shall resume offering the Notes upon subsequent request of the Company. The Offering Period shall in all events terminate on the earlier of July 1, 2025 (unless earlier terminated or extended by the board of directors of the Company) or the date on which all $350,000,000 Notes offered in the Offering are sold. Upon termination of the Offering Period, the Dealer Manager’s agency and this Agreement shall terminate without obligation on the part of the Dealer Manager or the Company except as set forth in this Agreement.

The Company has prepared and filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-232124) that contains a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”). Such registration statement registers the issuance and sale by the Company of certain securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act”). Such registration statement, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act, including all financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference under the Securities Act as from time to time amended or supplemented (and also including any subsequent registration statement registering the Notes, including all financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto and all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference under the Securities Act), is herein referred to as the “Registration

 

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Statement,” and the prospectus constituting a part of such registration statement, together with any prospectus supplement filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 497 under the Securities Act relating to the Notes (as amended and supplemented, the “Prospectus Supplement”), including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, in each case, as from time to time amended or supplemented, is referred to herein as the “Prospectus” except that if any revised prospectus is provided to the Dealer Manager by the Company for use in connection with the Offering of the Notes that is not required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 497 under the Securities Act, the term “Prospectus” shall refer to such revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the Dealer Manager for such use.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the Securities Act to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include, without limitation, the filing of any documents under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed under the Securities Act to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of any specified date.

In connection therewith, the Company hereby agrees with the Dealer Manager, as follows:

 

1.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

As an inducement to the Dealer Manager to enter into this Agreement, the Company represents and warrants to the Dealer Manager that:

1.1 The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to the SEC’s satisfaction with all requests of the SEC for additional or supplemental information, if any. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the SEC.

1.2 The Prospectus, when filed, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Dealer Manager for use in connection with the issuance and sale of the Notes. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. On the date of the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as applicable, the Prospectus did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Dealer Manager or any of the Dealers, either furnished by a Dealer in writing to the Dealer Manager or the Company, or furnished by the Dealer Manager in writing to the Company specifically for inclusion therein.

1.3 The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. The Company is in good standing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, with full power and authority to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. The Company has qualified to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the ownership or leasing of its properties or the nature or conduct of its business, as described in the Prospectus, requires such qualification, except where the failure to do so would not have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, results of operations or cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

1.4 The Company intends to use the funds received from the sale of the Notes as set forth in the Prospectus.

1.5 As of the date hereof, no filing with, or consent, approval, authorization, license, registration, qualification, order or decree of any court, governmental authority or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement or in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of the Notes, except such as may be required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Nasdaq, the rules of FINRA or applicable state securities laws or where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization, license, registration, qualification, order or decree of any court, governmental authority or agency would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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1.6 There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company at law or in equity or before or by any federal or state commission, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

1.7 The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Company will not conflict with or constitute a default under any charter, bylaw, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company, except (a) to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 6 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws; and (b) for such conflicts or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

1.8 The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 6 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.

1.9 Each of the indenture and the first supplemental indenture, each by and between the Company and UMB Bank, N.A. (collectively, the “Indenture”), has been duly authorized, executed and delivered and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law). The Notes to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly and validly authorized and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture against payment therefor as provided herein, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

2.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE DEALER MANAGER.

As an inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement, the Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company that:

2.1 The Dealer Manager is, and during the term of this Agreement will be, a member of FINRA in good standing and a broker- dealer registered as such under the Exchange Act and under the securities laws of the states in which the Notes are to be offered and sold. The Dealer Manager and its employees and representatives possess all required licenses and registrations to act under this Agreement. The Dealer Manager will comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, Nasdaq, other federal securities laws, state securities laws and the rules of FINRA, specifically including, but not in any way limited to, FINRA’s conduct rules. Each Dealer and each salesperson acting on behalf of the Dealer Manager or a Dealer will be registered with FINRA and duly licensed by each state regulatory authority in each jurisdiction in which it, he or she will offer and sell Notes.

2.2 The Dealer Manager was duly organized and is validly existing as a limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the State of Connecticut, and has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Dealer Manager has duly authorized, executed and delivered this Agreement.

2.3 This Agreement is a valid and binding agreement of the Dealer Manager, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and contribution provisions contained in Section 6 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.

2.4 The Dealer Manager represents and warrants to the Company that the information under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus and all other information furnished to the Company by the Dealer Manager in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

2.5 The Dealer Manager has reasonable grounds to believe, based on information made available to it by the Company, that the Prospectus discloses all material facts adequately and accurately and provides an adequate basis for evaluating an investment in the Notes.

2.6 No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any governmental authority is required in connection with the execution or delivery by the Dealer Manager of this Agreement, except such as may be required under the Securities Act or applicable state securities laws.

 

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2.7 There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Dealer Manager, threatened against the Dealer Manager at law or in equity or before or by any federal or state commission, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Dealer Manager or the ability of the Dealer Manager to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to participate in the Offering as contemplated by the Prospectus.

2.8 The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and compliance with the terms of this Agreement by the Dealer Manager will not conflict with or constitute a default under its organizational documents, operating agreement or other similar agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, rule, regulation, writ, injunction or decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Dealer Manager, except to the extent that the enforceability of the indemnity and/or contribution provisions contained in Section 6 of this Agreement may be limited under applicable securities laws.

2.9 The Dealer Manager represents to the Company that it has established and implemented anti-money laundering compliance programs in accordance with applicable law, including applicable FINRA conduct rules and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot Act”), specifically including, but not limited to, Section 352 of the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti- Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (the “Money Laundering Abatement Act,” and together with the USA Patriot Act, the “AML Rules”) reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes. The Dealer Manager further represents that it is currently in compliance with all AML Rules and will require each Dealer to comply with all AML Rules, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the Money Laundering Abatement Act, and the Dealer Manager hereby covenants to remain in compliance with such requirements, and to require each Dealer to remain in compliance with such requirements, and shall, upon request by the Company, provide a certification to the Company that, as of the date of such certification (i) each of the Dealer Manager’s and each Dealer’s AML Program is consistent with the AML Rules and (ii) each of the Dealer Manager and each Dealer is currently in compliance with all AML Rules, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the Money Laundering Abatement Act.

2.10 The Dealer Manager represents that it has (a) abided by and complied with (i) the privacy standards and requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (“GLB Act”); (ii) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable federal or state law; and (iii) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time; (b) refrained from the use or disclosure of nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLB Act) of all customers who have opted out of such disclosures except as necessary to service the customers or as otherwise necessary or required by applicable law; and (c) determined which customers have opted out of the disclosure of nonpublic personal information by periodically reviewing and, if necessary, retrieving an aggregated list of such customers from the Dealers (the “List”) to identify customers that have exercised their opt-out rights. In the event either party uses or discloses nonpublic personal information of any customer for purposes other than servicing the customer, or as otherwise required by applicable law, that party will consult the List to determine whether the affected customer has exercised his or her opt-out rights. Each party understands that it is prohibited from using or disclosing any nonpublic personal information of any customer that is identified on the List as having opted out of such disclosures.

 

3.

COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

The Company covenants and agrees with the Dealer Manager that:

3.1 It will deliver to the Dealer Manager such numbers of copies of the Registration Statement, including all amendments and exhibits thereto, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by this Agreement and the federal and state securities laws. It will similarly furnish to the Dealer Manager and others designated by the Dealer Manager as many copies as the Dealer Manager may reasonably request in connection with the offering of the Notes of any other printed sales literature or other materials; provided that the use of said sales literature and other materials have been first approved for use by the Company and all appropriate regulatory agencies. It also will furnish to the Dealer Manager and its designees copies of any material deemed necessary by the Dealer Manager and commercially reasonable for the Company to furnish, for due diligence purposes in connection with the Offering.

3.2 It will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the rules and regulations of the SEC and by all applicable state securities laws and regulations to permit the continuance of offers and sales of the Notes in accordance with the provisions hereof and as set forth in the Prospectus, and will amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus comply with the requirements of federal and other state securities laws and regulations, as may be necessary for the Offering.

3.3 It will: (a) file every amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may be required by the SEC and (b) if at any time the SEC shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any state securities administration shall issue any order or take other action to suspend or enjoin the sale of the Notes, it will promptly notify the Dealer Manager and will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order or to prevent such other action at the earliest possible time.

 

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3.4 If at any time during the Offering Period any event occurs as a result of which, in the opinion of either the Company or the Dealer Manager, the Prospectus or any supplement then in effect would include an untrue statement of a material fact or, in view of the circumstances under which they were made, omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Dealer Manager thereof (unless the information shall have been received from the Dealer Manager) and will effect the preparation of a supplement or amendment to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission.

3.5 The Company will be responsible for all expenses incident to the performance of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement, including: (a) the preparation, filing and printing of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (b) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Dealer Manager of this Agreement, the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, sale, issuance and delivery of the Notes, (c) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s legal counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisers, (d) the filing fees and expenses related to the review of the terms and fairness of the Offering by FINRA, if applicable, (e) the fees and expenses related to the qualification of the Notes under the securities law, including the fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with the preparation of any “blue sky” survey and any supplement thereto, if any, (f) the printing and delivery to the Dealer Manager of copies of the Prospectus, (g) the fees and expenses of any trustee, registrar, transfer agent or paying agent in connection with the Notes, (h) the preparation, issuance and delivery of certificates, if any, for the Notes, including any stock or other transfer taxes or duties payable upon the sale of the Notes, and (i) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Notes, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with presentations with the prior approval of the Company, and travel and lodging expenses of the representatives of the Company and any such consultants. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not directly pay, or reimburse the Dealer Manager for, the costs and expenses described in this Section 3.5 if the payment or reimbursement of such expenses would cause the aggregate of the Company’s “organization and offering expenses” as defined by FINRA Rule 2310 (including the Company expenses paid or reimbursed pursuant to this Section 3.5 and all items of underwriting compensation including Dealer Manager expenses described in Section 5.1) to exceed 10.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes.

4. COVENANTS OF THE DEALER MANAGER.

The Dealer Manager covenants and agrees with the Company that:

4.1 In connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, the Dealer Manager will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the federal securities laws, the sale of Notes or its activities and by all applicable state securities laws and regulations and the rules of FINRA, as from time to time in effect, and by this Agreement, including the obligation to deliver a copy of the Prospectus as required by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The Dealer Manager will not make any sales of the Notes in any jurisdiction unless and until it has been advised that the Notes are either registered in accordance with, or exempt from, the securities and other laws applicable thereto. The Dealer Manager shall, and each Dealer shall agree to, solicit purchases of the Notes only in the jurisdictions in which the Dealer Manager and such Dealer are legally qualified to so act and in which solicitations can be made.

4.2 The Dealer Manager will make no representations concerning the Offering except as set forth in the Prospectus.

4.3 The Dealer Manager will provide the Company with such information relating to the offer and sale of the Notes by it as may be requested to enable the Company to prepare such reports of sale as may be required to be filed under applicable federal or state securities laws.

4.4 All engagements of the Dealers will be evidenced by a Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement, except when the Dealer Manager obtains the prior written consent of the Company. When Dealers are used in this Offering, the Dealer Manager will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Dealers to comply with all their respective obligations pursuant to the Participating Broker-Dealer Agreement.

4.5 The Dealer Manager will comply in all material respects with the subscription procedures and “Plan of Distribution” set forth in the Prospectus. Subscriptions using DRS Settlement will be submitted by the Dealer Manager and each Dealer to the Company only on the subscription agreement. The Dealer Manager understands and acknowledges, and each Dealer shall acknowledge if using DRS Settlement, that such subscription agreement must be executed and initialed by the subscriber as provided for by such subscription agreement.

4.6 The Company may also provide the Dealer Manager with certain supplemental sales material to be used by the Dealer Manager and the Dealers in connection with the solicitation of purchasers of the Notes. In the event the Dealer Manager elects to use such supplemental sales material, the Dealer Manager agrees that such material shall not be used in connection with the solicitation of purchasers of the Notes unless accompanied or preceded by the Prospectus, as then currently in effect, and as it may be amended or

 

5


supplemented in the future. The Dealer Manager agrees that it will not use any sales materials in conjunction with the offer and sale of the Notes other than those either provided to the Dealer Manager by the Company or approved by the Company for use in the Offering. The use of any other sales material is expressly prohibited.

4.7 The Dealer Manager is, and during the term of this Agreement will be, (a) duly registered as a broker-dealer pursuant to the provisions of the Exchange Act, (b) prior to selling in any state or jurisdiction, a broker or dealer duly registered as such if the Dealer Manager’s activities in such state or jurisdiction require such registration or licensing, (c) a member of FINRA in good standing, and (d) otherwise duly registered or qualified as required by any applicable law in any and all other states where solicitation of offers to purchase the Notes are made by the Dealer Manager. The Dealer Manager agrees to notify the Company immediately in writing if it ceases to be a member in good standing with FINRA or it is notified by FINRA that it is being investigated for any impropriety, it is subject to a FINRA suspension, (iii) any state investigates it for any impropriety, or (iv) its registration as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act is terminated or suspended.

 

5.

COMPENSATION OF DEALER MANAGER AND COMPANY EXPENSES.

5.1 Except as otherwise provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus, as compensation for the services rendered by the Dealer Manager, the Company agrees that it will pay to the Dealer Manager sales commissions in the amount of 6.0% of the $25.00 per note cash price for Notes sold in the Offering, plus a dealer manager fee in the amount of 3.0% of the $25.00 per note cash price for Notes sold in the Offering, and the Company will pay reduced selling commissions or may eliminate commissions on certain sales of Notes, including the reduction or elimination of selling commissions in accordance with, and on the terms set forth in, the Prospectus.

5.2 The Company will not be liable or responsible to any Dealer for direct payment of commissions to any Dealer, it being the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Dealer Manager for payment of commissions to Dealers. Notwithstanding the above, at the discretion of the Company, the Company may act as agent of the Dealer Manager by making direct payment of commissions to Dealers on behalf of the Dealer Manager without incurring any liability.

5.3 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event the Offering terminates prior to completion, the Company will not pay any compensation to the Dealer Manager or any Dealer in connection with the Offering, except for Notes actually sold and issued to investors; provided, however, that the Company may reimburse the Dealer Manager and/or a Dealer for its out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred by the Dealer Manager and/or a Dealer in accordance with this Agreement.

5.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that the Company pays any commission to the Dealer Manager for sale by a Dealer of one or more Notes and the subscription is rescinded as to one or more of the Notes covered by such subscription, the Company shall decrease the next payment of commissions or other compensation otherwise payable to the Dealer Manager by the Company under this Agreement by an amount equal to the commission rate established in Section 5.1 of this Agreement, multiplied by the number of Notes as to which the subscription is rescinded. In the event that no payment of commissions or other compensation is due to the Dealer Manager after such withdrawal occurs, the Dealer Manager shall pay the amount specified in the preceding sentence to the Company within ten (10) days following receipt of notice by the Dealer Manager from the Company stating the amount owed as a result of rescinded subscriptions.

5.5 In no event shall the total aggregate underwriting compensation payable to the Dealer Manager and any Dealers participating in the Offering, including, but not limited to, selling commissions and the dealer manager fees exceed 10.0% of the gross proceeds from the Offering in the aggregate. In connection with the amount offered by the Company pursuant to the Prospectus and FINRA’s 10.0% underwriting compensation limitation under FINRA Rule 2310 (“FINRA’s 10% cap”), the Dealer Manager shall advance all the fixed expenses (including, but not limited to, the Dealer Manager’s legal expenses associated with filing the Offering with FINRA if required) that are required to be included within FINRA’s 10% cap to ensure that the aggregate underwriting compensation paid in connection with the Offering does not exceed FINRA’s 10% cap. The Dealer Manager shall repay to the Company any excess amounts received over FINRA’s 10% cap if the Offering is terminated by the Company pursuant to the Prospectus and before reaching the maximum amount of Notes offered by the Company pursuant to the Prospectus.

5.6 The parties hereto acknowledge that the Dealer Manager shall be responsible for (a) all due diligence expenses incurred by the Dealer Manager or any Dealer and (b) all expenses incurred by the Dealer Manager in contracting with a third party to provide clearing services in connection with DTC Settlements (as defined below), and that such expenses shall not be reimbursed by the Company.

5.7 The parties hereto acknowledge that prior to the effective date of this Agreement, the Company may have paid to the Dealer Manager advances of monies against out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually anticipated to be incurred by the Dealer Manager in connection with the Offering. Such advances, if any, shall be credited against the amount of the fee payable pursuant to Section 5.1 that is retained by the Dealer Manager and not re-allowed until the full amount of such advances is offset. Such advances are not intended to be in addition to the compensation set forth Section 5.1, and any and all monies advanced that are not utilized for out-of-pocket accountable expenses actually incurred by the Dealer Manager in connection with the Offering shall be reimbursed by the Dealer Manager to the Company.

 

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6.

INDEMNIFICATION.

6.1 The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Dealers and the Dealer Manager, their officers, directors and managers, and each person, if any, who controls such Dealer or the Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (the “Indemnified Persons”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (the “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Persons may become subject, insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus, or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereto a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material act required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company will reimburse the Indemnified Person, as appropriate, for any reasonable legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending such Loss. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.1, the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Loss or expense arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished (x) to the Company by the Dealer Manager or (y) to the Company or the Dealer Manager by or on behalf of any Dealer specifically for use in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, and, further, the Company will not be liable in any such case if it is determined that such Dealer or the Dealer Manager was at fault in connection with the Loss, expense or action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not indemnify or hold harmless an Indemnified Person for any Losses or expenses arising from or out of an alleged violation of federal or state securities laws by such party unless one or more of the following conditions are met: (a) there has been a successful adjudication on the merits of each count involving alleged securities law violations as to the particular Indemnified Person, (b) such claims have been dismissed with prejudice on the merits by a court of competent jurisdiction as to the particular Indemnified Person and (c) a court of competent jurisdiction approves a settlement of the claims against a particular Indemnified Person and finds that indemnification of the settlement and the related costs should be made, and the court considering the request for indemnification has been advised of the position of the SEC and of the published position of any state securities regulatory authority in which securities of the Company were offered or sold as to indemnification for violations of securities laws.

6.2 The Dealer Manager will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers and directors, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, from and against any Losses to which any of the aforesaid parties may become subject, insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereto a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in the case of clauses (a)- (c) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager specifically for use with reference to the Dealer Manager in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or any such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (d) any use of sales literature not authorized or approved by the Company or any use of “broker-dealer use only” materials with potential investors or unauthorized verbal representations concerning the Notes by the Dealer Manager, or (e) any untrue statement made by the Dealer Manager or its representatives or agents or omission to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, or (f) any failure to comply with applicable laws governing money laundry abatement and anti-terrorist financing efforts, including applicable FINRA Rules, SEC rules and the USA Patriot Act. The Dealer Manager will reimburse the aforesaid parties in connection with investigation or defending such Loss or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Dealer Manager may otherwise have.

6.3 Each Dealer severally will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and each of their officers, directors, and managers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company and the Dealer Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act (each, a “Dealer Indemnified Person”), from and against any Losses to which the Dealer Indemnified Person may become subject, insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or in the Prospectus, or (b) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus as a part thereof) or any post-effective amendment thereto a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (c) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in

 

7


the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in the case of clauses (a)-(c) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company or the Dealer Manager by or on behalf of such Dealer specifically for use with reference to such Dealer in the preparation of the Registration Statement or any such post-effective amendments thereof or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or (d) any use of sales literature not authorized or approved by the Company or any use of “broker-dealer use only” materials with potential investors or unauthorized verbal representations concerning the Notes by such Dealer or Dealer’s representatives or agents, or (e) any untrue statement made by such Dealer or its representatives or agents or omission to state a fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, or (f) any failure to comply with Section IX or Section XII of the Participating Dealer Agreement or any other material violation of the Participating Dealer Agreement, or (g) any failure to comply with applicable laws governing money laundry abatement and anti-terrorist financing efforts, including applicable FINRA Rules, SEC Rules and the USA Patriot Act. Each such Dealer will reimburse the Dealer Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or action. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Dealer may otherwise have.

6.4 Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify in writing the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof and the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will relieve it from any liability under this Section 6 as to the particular item for which indemnification is then being sought, but not from any other liability which it may have to any indemnified party. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled, to the extent it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to participate in the defense thereof, with separate counsel. Such participation shall not relieve such indemnifying party of the obligation to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable legal and other expenses (subject to Section 6.5) incurred by such indemnified party in defending itself, except for such expenses incurred after the indemnifying party has deposited funds sufficient to effect the settlement, with prejudice, of the claim in respect of which indemnity is sought. Any such indemnifying party shall not be liable to any such indemnified party on account of any settlement of any claim or action effected without the consent of such indemnifying party.

6.5 The indemnifying party shall pay all reasonable legal fees and expenses of the indemnified party in the defense of such claims or actions; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be obliged to pay legal expenses and fees to more than one law firm in connection with the defense of similar claims arising out of the same alleged acts or omissions giving rise to such claims notwithstanding that such actions or claims are alleged or brought by one or more parties against more than one indemnified party. If such claims or actions are alleged or brought against more than one indemnified party, then the indemnifying party shall only be obliged to reimburse the expenses and fees of the one law firm that has been selected by a majority of the indemnified parties against which such action is finally brought; and in the event a majority of such indemnified parties is unable to agree on which law firm for which expenses or fees will be reimbursable by the indemnifying party, then payment shall be made to the first law firm of record representing an indemnified party against the action or claim. Such law firm shall be paid only to the extent of services performed by such law firm and no reimbursement shall be payable to such law firm on account of legal services performed by another law firm.

 

7.

SURVIVAL OF PROVISIONS.

7.1 The respective agreements, representations and warranties of the Company and the Dealer Manager set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (a) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Dealer Manager or any Dealer or any person controlling the Dealer Manager or any Dealer or by or on behalf of the Company or any person controlling the Company, and (b) the acceptance of any payment for the Notes.

7.2 The obligations of the Company to pay the Dealer Manager pursuant to Section 5.1 of this Agreement, and the provisions of Section 5.3, Section 5.4, Sections 6 through 8 and Sections 11 and 15 of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

8.

APPLICABLE LAW AND VENUE.

This Agreement and its validity, interpretation and construction shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York. The Company, the Dealer Manager and each Dealer hereby agree that venue for any action brought in connection with this Agreement shall lie exclusively in Fairfax County, Virginia.

 

9.

COUNTERPARTS.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts. Each counterpart, when executed and delivered, shall be an original contract, but all counterparts, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

8


10.

SUCCESSORS AND AMENDMENT.

10.1 This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Dealer Manager and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person any right, remedy or claim, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.

10.2 This Agreement may be amended by the mutual written agreement of the Dealer Manager and the Company.

 

11.

TERM.

11.1 This Agreement may be terminated by either party on sixty (60) days’ written notice, with or without cause.

11.2 In any case, this Agreement shall terminate at the close of business on the effective date that the Offering is terminated. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement, the Company shall pay to the Dealer Manager all commissions to which the Dealer Manager is or becomes entitled under Section 5 at such time as such commissions become payable.

11.3 In addition, the Dealer Manager, upon the expiration or termination of this Agreement, shall (a) promptly deposit any and all funds in its possession which were received from investors for the sale of Notes into such account as the Company may designate; and (b) promptly deliver to the Company all records and documents in its possession which relate to the Offering which are not designated as dealer copies. The Dealer Manager, at its sole expense, may make and retain copies of all such records and documents, but shall keep all such information confidential.

11.4 The Dealer Manager shall use its best efforts to cooperate with the Company to accomplish any orderly transfer of management of the Offering to a party designated by the Company.

 

12.

CONFIRMATIONS.

The Company hereby agrees to prepare and send, or arrange for preparation and sending of, confirmations to all purchasers of Notes whose subscriptions for the purchase of Notes are accepted by the Company.

 

13.

SUITABILITY OF INVESTORS; COMPLIANCE WITH PRIVACY AND ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING REGULATIONS.

13.1 The Dealer Manager will offer Notes, and in its agreements with Dealers will require that the Dealers offer Notes, only to persons who meet the financial qualifications set forth in the Prospectus, if any, or in any suitability letter or memorandum sent to it by the Company and will only make offers to persons in the states in which it is advised in writing that the Notes are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. In offering Notes, the Dealer Manager will comply, and in its agreements with Dealers, the Dealer Manager will require that the Dealers comply, with the provisions of all applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors, if any.

13.2 The Company, the Dealer Manager and each Dealer shall: (a) abide by and comply with (i) the privacy standards and requirements of the GLB Act; (ii) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable federal or state law, and (iii) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time; and (b) refrain from the use or disclosure of nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLB Act) of all customers.

13.3 The Company, the Dealer Manager and each Dealer agree to comply with the USA Patriot Act and any applicable U.S. Department of Treasury regulations issued thereunder that require reasonable efforts to verify the identity of new customers, maintain customer records, and check the names of new customers against the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. In addition, the Company, the Dealer Manager, and each Dealer agree to comply with all Executive Orders and federal regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control. Further, the Dealer Manager agrees, upon receipt of an “information request” issued under Section 314(a) of the USA Patriot Act, to provide the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network with information regarding: (i) the identity of a specified individual or organization; (ii) account number; (iii) all identifying information provided by the account holder; and (iv) the date and type of transaction. The Dealer Manager from time to time will monitor account activity to identify patterns of unusual size or volume, geographic factors, and any other potential signals of suspicious activity, including possible money laundering or terrorist financing. The Company reserves the right to reject account applications from new customers who fail to provide necessary account information or who intentionally provide misleading information.

 

14.

SUBMISSION OF ORDERS.

14.1 The Dealer Manager may authorize certain Dealers that have “net capital,” as defined in the applicable federal securities regulations, of $250,000 or more, to instruct their customers to make their checks for Notes subscribed for payable directly to the Dealer. In such case, the Dealer will collect the proceeds of the subscribers’ checks and issue a check made payable to the order of the

 

9


Company, as described above, for the aggregate amount of the subscription proceeds or wire such funds to the Company. The Dealer Manager and any Dealer receiving a check that does not conform to the foregoing instructions shall promptly return such check directly to such subscriber. Checks received by the Dealer Manager or Dealer that conform to the foregoing instructions shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods described in this Section 14 and in accordance with the requirements set forth in Rule 15c2-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

14.2 It is understood and agreed that the Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to refuse to sell any of the Notes to any person.

14.3 In connection with DRS Settlement (as defined below), those persons who purchase Notes will be instructed by the Dealer Manager or the Dealer to make their checks payable to “UMB Bank, n.a., as escrow agent for Gladstone Investment Corporation” (the “Escrow Agent”). Each person desiring to purchase Notes through the Dealer Manager, or any other Dealer participating in the Offering, will be required to complete and execute the subscription documents described in the Prospectus, if any. In connection with DRS Settlement, when a Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures are conducted at the site at which the subscription agreement and check were initially received by such Dealer from the subscriber, the Dealer shall transmit the subscription agreement and check to the Escrow Agent by the end of the next business day following receipt of the check and subscription agreement. When, pursuant to a Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures, such Dealer’s final internal supervisory procedures are conducted at a different location (the “Final Review Office”), such Dealer shall transmit the check and subscription agreement to the Final Review Office by the end of the next business day following such Dealer’s receipt of the subscription agreement and check. The Final Review Office will, by the end of the next business day following its receipt of the subscription agreement and check, forward both the subscription agreement and check to the Escrow Agent. If any subscription agreement solicited by a Dealer participating in this Offering is rejected by the Dealer Manager or the Company, then the subscription agreement and check will be returned to the rejected subscriber within ten (10) days from the date of rejection.

14.4 The Company will sell the Notes using two closing services provided by the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The first service is DTC closing (“DTC Settlement”), and the second service is Direct Registration Service (“DRS Settlement”). A sale of Notes shall be deemed by the Company to be completed if and only if (i) the Company has received payment of the full purchase price of purchased Notes, from an investor who satisfies the minimum purchase requirements set forth in the Prospectus as determined by the Dealer Manager or other Dealer participating in this Offering, as applicable, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (ii) the Company has accepted such subscription, and, if using DRS Settlement, a properly completed and executed subscription agreement, and (iii) such investor has been admitted as a stockholder of the Company. In addition, no sale of Notes shall be completed until after the date on which the subscriber receives a copy of the Prospectus. The Dealer Manager hereby acknowledges and agrees that the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, may accept or reject any subscription, in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever or no reason, and no dealer manager fee in the amount of up to 3.0% (as described in Section 5.1) will be paid to the Dealer Manager with respect to that portion of any subscription which is rejected.

 

15.

NOTICE.

Any notice in this Agreement permitted to be given, made or accepted by either party to the other, must be in writing and may be given or served by (i) overnight courier, (ii) depositing the same in the United States mail, postpaid, certified, return receipt requested, (iii) electronic delivery or (iv) facsimile transfer. Notice deposited in the United States mail shall be deemed given when mailed. Notice given in any other manner shall be effective when received at the address of the addressee. For purposes hereof the addresses of the parties, until changed as hereafter provided, shall be as follows:

 

To Company:

   Gladstone Investment Corporation
   McLean, Virginia 22102
   Attention: David Gladstone, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
   Attention: Julia Ryan, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Treasurer
   Fax: (703) 287-5801

To Dealer Manager:

   Gladstone Securities, LLC
   1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100
   McLean, Virginia 22102
   Attention: John Kent
   Fax: (703) 287-5803

With a copy to:

   The Gladstone Companies
   1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100
   McLean, Virginia 22102
   Attention: Michael B. LiCalsi, General Counsel and Secretary
   Fax: (703) 287-5899

 

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16.

SEVERABILITY.

In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision of this Agreement invalid, such invalidity shall have no effect on the other provisions hereof, which shall remain valid and binding and in full force and effect, and to that end the provisions of this Agreement shall be considered severable.

 

17.

NO WAIVER.

Failure by either party to promptly insist upon strict compliance with any of the obligations of the other party under this Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to enforce strict compliance with respect to any obligation hereunder.

 

18.

ASSIGNMENT.

This Agreement may not be assigned by either party, except with the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

 

19.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

This Agreement constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of the agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior written and oral statements or agreements with respect to such subject matter.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between us as of the date first above written.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ David Gladstone
Name: David Gladstone
Title: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President

Accepted and agreed as of the date first above written.

 

GLADSTONE SECURITIES, LLC
/s/ John Kent
Name: John Kent
Title: Managing Principal

Signature Page to Dealer Manager Agreement


Exhibit A

 

LOGO

PARTICIPATING DEALER AGREEMENT

$350,000,000 of 6.00% Notes due 2040 — $25.00 per note

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Gladstone Securities, LLC, as the dealer manager (“Dealer Manager”) for Gladstone Investment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), invites you (the “Dealer”) to participate in the distribution of 6.00% notes due 2040 (the “Notes”) of the Company subject to the following terms:

I. Dealer Manager Agreement

The Dealer Manager and the Company have entered into that certain Dealer Manager Agreement, dated May 22, 2020 (the “Dealer Manager Agreement”), in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. By your acceptance of this Participating Dealer Agreement, you will become one of the Dealers referred to in such Dealer Manager Agreement between the Company and the Dealer Manager and will be entitled and subject to the indemnification provisions contained in such Dealer Manager Agreement, including specifically the provisions of Section 6.3 of such Dealer Manager Agreement wherein each Dealer severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Dealer Manager and each officer, director, member and manager thereof, and each person, if any, who controls the Company and the Dealer Manager for the matters set forth in Section 6.3 of the Dealer Manager Agreement. Such indemnification obligations shall survive the termination of this Participating Dealer Agreement. Except as otherwise specifically stated herein, all terms used in this Participating Dealer Agreement have the meanings provided in the Dealer Manager Agreement. The Notes are offered solely through broker-dealers which are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

Dealer hereby agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to sell the Notes for cash on the terms and conditions stated in the Prospectus. Nothing in this Participating Dealer Agreement shall be deemed or construed to make Dealer an employee, agent, representative or partner of the Dealer Manager or of the Company, and Dealer is not authorized to act for the Dealer Manager or the Company or to make any representations on their behalf except as set forth in the Prospectus and such other printed information furnished to Dealer by the Dealer Manager, and authorized by the Company in writing, to supplement the Prospectus (“Supplemental Information”).

II. Submission of Orders

Dealer hereby agrees to solicit, as an independent contractor and not as the agent of the Dealer Manager or of the Company (or their affiliates), persons acceptable to the Company to purchase the Notes pursuant to the subscription agreement in the form attached to the Prospectus and in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus. Dealer hereby agrees to diligently make inquiries as required by this Agreement, as set forth in the Prospectus, and as required by all applicable laws of all prospective investors in order to ascertain whether a purchase of the Notes is suitable for each such investor.

If persons purchase Notes via check and subscription agreement, they will be instructed by the Dealer to make their checks payable to “UMB Bank, n.a., as escrow agent for Gladstone Investment Corporation.” Any Dealer receiving a check not conforming to the foregoing instructions shall return such check directly to such subscriber. Checks received by the Dealer which conform to the foregoing instructions shall be transmitted for deposit pursuant to one of the methods:

1. Where, pursuant to the Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures, internal supervisory review is conducted at the same location at which subscription documents and checks are received from subscribers, checks will be transmitted by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer for deposit directly with the Company in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus.

2. Where, pursuant to the Dealer’s internal supervisory procedures, final and internal supervisory review is conducted at a different location, checks will be transmitted by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Dealer to the office of the Dealer conducting such final internal supervisory review (the “Final Review Office”). The Final Review Office will in turn transmit, by the end of the next business day following receipt by the Final Review Office, such checks to the Company for deposit with the Company in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus.

 

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  III.

Pricing

Except as described in the Prospectus, $350,000,000 of Notes are intended to be offered to the public at the offering price of $25.00 per Note, payable in cash pursuant to the Offering. Except as otherwise indicated in the Prospectus, determined by the Company in its sole discretion, or in any letter or memorandum sent to the Dealer by the Company or Dealer Manager, a minimum initial purchase of $5,000, or 200 Notes, is required.

 

  IV.

Covenants of Dealer

Dealer represents and warrants to the Company and the Dealer Manager and agrees that:

Prior to participating in the Offering, Dealer will have reasonable grounds to believe, based on information made available to Dealer by the Dealer Manager and/or the Company through the Prospectus, that all material facts are adequately and accurately disclosed in the Prospectus and provide a basis for evaluating an investment in the Company and the Notes.

Dealer agrees not to rely upon the efforts of the Dealer Manager, which is affiliated with the Company, in determining whether the Company has adequately and accurately disclosed all material facts upon which to provide a basis for evaluating the Company to the extent required by federal or state laws or FINRA. Dealer further agrees to conduct its own investigation to make that determination independent of the efforts of the Dealer Manager.

Dealer agrees to retain in its records and make available to the Dealer Manager and to the Company for a period of at least six (6) years following the termination of the Offering, information establishing that each investor who purchases the Notes solicited by Dealer is suitable for such investment.

Dealer agrees that, prior to accepting a subscription for the Notes, it will inform the prospective investor of all pertinent facts relating to the illiquidity and lack of marketability of the Notes, as appropriate, during the term of the investment.

Dealer hereby undertakes and agrees to comply with all obligations applicable to Dealer under all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including those set forth by FINRA. In soliciting persons to acquire the Notes, Dealer further agrees to comply with any applicable requirements of the federal securities laws, applicable state securities laws, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and the rules of FINRA and, in particular, Dealer agrees that it will not give any information or make any representations other than those contained in the Prospectus and in any supplemental sales literature furnished to Dealer by the Dealer Manager for use in making such solicitations.

Dealer shall deliver to each prospective investor, prior to any submission by such prospective investor, a written offer to buy any Notes, a copy of the Prospectus, and shall keep record of to whom, by what manner and on what date it delivered each such copy.

Dealer will not deliver to any offeree any written documents pertaining to the Company or the Notes, other than the Prospectus, and any other materials specifically designated for distribution to prospective investors that are supplied to Dealer by the Company or its affiliates. Without intending to limit the generality of the foregoing, Dealer shall not deliver to any prospective investor any material pertaining to the Company or any of its affiliates that has been furnished as “broker/dealer information only.”

In its solicitation of offers for the Notes, Dealer will comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as well as the published rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules and regulations of all state securities authorities, as applicable, to the best of its knowledge, after due inquiry and investigation and to the extent within its direct control.

Dealer is (and will continue to be) a member in good standing with FINRA, will abide by the rules and regulations of FINRA, is in full compliance with all applicable requirements under the Exchange Act, and is registered as a broker-dealer in all of the jurisdictions in which Dealer solicits offers to purchase the Notes.

 

  V.

Dealers’ Commissions

Except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus and this Section V, the Dealer’s sales commission applicable to the Notes sold by Dealer which it is authorized to sell hereunder is 6.0% of the gross proceeds of Notes sold by it and accepted and confirmed by the Company, which commission will be payable by the Dealer Manager. For these purposes, Notes shall be deemed to be “sold” if and only if a transaction has closed with a subscriber for Notes pursuant to all applicable Offering and subscription documents, the Company has accepted the subscription agreement of such subscriber, and such Notes have been fully paid for and the Company has thereafter distributed the commission to the Dealer Manager in connection with such transaction. The Dealer affirms that the Dealer Manager’s liability for commissions payable is limited solely to the proceeds of commissions receivable from the Company, and the Dealer hereby waives any and all rights to receive payment of commissions due until such time as the Dealer Manager is in receipt of the commission from the Company.

 

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As set forth in the Prospectus, to the extent the Dealer determines to reduce its sales commission below 6.0%, the public offering price per Note will be decreased by an amount equal to such reduction. Examples of such reductions are reflected in the table below:

 

Dealer Sales Commission    Public Offering Price Per Note  

6.0%

   $ 25.00  

5.5%

   $ 24.88  

5.0%

   $ 24.75  

4.5%

   $ 24.63  

4.0%

   $ 24.50  

3.5%

   $ 24.38  

3.0%

   $ 24.25  

2.5%

   $ 24.13  

2.0%

   $ 24.00  

1.5%

   $ 23.88  

1.0%

   $ 23.75  

0.5%

   $ 23.63  

0.0%

   $ 23.50  

Except as otherwise provided herein, all expenses incurred by Dealer in the performance of Dealer’s obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, expenses related to the Offering and any attorneys’ fees, shall be at Dealer’s sole cost and expense, and the foregoing shall apply notwithstanding the fact that the Offering is not consummated for any reason.

In addition, as set forth in the Prospectus, the Dealer Manager may, in its sole discretion, reallow a portion of its dealer manager fee to Dealers participating in the Offering of Notes as marketing fees, reimbursement of costs and expenses of attending educational conferences or to defray other distribution-related expenses.

The parties hereby agree that the foregoing commission is not in excess of the usual and customary distributors’ or sellers’ commission received in the sale of securities similar to the Notes, that Dealer’s interest in the Offering is limited to such commission from the Dealer Manager and Dealer’s indemnity referred to in Section 6 of the Dealer Manager Agreement, and that the Company is not liable or responsible for the direct payment of such commission to the Dealer. In addition, as set forth in the Prospectus, the Dealer Manager may reimburse Dealer for reasonable bona fide accountable due diligence expenses incurred by such Dealer. The Dealer Manager shall have the right to require the Dealer to provide a detailed and itemized invoice as a condition to the reimbursement of any such due diligence expenses. Reimbursement requests for accountable bona fide due diligence expenses must be made by Dealer within six months of the date of sale of Notes or such requests will not be honored by the Dealer Manager.

 

  VI.

Applicability of Indemnification

Each of the Dealer and Dealer Manager hereby acknowledges and agrees that it will be subject to the obligations set forth in, and entitled to the benefits of all the provisions of, the Dealer Manager Agreement, including but not limited to, the representations and warranties and the indemnification obligations contained in such Dealer Manager Agreement, including specifically the provisions of Section 6.3 of the Dealer Manager Agreement. Such indemnification obligations shall survive the termination of this Participating Dealer Agreement and the Dealer Manager Agreement.

 

  VII.

Payment

Payments of selling commissions will be made by the Dealer Manager to Dealer within 14 days of the receipt by the Dealer Manager of the gross commission payments from the Company. Dealer acknowledges that if the Company pays selling commissions to the Dealer Manager, the Company is relieved of any obligation for selling commissions to Dealer. The Company may rely on and use the preceding acknowledgment as a defense against any claim by Dealer for selling commissions the Company pays to Dealer Manager but that Dealer Manager fails to remit to Dealer.

 

  VIII.

Right to Reject Orders or Cancel Sales

All orders, whether initial or additional, are subject to acceptance by and shall only become effective upon confirmation by the Company, which reserves the right to reject any order. Orders not accompanied by a subscription agreement signature page and the

required check in payment for the Notes may be rejected. Issuance of the Notes will be made only after actual receipt of payment. If

 

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any check is not paid upon presentment, or if the Company is not in actual receipt of clearinghouse funds or cash, certified or cashier’s check or the equivalent in payment for the Notes within 30 days of sale, the Company reserves the right to cancel the sale without notice. In the event an order is rejected, canceled or rescinded for any reason, Dealer agrees to return to the Dealer Manager any commission theretofore paid with respect to such order and, failing to do so, the Dealer Manager shall have the right to offset amounts owed against future commissions due and otherwise payable to Dealer.

 

  IX.

Prospectus and Supplemental Information

Dealer is not authorized or permitted to give, and will not give, any information or make any representation concerning the Notes except as set forth in the Prospectus and any Supplemental Information. The Dealer Manager will supply Dealer with reasonable quantities of the Prospectus, as well as any Supplemental Information, for delivery to investors, and Dealer will deliver a copy of the Prospectus as required by the federal securities laws. The Dealer agrees that it will not send or give any Supplemental Information to an investor unless it has previously sent or given a Prospectus to that investor or has simultaneously sent or given a Prospectus with such Supplemental Information. Dealer agrees that it will not show or give to any investor or prospective investor or reproduce any material or writing that is supplied to it by the Dealer Manager and marked “dealer only” or otherwise bearing a legend denoting that it is not to be used in connection with the sale of Notes to members of the public. Dealer agrees that it will not use in connection with the offer or sale of Notes any material or writing that relates to another company supplied to it by the Company or the Dealer Manager bearing a legend that states that such material may not be used in connection with the offer or sale of any securities of the Company. Dealer further agrees that it will not use in connection with the offer or sale of Notes any materials or writings that have not been previously approved by the Dealer Manager and the Company in writing. Each Dealer agrees that it will mail or otherwise deliver all Prospectuses required for compliance with the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 under the Exchange Act. Regardless of the termination of this Agreement, Dealer will deliver a Prospectus in transactions in the Notes for a period of 90 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement or such longer period as may be required under the federal securities laws.

 

  X.

License and Association Membership

Dealer’s acceptance of this Participating Dealer Agreement constitutes a representation to the Company and the Dealer Manager that Dealer is a properly registered broker-dealer under the Exchange Act, is duly licensed as a broker-dealer and authorized to sell Notes under federal and state securities laws and regulations and in all states where it offers or sells Notes, and that it is a member in good standing of FINRA. Dealer agrees to notify the Dealer Manager immediately in writing and this Participating Dealer Agreement shall automatically terminate if Dealer ceases to be a member in good standing of FINRA, is subject to a FINRA suspension, or its registration as a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act is terminated or suspended. Dealer hereby agrees to abide by all applicable FINRA Rules.

 

  XI.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Programs

Dealer’s acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation to the Company and the Dealer Manager that Dealer has established and implemented anti-money laundering compliance programs in accordance with applicable law, including but not limited to applicable FINRA Conduct Rules, Exchange Act Regulations and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot Act”), specifically including, but not limited to, Section 352 of the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (the “Money Laundering Abatement Act,” and together with the USA Patriot Act, and applicable FINRA Conduct Rules and Exchange Act Regulations, the “AML Rules”) reasonably expected to detect and cause the reporting of suspicious transactions in connection with the offering and sale of the Notes (the “AML Program”). Dealer further represents and warrants that it is currently in compliance with the AML Rules, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the Money Laundering Abatement Act, and the Dealer hereby covenants to remain in compliance with such requirements. Dealer shall, at least annually and upon any other request of Dealer Manager or the Company, provide a certification to Dealer Manager and/or the Company that, as of the date of such certification (i) the Dealer’s AML Program is consistent with the AML Rules and (ii) the Dealer is currently in compliance with all AML Rules, specifically including, but not limited to, the Customer Identification Program requirements under Section 326 of the Money Laundering Abatement Act. Further, Dealer agrees, upon receipt of an “information request” issued under Section 314 (a) of the USA Patriot Act to provide the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network with information regarding: (i) the identity of a specified individual or organization; (ii) account number, (iii) all identifying information provided by the account holder; and (iv) the date and type of transaction. The Dealer from time to time will monitor account activity to identify patterns of unusual size or volume, geographic factors, and any other potential signals of suspicious activity, including possible money laundering or terrorist financing.

Dealer agrees and acknowledges that each investor who purchases Notes solicited by Dealer is a customer of Dealer, and not Dealer Manager, with respect to such transaction, and that it shall be Dealer’s responsibility to perform all reviews required pursuant to the AML Rules. The Company reserves the right to reject any subscriptions from new customers who fail to provide necessary information or who intentionally provide misleading information.

 

A-4


  XII.

Limitation of Offer and Suitability

Dealer will offer Notes only to persons who meet any applicable suitable requirements and will only make offers to persons in the states in which it is advised in writing that the Notes are qualified for sale or that such qualification is not required. In offering Notes, Dealer will comply with the provisions of the rules and requirements of FINRA, as well as all other applicable rules and regulations relating to suitability of investors, and the suitability standards set forth in the Prospectus.

Prior to the sale of the Notes, each Dealer shall inform each prospective purchaser of Notes of pertinent facts relating to the Notes including specifically the lack of liquidity and lack of marketability of the Notes during the term of the investment.

 

  XIII.

Due Diligence and Adequate Disclosure

Dealer understands that the Company, Dealer Manager or third party due diligence providers may from time to time furnish Dealer with certain information which is non-public, confidential or proprietary in nature (the “Due Diligence Information”) in connection with its due diligence obligations under FINRA rules and the federal securities laws. Dealer agrees that the Due Diligence Information will be kept confidential and shall not, without our prior written consent, be disclosed by Dealer, or by Dealer’s affiliates, agents, representatives or employees, in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part, and shall not be used by Dealer, its agents, representatives or employees, other than in connection with Dealer’s due diligence evaluation of the Offering. Dealer agrees to reveal the Due Diligence Information only to its affiliates, agents, representatives and employees who need to know the Due Diligence Information for the purpose of the due diligence evaluation. Further, Dealer and its affiliates, agents, representatives and employees will not disclose to any person the fact that the Due Diligence Information has been made available to it.

The term Due Diligence Information shall not include information which (i) is already in Dealer’s possession or in the possession of Dealer’s parent company or affiliates, provided that such information is not known by Dealer to be subject to another confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy to the Company or another party; (ii) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by Dealer, its affiliates, or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives in violation of this agreement; (iii) becomes available to Dealer or its affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company or its advisors, provided that such source is not known by Dealer or its affiliates to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with or other obligation of secrecy to the Company or another party; or (iv) is independently developed by Dealer or by its affiliates without use of the Due Diligence Information.

Dealer agrees that its obligation of non-disclosure, non-use and confidentiality of the Due Diligence Information as set forth herein shall terminate two (2) years after the date on which the Due Diligence Information is received by Dealer.

 

  XIV.

Compliance with Record Keeping Requirements

Dealer agrees to comply with the record keeping requirements of the Exchange Act, including but not limited to, Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act. Dealer further agrees to keep such records with respect to each customer who purchases Notes, his suitability and the amount of Notes sold and to retain such records for such period of time as may be required by the SEC, any state securities commission, FINRA or the Company.

 

  XV.

Customer Complaints

Each party hereby agrees to promptly provide to the other party copies of any written or otherwise documented complaints from customers of Dealer received by such party relating in any way to the Offering (including, but not limited to, the manner in which the Notes are offered by the Dealer Manager or Dealer), the Notes or the Company.

 

  XVI.

Termination and Amendments

Dealer will immediately suspend or terminate its offer and sale of Notes upon the request of the Company or the Dealer Manager at any time and will resume its offer and sale of Notes hereunder upon subsequent request of the Company or the Dealer Manager. Any party may terminate this Participating Dealer Agreement by written notice. Such termination shall be effective 48 hours after the mailing of such notice. This Participating Dealer Agreement and the exhibits hereto are the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, if any, between the parties hereto.

This Participating Dealer Agreement may be amended at any time by the Dealer Manager by written notice to the Dealer, and any such amendment shall be deemed accepted and agreed to by Dealer upon placing an order for sale of Notes after he has received such notice.

 

A-5


  XVII.

Privacy Laws

The Dealer Manager and Dealer (each referred to individually in this section as “party”) agree as follows:

1. Each party agrees to abide by and comply with (i) the privacy standards and requirements of the Gramm-Leach- Bliley Act of 1999 (“GLB Act”), (ii) the privacy standards and requirements of any other applicable Federal or state law, and (iii) its own internal privacy policies and procedures, each as may be amended from time to time.

2. Dealer agrees to provide privacy policy notices required under the GLB Act resulting from purchases of Notes made by its customers pursuant to this Participating Dealer Agreement.

3. Each party agrees to refrain from the use or disclosure of nonpublic personal information (as defined under the GLB Act) of all customers who have opted out of such disclosures except as necessary to service the customers or as otherwise necessary or required by applicable law.

 

  XVIII.

Notice

Any notice in this Participating Dealer Agreement permitted to be given, made or accepted by either party to the other, must be in writing and may be given or served by (1) overnight courier, (2) depositing the same in the United States mail, postpaid, certified, return receipt requested, or (3) facsimile transfer. Notice deposited in the United States mail shall be deemed given when mailed. Notice given in any other manner shall be effective when received at the address of the addressee. For purposes hereof the addresses of the parties, until changed as hereafter provided, shall be as follows:

To Dealer Manager:         Gladstone Securities, LLC

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, Virginia 22102

Attention: John Kent

Fax: (703) 287-5803

To Dealer:                        Address Specified By Dealer on Dealer Signature Page

 

  XIX.

Attorney’s Fees, Applicable Law and Venue

In any action to enforce the provisions of this Participating Dealer Agreement or to secure damages for its breach, the prevailing party shall recover its costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. This Participating Dealer Agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of New York and shall take effect when signed by Dealer and countersigned by the Dealer Manager. Dealer and Dealer Manager hereby acknowledge and agree that venue for any action brought hereunder shall lie exclusively in McLean, Virginia.

 

  XX.

Severability

In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction declares any provision of this Participating Dealer Agreement invalid, such invalidity shall have no effect on the other provisions hereof, which shall remain valid and binding and in full force and effect, and to that end the provisions of this Participating Dealer Agreement shall be considered severable.

 

  XXI.

No Waiver

Failure by either party to promptly insist upon strict compliance with any of the obligations of the other party under this Participating Dealer Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to enforce strict compliance with respect to any obligation hereunder.

 

  XXII.

Assignment

This Participating Dealer Agreement may not be assigned by either party, except with the prior written consent of the other party. This Participating Dealer Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, their heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

 

  XXIII.

Authorization

Each party represents to the other that all requisite proceedings have been undertaken to authorize it to enter into and perform under this Participating Dealer Agreement as contemplated herein, and that the individual who has signed this Participating Dealer Agreement below on its behalf is a duly elected officer that has been empowered to act for and on behalf of such party with respect to the execution of this Participating Dealer Agreement.

 

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[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

A-7


We have read the foregoing Agreement and we hereby accept and agree to the terms and conditions set forth therein.

 

THE DEALER MANAGER:
Gladstone Securities, LLC
By:    
Name:   John Kent
Title:   Managing Principal

 

A-8


LOGO

Participating Dealer Agreement Signature Page

We have read the foregoing Participating Dealer Agreement and the form Dealer Manager Agreement included as an exhibit thereto, and we hereby accept and agree to the terms and conditions therein set forth. We hereby represent that we will comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. We represent and warrant that we are duly registered as a broker-dealer under the provisions of the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations or we are exempt from such registration. We hereby agree to advise you of any changes to the information listed on this signature page during the term of this Participating Dealer Agreement. We hereby represent that we will comply with the conduct rules of FINRA, all rules and regulations promulgated by FINRA and all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

1. Person to receive notice pursuant to Section XVIII.

Name:                                                                                                                                                                                      

Company:                                                                                                                                                                                          

Address:                                                                                                                                                                                  

City, State and Zip Code:                                                                                                                                                                     

Telephone No.: (    )                  Fax No.: (    )                 

E-Mail:                             

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY THE DEALER:

 

    

Name of Participating Dealer

  
    

Federal Identification Number

  

By:

       

Date:                     

  

Signature

  
       
  

Printed Name

  
       
  

Title

  

Kindly have checks representing selling commissions forwarded as follows (if different from above):

 

Name of Firm:

   

Address:

   
 

Street

   
   
 

City

 

State

 

Zip Code

   
 

Telephone No.

   
   
 

Fax No.

   

Attention:

   

 

A-9

Exhibit 4.1

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION,

Issuer

AND

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

Trustee

 

 

INDENTURE

Dated as of May 22, 2020

 

 

Senior Debt Securities


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              PAGE  

ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS

     1  
 

Section 1.01

  

Definitions of Terms

     1  

ARTICLE 2 ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

     4  
 

Section 2.01

  

Designation and Terms of Securities

     4  
 

Section 2.02

  

Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate

     6  
 

Section 2.03

  

Denominations: Provisions for Payment

     6  
 

Section 2.04

  

Execution and Authentications

     8  
 

Section 2.05

  

Registration of Transfer and Exchange

     8  
 

Section 2.06

  

Temporary Securities

     9  
 

Section 2.07

  

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities

     9  
 

Section 2.08

  

Cancellation

     10  
 

Section 2.09

  

Benefits of Indenture

     10  
 

Section 2.10

  

Authenticating Agent

     10  
 

Section 2.11

  

Global Securities

     11  
 

Section 2.12

  

Book-Entry Registration for Uncertificated Securities

     11  

ARTICLE 3 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

     12  
 

Section 3.01

  

Redemption

     12  
 

Section 3.02

  

Notice of Redemption

     12  
 

Section 3.03

  

Payment Upon Redemption

     13  
 

Section 3.04

  

Sinking Fund

     13  
 

Section 3.05

  

Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

     13  
 

Section 3.06

  

Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

     13  

ARTICLE 4 COVENANTS

     14  
 

Section 4.01

  

Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest

     14  
 

Section 4.02

  

Maintenance of Office or Agency

     14  
 

Section 4.03

  

Paying Agents

     14  
 

Section 4.04

  

Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee

     15  
 

Section 4.05

  

Compliance with Consolidation Provisions

     15  

ARTICLE 5 SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

     15  
 

Section 5.01

  

Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders

     15  
 

Section 5.02

  

Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders

     15  
 

Section 5.03

  

Reports by the Company

     16  
 

Section 5.04

  

Reports by the Trustee

     16  

 

i


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

              PAGE  

ARTICLE 6 REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

     16  
 

Section 6.01

  

Events of Default

     16  
 

Section 6.02

  

Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

     18  
 

Section 6.03

  

Application of Moneys Collected

     19  
 

Section 6.04

  

Limitation on Suits

     19  
 

Section 6.05

  

Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver

     20  
 

Section 6.06

  

Control by Securityholders

     20  
 

Section 6.07

  

Undertaking to Pay Costs

     20  

ARTICLE 7 CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

     21  
 

Section 7.01

  

Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee

     21  
 

Section 7.02

  

Certain Rights of Trustee

     22  
 

Section 7.03

  

Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities

     22  
 

Section 7.04

  

May Hold Securities

     23  
 

Section 7.05

  

Moneys Held in Trust

     23  
 

Section 7.06

  

Compensation and Reimbursement

     23  
 

Section 7.07

  

Reliance on Officers’ Certificate

     23  
 

Section 7.08

  

Disqualification; Conflicting Interests

     24  
 

Section 7.09

  

Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility

     24  
 

Section 7.10

  

Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

     24  
 

Section 7.11

  

Acceptance of Appointment By Successor

     25  
 

Section 7.12

  

Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business

     26  
 

Section 7.13

  

Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company

     26  
 

Section 7.14

  

Notice of Default

     26  

ARTICLE 8 CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

     26  
 

Section 8.01

  

Evidence of Action by Securityholders

     26  
 

Section 8.02

  

Proof of Execution by Securityholders

     27  
 

Section 8.03

  

Who May be Deemed Owners

     27  
 

Section 8.04

  

Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded

     27  
 

Section 8.05

  

Actions Binding on Future Securityholders

     28  

ARTICLE 9 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

     28  
 

Section 9.01

  

Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders

     28  
 

Section 9.02

  

Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders

     29  
 

Section 9.03

  

Effect of Supplemental Indentures

     30  
 

Section 9.04

  

Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures

     30  
 

Section 9.05

  

Execution of Supplemental Indentures

     30  

ARTICLE 10 SUCCESSOR ENTITY

     31  
 

Section 10.01

  

Company May Consolidate, Etc.

     31  
 

Section 10.02

  

Successor Entity Substituted

     31  

 

ii


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(CONTINUED)

 

              PAGE  

ARTICLE 11 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     31  
 

Section 11.01

  

Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture

     31  
 

Section 11.02

  

[Intentionally omitted.]

     32  
 

Section 11.03

  

Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust

     32  
 

Section 11.04

  

Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents

     32  
 

Section 11.05

  

Repayment to Company

     32  

ARTICLE 12 IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

     33  
 

Section 12.01

  

No Recourse

     33  

ARTICLE 13 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     33  
 

Section 13.01

  

Effect on Successors and Assigns

     33  
 

Section 13.02

  

Actions by Successor

     33  
 

Section 13.03

  

Surrender of Company Powers

     33  
 

Section 13.04

  

Notices

     33  
 

Section 13.05

  

Governing Law

     34  
 

Section 13.06

  

Treatment of Securities as Debt

     34  
 

Section 13.07

  

Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent

     34  
 

Section 13.08

  

Payments on Business Days

     34  
 

Section 13.09

  

Conflict with Trust Indenture Act

     34  
 

Section 13.10

  

Counterparts

     34  
 

Section 13.11

  

Separability

     35  
 

Section 13.12

  

Compliance Certificates

     35  
 

Section 13.13

  

Electronic Transactions

     35  

ARTICLE 14 DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

     35  
 

Section 14.01

  

Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     35  
 

Section 14.02

  

Defeasance and Discharge

     35  
 

Section 14.03

  

Covenant Defeasance

    
36
 
 

Section 14.04

  

Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance

     36  

 

 

(1)

This Table of Contents does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

 

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INDENTURE

INDENTURE, dated as of May 22, 2020, among GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”):

WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;

WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

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

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01    Definitions of Terms.

The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.

Act”, when used with respect to any Holder of a Note, has the meaning specified in Section 8.01 of the Indenture.”

Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.

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

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

Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution 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.

Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.

Company” means Gladstone Investment Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, subject to the provisions of Article Ten, shall also include its successors and assigns.

 

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Company Order” means, a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President of the Company, and by the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof for purposes of presentment of Securities for transfer, exchange or surrender only is located at 928 Grand Boulevard, 12th Floor, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, Attention: Gladstone Investment Corporation, or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).”

Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

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

Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.

Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, DTC, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.

DTC” means The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York.

Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series, any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.

Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable, and any statute successor thereto.

Global Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

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

herein”, “hereofand “hereunder”, and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

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 in accordance with the terms hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.

 

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Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.

Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the chairman of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a president, a chief financial officer, a chief operating officer, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer, the controller or any assistant controller or the secretary or any assistant secretary.

Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer (or, in each case, any permitted designee of such Person as may be identified as such in a writing delivered to the Trustee from time to time), and by any President, the Treasurer, or the Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

Outstanding”, when used when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee (if it is the paying agent and Security Registrar) or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee (if it is the paying agent and Security Registrar) or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee (if it is the paying agent and Security Registrar) or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article Three, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07.

Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means the chairman of its board of directors, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, any trust officer, any corporate trust officer or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing 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 his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.”

Securityholder”, “holder of Securities”, “Holder” “registered holder”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security is registered on the Security Register kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

 

3


Security Register” and “Security Registrar” shall have the meanings as set forth in Section 2.05. The Trustee shall be the initial Security Registrar.

special record date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Base Indenture.

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

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation or company a majority of whose capital stock with voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is, at the date of determination, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person (a “subsidiary”), by one or more subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person; (ii) a partnership in which such Person or a subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general partner of such partnership; or (iii) any partnership, limited liability company or other Person in which such Person, a subsidiary of such Person or such Person and one or more subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, have (x) at least a majority ownership interest or (y) the power to elect or appoint or direct the election or appointment of the managing partner or member of such Person or, if applicable, a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

Trustee” means UMB Bank, National Association, and, subject to the provisions of Article Seven of the Base Indenture, its successors and assigns under the Indenture and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.

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

Voting Stock”, as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

ARTICLE 2

ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

Section 2.01    Designation and Terms of Securities.

(a)    The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution and pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, and established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

(1)    the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that series from all other Securities);

(2)    any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that 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 that series);

(3)    the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;

(4)    if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such Securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal

 

4


amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;

(5)    the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

(6)    the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates or the manner of determination of such record dates;

(7)    the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;

(8)    the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, converted or exchanged, in whole or in part;

(9)    the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, mandatory redemption, or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(10)    the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the Certificate of Authentication for such series;

(11)    if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(12)    any and all other terms (including terms, to the extent applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of that series and any security for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities) with respect to such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any supplemental indenture) including any terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series;

(13)    whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;

(14)    whether the Securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities of the Company or any other Person and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, and the applicable conversion or exchange period;

(15)    if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

(16)    any additional or alternative events of default;

(17)    additional or alternative covenants (which may include, among other restrictions, restrictions on the Company’s ability or the ability of the Company’s Subsidiaries to: incur additional

 

5


indebtedness; issue additional securities; create liens; pay dividends or make distributions in respect of the capital stock of the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries; redeem capital stock; place restrictions on the Company’s Subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets; make investments or other restricted payments; sell or otherwise dispose of assets; enter into sale-leaseback transactions; engage in transactions with stockholders or affiliates; issue or sell stock of the Company’s Subsidiaries; or effect a consolidation or merger) or financial covenants (which may include, among other financial covenants, financial covenants that require the Company and its Subsidiaries to maintain specified interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios) provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;

(18)    whether interest will be payable in cash or additional Securities at the Company’s or the Securityholders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;

(19)    the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;

(20)    additional or alternative provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered Securities;

(21)    the applicability of any guarantees;

(22)    any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series; and

(23)    any other terms of the series.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any indentures supplemental hereto.

If any of the terms of the series are authorized pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate of the Company and the supplemental indenture setting forth the terms of the series. The Trustee shall have no obligation to review any Board Resolution and may conclusively rely upon the supplemental indenture in determines the terms of any series of Securities.

Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.”

Section 2.02    Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate.

The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

Section 2.03    Denominations: Provisions for Payment.

The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(a)(10). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. The principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption

 

6


thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in Kansas City, Missouri. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.

The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.

Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:

(1)    The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor 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 Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), 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 Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.

(2)    The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities 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 manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities and any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the first day of the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.

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

 

7


Section 2.04    Execution and Authentications.

The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by one of its Officers. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.

The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been an Officer, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be such an officer of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.

A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an Officer, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.

In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating (i) that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, any applicable SEC requirements and other applicable U.S. federal laws and regulations, (ii) all conditions precedent to the issuance of such Securities have been satisfied, and the (iii) the Securities, when issued by the Company and if applicable, authenticated by the Trustee will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to any Bankruptcy Law or other insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium, and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law).

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Section 2.05    Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

(a)    Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose in Kansas City, Missouri, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.

(b)    The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose in Kansas City, Missouri, or such other location designated by the Company, a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The initial Security Registrar shall be the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities (the “Security Registrar”) shall initially be the Trustee. Any successor Security Registrar shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution.

 

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Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.

All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.

(c)    Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate and one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.

(d)    The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption, other than the unredeemed portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any acts or omissions of a Depositary or for any Depositary records of beneficial ownership interests or for any transactions between the Depositary and beneficial owners.

Section 2.06    Temporary Securities.

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon receipt of written order of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose in Kansas City, Missouri, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.07    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities.

In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon receipt of a written order of the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any

 

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substituted Security, 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.

In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

Section 2.08    Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.09    Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.

Section 2.10    Authenticating Agent.

So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, 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. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.

 

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Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.

Section 2.11    Global Securities.

(a)    If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

(b)    Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

(c)    If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Company has received a request from the Depositary or from the Trustee, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers’ Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the registered holders of the Securities.

Section 2.12    Book-Entry Registration for Uncertificated Securities.

Except for certificated Securities or notes held with a Depositary, the Security Registrar shall maintain a book-entry registration and transfer system through the establishment and maintenance of the Security Register for the benefit of Securityholders as the sole method of recording the ownership and transfer of ownership interests in such Securities. The registered owners established by the Security Registrar in connection with the purchase or transfer of the Securities shall be deemed to be the Securities of the Securities Outstanding for all purposes under this Indenture. The Company (or its duly authorized agent) shall promptly notify the Security Registrar of the acceptance of a subscriber’s purchase of a Note and, upon receipt of such notice, the Security Registrar shall establish an account for such Security by recording a credit to its book-entry registration and transfer system to the account of the related Securityholder for

 

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the principal amount of such Security owned by such Securityholder and issue a confirmation to the Securityholder, with a copy being delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the Company. The Security Registrar shall make appropriate credit and debit entries within each account to record all of the applicable actions under this Indenture that relate to the ownership of the related Securities and issue confirmations to the related Securityholders as set forth herein, with copies being delivered to the Trustee, on behalf of the Company. The Trustee may review the book-entry registration and transfer system as it deems necessary to ensure the Security Registrar’s compliance with the terms of the Indenture.”

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS

Section 3.01    Redemption.

The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.

Section 3.02    Notice of Redemption.

(a)    In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.

Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company in Kansas City, Missouri, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed.

In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

(b)    If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depository in the case of Global Securities, in compliance with the requirements of DTC, from the Outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the Securities are listed (if the Securities are listed on any national securities exchange), or if the Securities are not held through DTC or listed on any national securities exchange, or DTC prescribed no method of selection, by lot in such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and subject to and otherwise in accordance with the procedures of the applicable Depository; provided that such method complies with the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Securities are listed, and may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for the Securities or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of the Securities of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for the Securities; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for the Securities.

 

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Section 3.03    Payment Upon Redemption.

(a)    If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption and all rights whatsoever with respect to such Securities (except the right to receive the cash payment for the Securities) will terminate, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).

(b)    Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

Section 3.04    Sinking Fund.

The provisions of Section 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. 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.

Section 3.05    Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, 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.

Section 3.06    Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to

 

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Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officers’ Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 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 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

Section 4.01    Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities. Payments of principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register. Alternatively, at the request of the registered Holder, the Company will pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Securities by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in Kansas City, Missouri, on the date when such amount is due and payable. To request payment by wire transfer, the registered Holder must give the paying agent and the Trustee appropriate wire transfer instructions at least 15 Business Days before the requested payment is due. In the case of any interest payment due on an Interest Payment Date, the instructions must be given by the person who is the registered Holder on the Regular Record Date. Any wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in accordance with this Section.

Section 4.02    Maintenance of Office or Agency.

So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency in Kansas City, Missouri, with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (i) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (ii) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (iii) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by any officer authorized to sign an Officers’ Certificate and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. 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, 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, notices and demands. The Company initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee located in Kansas City, Missouri as its paying agent with respect to the Securities.

Section 4.03    Paying Agents.

(a)    If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:

(1)    that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;

(2)    that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;

 

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(3)    that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and

(4)    that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.

(b)    If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.

(c)    Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (i) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (ii) 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 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 and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; 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 money.

Section 4.04    Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee.

The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

Section 4.05    Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.

The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain Outstanding, consolidate with or merge into any other Person, in either case where the Company is not the survivor of such transaction, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article Ten hereof are complied with.

ARTICLE 5

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.01    Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) within 15 days after each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) 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, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.

Section 5.02    Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders.

(a)    The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).

 

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(b)    The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

(c)    Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and, in connection with any such communications, the Trustee shall satisfy its obligations under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the provisions of Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 5.03    Reports by the Company.

The Company covenants and agrees to provide (which delivery may be via electronic mail) to the Trustee within 30 days, after the Company files the same with the Securities and Exchange 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 Securities and Exchange Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the Securities and Exchange Commission; and provided further, that so long as such filings by the Company are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), or any successor system, such filings shall be deemed to have been filed with the Trustee for purposes hereof without any further action required by the Company; provided that an electronic link to such filing, together with an electronic notice of such filing have been sent to the Trustee. For the avoidance of doubt, a failure by the Company to file annual reports, information and other reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission within the time period prescribed thereof by the Securities and Exchange Commission shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.03.

Section 5.04    Reports by the Trustee.

(a)    If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee, within sixty (60) days after each May 1, shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such May 1, which complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(b)    The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

(c)    A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any securities exchange.

ARTICLE 6

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.01    Events of Default.

(a)    Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:

(1)    the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period agreed to by the Trustee (at the written direction of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding) in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;

 

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(2)    the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities agreed to by the Trustee (at the written direction of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding) in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;

(3)    the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;

(4)    the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(5)    a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.

(b)    In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the holders of the Securities.

(c)    At any time after the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.

 

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No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(d)    In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

Section 6.02    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a)    The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series, as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06.

(b)    If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law or equity out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.

(c)    In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.06.

(d)    All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or 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 payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.

In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most

 

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effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

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

Section 6.03    Application of Moneys Collected.

Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the

Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of reasonable costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06;

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

THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.

Section 6.04    Limitation on Suits.

No holder of any Security shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity, security or both reasonably satisfactory to it as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture,

 

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except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

Section 6.05    Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

(a)    Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.

(b)    No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.

Section 6.06    Control by Securityholders.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, 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 such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed, subject to the Trustee’s duties under the Trust Indenture Act, would involve the Trustee in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the Securityholders not involved in the proceeding. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)). Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Section 6.07    Undertaking to Pay Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s 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 by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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ARTICLE 7

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.01    Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

(a)    The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

(b)    No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

(i)    prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:

(A)    the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be responsible with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(B)    in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming on their face to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that 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 requirement of this Indenture;

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

(iii)    the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series; and

(iv)    None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

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Section 7.02    Certain Rights of Trustee.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:

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

(b)    Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company by any authorized officer of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);

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

(d)    The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs;

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

(f)    The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand; and

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

In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except (1) any Event of Default occurring pursuant to Sections 6.01(a)(1), 6.01(a)(2) and 4.01 hereof or (2) any Default or Event of Default of which the Trustee shall have received written notification in the manner set forth in this Indenture or a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have obtained actual knowledge. Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officers’ Certificate).

Section 7.03    Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.

(a)    The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.

 

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(b)    The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.

(c)    The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.

Section 7.04    May Hold Securities.

The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.

Section 7.05    Moneys Held in Trust.

Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held un-invested in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.

Section 7.06    Compensation and Reimbursement.

(a)    The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises.

(b)    The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Securities.

Section 7.07    Reliance on Officers’ Certificate.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it reasonably necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

 

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Section 7.08    Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Section 7.09    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Securities and Exchange Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.

If such corporation or other Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or other Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.

Section 7.10    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a)    The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register.

Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

(b)    In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:

(i)    the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or

(ii)    the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or

(iii)    the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, 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;

 

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then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

(c)    The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.

(d)    Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.

(e)    Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.

Section 7.11    Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.

(a)    In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to 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 of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

(b)    In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each 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, (ii) 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 (iii) 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 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 with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates 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, and each 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 any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee 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.

 

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(c)    Upon request of any such 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 (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

(d)    No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

(e)    Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.

Section 7.12    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 the corporate trust business of the Trustee, including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.09, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation 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.

Section 7.13    Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.

Section 7.14    Notice of Default

If any Default or any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if such Default or Event of Default is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs, unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.

ARTICLE 8

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 8.01    Evidence of Action by Securityholders.

Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

 

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If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of the Securities of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other act (each, an “Act”), the Company may, at its option, in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of the Securities of that series entitled to give such Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which date shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders of the Securities of that series generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of the Securities of that series of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the Securities of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such 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 the Securities on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date

Section 8.02    Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

(a)    The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.

(b)    The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.

The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

Section 8.03    Who May be Deemed Owners.

Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 8.04    Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.

 

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Section 8.05    Actions Binding on Future Securityholders.

At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this

Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.

ARTICLE 9

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 9.01    Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders.

Without the consent of any Holders of the 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:

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

(b)    to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

(c)    to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or

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

(e)     to secure the Securities; or

(f)    to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.01, including the provisions and procedures relating to Securities convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company); or

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

 

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

(i)    to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 11.01, 14.02 and 14.03; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.

Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

Section 9.02    Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of any 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 that affects the Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note:

(a)    change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Note; or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (or change the manner of calculating the rate of interest thereon), or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or reduce the portion of the principal of a Note that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01(b), or upon the redemption thereof or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 6.02(c), or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder, or change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any Note or any premium or interest thereon 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 or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date), or

(b)    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver with respect to such series (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce any requirements of Section 8.01 for quorum or voting, or

(c)    modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 6.01(c) 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 Note affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder of a Note with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 7.11 and 9.01(h).

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders 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.

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that 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.

 

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The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date that is 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 9.03    Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

Section 9.04    Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures.

Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any securities exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.

Section 9.05    Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall receive an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Article and that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture have been complied with.

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall (or shall direct the Trustee to) transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Company to mail, or cause the mailing of, such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

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ARTICLE 10

SUCCESSOR ENTITY

Section 10.01    Company May Consolidate, Etc.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into any other entity or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:

(1) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the entity (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

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

(3) the Company and the successor Person have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Section 10.02    Successor Entity Substituted.

(a)    In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the obligations set forth under Section 10.01 on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

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

(c)    Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).

ARTICLE 11

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

Section 11.01    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

Except as set forth below, this Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto, any surviving rights of tender for repayment at the option of the Holders), and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order, and 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 theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and (ii) Securities

 

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for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any paying agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Sections 4.03, 11.03 and 11.05) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(B) all Securities

(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 irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, solely for the benefit of the Holders, an amount in the Currency in which the Securities are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(2) the Company has irrevocably paid or caused to be irrevocably paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; 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.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 7.06, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 2.10 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 11.03 and 11.04 shall survive any termination of this Indenture.

Section 11.02    [Intentionally omitted.]

Section 11.03    Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust.

All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.

Section 11.04    Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents.

In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

Section 11.05    Repayment to Company.

Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, or such other shorter period set forth in applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law,

 

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shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or upon the Company’s request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.

ARTICLE 12

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 12.01    No Recourse.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, 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 of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name 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 incorporator, stockholder, 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 of the Securities or implied 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 such Securities.

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 13.01    Effect on Successors and Assigns.

All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

Section 13.02    Actions by Successor.

Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.

Section 13.03    Surrender of Company Powers.

The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor corporation.

Section 13.04    Notices.

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, request or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as

 

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follows: Gladstone Investment Corporation, 1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100 McLean, Virginia 22102, Attn: General Counsel. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Section 13.05    Governing Law.

This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.

Section 13.06    Treatment of Securities as Debt.

It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.

Section 13.07    Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.

(a)    Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

(b)    Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 13.08    Payments on Business Days.

Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.

Section 13.09    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

Section 13.10    Counterparts.

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

 

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Section 13.11    Separability.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

Section 13.12    Compliance Certificates.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which any Securities of any series were outstanding, an officer’s certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any Default or Event of Default that occurred during such fiscal year. Such certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company and the Company’s performance under this Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 13.12, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If the officer of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such a Default or Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Default or Event of Default and its status.

Section 13.13    Electronic Transactions.

The parties hereto agree the transactions described herein may be conducted and related documents may be stored by electronic means.

ARTICLE 14

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

Section 14.01    Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of any series, elect to have either Section 14.02 (if applicable) or Section 14.03 (if applicable) be applied to such Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.

Section 14.02    Defeasance and Discharge.

Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to the Securities, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 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 Section 14.05 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (A) and (B) of this Section, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under the Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments delivered to it by the Company acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.04 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 2.05, 2.07, 4.02 and 4.03, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article. Subject to compliance with this Article Fourteen, the Company may exercise its option under this Section notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.03 with respect to such Securities. Following a defeasance, payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.

 

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Section 14.03    Covenant Defeasance.

Upon the Company’ s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 4.06, 4.07 and 4.08 on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.04 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 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 Section or such other 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 6.01(a)(3) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby. Following a covenant defeasance, payment of such Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default solely by reference to such Sections specified above in this Section 14.03.

Section 14.04    Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 14.02 or Section 14.03 to any Outstanding Securities:

 

  (i)

The Company shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 7.09 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Fourteen applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for the benefit of, and dedicated solely to, the Holders of such Securities, (A) an amount (in U.S. Dollars), or (B) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, without reinvestment thereof, 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 (C) a combination thereof in an amount, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (1) the principal of and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (2) 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.

 

  (ii)

Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

  (iii)

No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as Sections 6.01(a)(4) and 6.01(a)(5) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

  (iv)

In the case of an election under Section 14.02, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred.

 

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  (v)

In the case of an election under Section 14.03, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

  (vi)

The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to either the defeasance under Section 14.02 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.03 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

 

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

 

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ David Gladstone        

Name:  

David Gladstone

Title:  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Lara L. Stevens        

Name:  

Lara L. Stevens

Title:  

Vice President

 

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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE (1)

 

Section of Trust Indenture Act Of 1939, as Amended

  

Section of Indenture

310(a)

   7.09

310(b)

   7.08
   7.10

310(c)

   Inapplicable

311(a)

   7.13

311(b)

   7.13

311(c)

   Inapplicable

312(a)

   5.01
   5.02(a)

312(b)

   5.02(c)

312(c)

   5.02(c)

313(a)

   5.04(a)

313(b)

   5.04(b)

313(c)

   5.04(a)
   5.04(b)

313(d)

   5.04(c)

314(a)

   5.03
   13.12

314(b)

   Inapplicable

314(c)

   13.07(a)

314(d)

   Inapplicable

314(e)

   13.07(b)

314(f)

   Inapplicable

315(a)

   7.01(a)
   7.01(b)

315(b)

   7.14

315(c)

   7.01

315(d)

   7.01(b)

315(e)

   6.07

316(a)

   6.06
   8.04

316(b)

   6.04

316(c)

   8.01

317(a)

   6.02

317(b)

   4.03

318(a)

   13.09

 

(1)

This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

 

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Exhibit 4.2

FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

between

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

and

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

Dated as of May 22, 2020

THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “First Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of May 22, 2020, is between Gladstone Investment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). All capitalized terms used herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Base Indenture (as defined below).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2020 (the “Base Indenture” and, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to provide for the issuance by the Company from time to time of the Securities, to be issued in one or more series as provided in the Base Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to issue and sell up to $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 6.00% Notes due 2040 (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, Sections 2.01, 9.01(e) and 9.01(g) of the Base Indenture provide that, without the consent of the Holders of the Notes, 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 to the Base Indenture to (i) add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities, as set forth in the Base Indenture and (ii) provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the Base Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to establish the form and terms of the Notes and to modify, alter, supplement and change certain provisions of the Base Indenture for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes (except as may be provided in a future supplemental indenture to the Indenture (each, a “Future Supplemental Indenture”)); and

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the Notes and all acts and things necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding, and legal obligation of the Company and to constitute a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done and performed,

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Notes by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes, as follows:

ARTICLE I

TERMS OF THE NOTES

Section 1.01. Terms of the Notes. The following terms relating to the Notes are hereby established:

(a) The Notes shall constitute a series of Securities having the title “6.00% Notes due 2040”. The Notes shall bear a CUSIP number of 376546 701 and an ISIN number of US3765467010, as may be supplemented or replaced from time to time.

 

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(b) The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under the Indenture (except for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes pursuant to Sections 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 3.02(a) and 9.04, of the Base Indenture) shall be $350,000,000. As authorized under a Board Resolution or, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company and Trustee may enter into or a Future Supplemental Indenture, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Notes, to issue additional Notes (in any such case, “Additional Notes”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Notes; provided that, if such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Notes (or any other tranche of Additional Notes) for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then such Additional Notes shall have different CUSIP numbers from the Notes (and any such other tranche of Additional Notes). Any Additional Notes and the existing Notes shall constitute a single series under the Indenture, and all references to the relevant Notes herein shall include the Additional Notes unless the context otherwise requires.

(c) The entire outstanding principal of the Notes shall be payable on November 1, 2040 unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

(d) The rate at which the Notes shall bear interest shall be 6.00% per annum. The Interest Payment Dates for the Notes shall be the first day of each month, commencing with the first day of the month following the issuance of such Note; provided that, if an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment); the interest period for the Notes shall be the period from the Interest Payment Date preceding the issuance date of any Notes to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, and any purchaser of Notes will be required to pay for any interest accrued from the Interest Payment Date preceding the issuance date of the Notes up to, but excluding, the issuance date of the Notes; the interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date, shall be paid to the Person in whose name the Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the 15th day of the month (whether or not a Business Day) immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on the Notes shall be made by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register; provided, however, that, at the request of the registered Holder, the Company will pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in Kansas City, Missouri, on the date when such amount is due and payable and as further set forth in Section 4.01 of the Indenture; provided, further, however, that, with respect to Notes registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by DTC and the Trustee.

(e) The Notes shall be issued in book-entry form and, for purchasers purchasing through DTC participants, will be issued in global form (each such Note, a “Global Note”) or, for purchasers purchasing other than through a DTC participant, will be reflected directly on the books and records of the Trustee. The Global Notes and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A to this First Supplemental Indenture. Each Global Note shall represent the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes as shall be specified therein and each shall provide that it shall represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any new Global Note reflecting the amount of any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Notes represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in accordance with Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture. All Notes purchased other than through a DTC participant will be registered on the books and records of the Trustee. Direct purchasers of Notes will receive a credit for Notes on the Trustee’s records, and transfers of such Notes will be accomplished by entries made on the books and records of the Trustee.

(f) The depositary for the Global Notes (the “Depository”) shall be DTC. The Security Registrar with respect to the Global Notes and the Notes purchased other than through a DTC participant shall be the Trustee.

 

2


(g) The Notes shall be redeemable at a Holder’s option pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture and as follows:

(i) Until the listing, if any, of the Notes on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, Notes held by a natural person upon his or her death will be redeemed at the written request of the holder’s estate for a cash payment of $25.00 per Note on the Death Redemption Date, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption. The Company’s obligation to redeem Notes upon the death of the noteholder is limited to the extent that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Company does not have sufficient funds available to fund any such redemption or the Company is restricted by applicable law or contractual obligation from making such redemption.

(ii) Until the earlier to occur of (1) the date upon which the Board of Directors, by resolution, suspends or terminates the redemption program, and (2) the date, if any, on which the Notes are listed on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, holders of the Notes may, at their option, require the Company to redeem any or all of the Notes held by them for a cash payment of $22.50 per Note on the Noteholder Redemption Date, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption. The maximum dollar amount that the Company will make available each calendar year to redeem Notes will not be subject to an annual limit; provided, that the Company’s obligation to redeem Notes at the option of a noteholder is limited to the extent that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Company does not have sufficient funds available to fund any such redemption or the Company is restricted by applicable law or contractual obligation from making such redemption and is also limited to the extent the Board of Directors suspends or terminates the optional redemption right at any time or for any reason, including after delivery of such holder’s request that the Company redeem the Notes but prior to the corresponding Noteholder Redemption Date.

(iii) To request that the Company redeem Notes, a holder or estate of a holder, as applicable, must deliver a notice of redemption, by overnight delivery or by first class mail, postage prepaid to the Company at its principal executive offices. Each such notice must be an original, notarized copy and must state: (1) the name and address of the holder whose Notes are requested to be redeemed, (2) the aggregate principal amount of Notes requested to be redeemed, (3), if purchased through a DTC participant, the name of the broker dealer who holds the Notes requested to be redeemed, the holder’s account number with such broker dealer and such broker dealer’s participant number for DTC and (4), in the case of a notice to redeem upon the death of a holder, a certified copy of the death certificate (and such other evidence that is satisfactory to the Company in its sole discretion) for the natural person who previously held the Notes to be redeemed.

(iv) If, as a result of the limitations described in Sections 1.01(g)(i) and (ii), the optional redemption rights provided in Sections 1.01(g)(i) and (ii) have not been suspended or terminated but fewer than all Notes for which a notice of redemption was delivered to the Company are to be redeemed, the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be redeemed will be pro rata based on the aggregate principal amount of Notes for which each holder timely submitted a notice of redemption. If a Noteholder Redemption Date is also a Death Redemption Date, the limitations on the optional redemption rights shall first be applied to any redemption requested upon the death of the holder pursuant to Section 1.01(g)(i) and then to Notes to be redeemed pursuant to the optional redemption right provided in Section 1.01(g)(ii).

(h) The Notes shall be redeemable at the Company’s option pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture and as follows:

(i) The Notes shall be redeemable in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after the Call Date. Prior to the Call Date, the Company may (1) redeem all, but not less than all, of the outstanding Notes at its option within 90 days of a Change of Control or (2) redeem all or a portion of the outstanding Notes in order to comply with any applicable law, including the asset coverage requirements under Section 18, as modified by Section 61, of the Investment Company Act; provided that, in connection with any such redemption to maintain the asset coverage required by the Investment Company Act, the Company may, at its sole option, redeem such additional amount of Notes that will result in the Company having asset coverage (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of up to and including 250%. Any redemption at the Company’s option shall be at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable thereon for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

 

3


(ii) Notice of redemption at the Company’s option shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Notes to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption at the Company’s option shall contain the information set forth in Section 3.02(a) of the Base Indenture.

(iii) Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Notes shall be done in compliance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

(iv) If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Notes pursuant to this Section 1.01(h), the Trustee or, with respect to the Global Notes, the Depository, shall determine the method for selecting the particular Notes to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 3.02(b) of the Base Indenture, the Investment Company Act and the rules of any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Notes are listed, in each case to the extent applicable.

(i) The Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund pursuant to Section 3.04 of the Base Indenture.

(j) The Notes shall be issuable in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 2.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article One of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following defined terms to Section 1.01 in appropriate alphabetical sequence, as follows:

“‘Call Date’ means the date that is the later of (1) the one-year anniversary of the Termination Date and (2) July 1, 2025.”

“‘Death Redemption Date’ means, when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed pursuant to the optional redemption right of holders upon the death of a holder who is a natural person provided herein, the tenth calendar day following delivery of such natural person’s estate’s request that the Company redeem the Notes, or if such tenth calendar day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.”

“‘GAAP’ means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the opinions and pronouncements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.”

“‘Interest Payment Date’ means the date on which interest will be payable on the Notes as contemplated by Section 1.01(d) of this First Supplemental Indenture.”

“‘Investment Company Act’ means the United States Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules, regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable, and any statute successor thereto.”

“‘Maturity’, when used with respect to any Note, means the date on which the principal of such Note or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment, notice of exchange or conversion or otherwise.”

 

4


“‘Nasdaq’ means the Nasdaq Global Select Market.”

“‘Noteholder Redemption Date’, when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed pursuant to the optional redemption right of holders provided herein, the tenth calendar day following delivery of such holder’s request that the Company redeem any or all of such holder’s Notes, or if such tenth calendar day is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day.”

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

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

“‘Regular Record Date’ for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Notes means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 1.01(d) of this First Supplemental Indenture.”

“‘Securities and Exchange Commission’ means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Securities and Exchange 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.”

“‘Termination Date’ means the date that is the earlier of (1) July 1, 2025 (unless earlier terminated or extended by the Board of Directors) and (2) the date on which $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes is sold.”

Section 2.02. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article One of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the definitions of “Business Day” and “Voting Stock” in Section 1.01 with the following:

“‘Business Day’, when used with respect to any particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Notes, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which federal and state banking institutions in The City of New York, the city in which the Corporate Trust Office is located or that particular location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.”

“‘Voting Stock’ means, with respect to any specified Person that is a corporation as of any date, the capital stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of such Person.”

ARTICLE III

DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF SECURITIES; GLOBAL SECURITIES

Section 3.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article Two of the Base Indenture shall be amended by replacing the first paragraph of Section 2.03 with the following:

“The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of twenty-five U.S. dollars ($25) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(a)(11). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Subject to Section 2.01(a)(16), the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption thereof prior to maturity, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the paying agent for such Securities. The Trustee shall be the initial paying agent. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.”

 

5


ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Article Four of the Base Indenture shall be amended by adding the following new Sections 4.06, 4.07 and 4.08 thereto, each as set forth below:

“Section 4.06. Section 18(a)(1)(A) of the Investment Company Act.

The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which Notes are Outstanding, the Company will not violate Section 18(a)(1)(A) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions, whether or not the Company continues to be subject to such provisions of the Investment Company Act.”

“Section 4.07. Section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Investment Company Act.

The Company hereby agrees that for the period of time during which Notes are Outstanding, the Company shall not declare any dividend (except a dividend payable in stock of the Company), or declare any other distribution, upon a class of the Company’s capital stock, or purchase any such capital stock, unless, in every such case, at the time of the declaration of any such dividend or distribution, or at the time of any such purchase, the Company has an asset coverage (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of at least the threshold specified in Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act or any successor provisions thereto of the Investment Company Act, after deducting the amount of such dividend, distribution or purchase price, as the case may be, and giving effect, in each case, to any no-action relief granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission to another business development company and upon which the Company may reasonably rely (or to the Company if it determines to seek such similar no-action or other relief) permitting the business development company to declare any cash dividend or distribution notwithstanding the prohibition contained in Section 18(a)(1)(B) as modified by Section 61(a)(2) of the Investment Company Act, in order to maintain such business development company’s status as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.”

“Section 4.08. Securities and Exchange Commission Reports and Reports to Holders.

If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company agrees to furnish to Holders of the Notes and the Trustee for the period of time during which the Notes are Outstanding: (i) within 90 days after the end of the each fiscal year of the Company, audited annual consolidated financial statements of the Company and (ii) within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company (other than the Company’s fourth fiscal quarter), unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company. All such financial statements shall be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP.”

 

6


ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

Section 5.01. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 6.01(a) of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

“(a) Whenever used herein with respect to the Notes, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:

 

  (1)

default in the payment of any interest upon any Note when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days; or

 

  (2)

default in the payment of the principal of any Note when it becomes due and payable at its Maturity, and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days; or

 

  (3)

default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture with respect to any Note (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than the Notes), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 120 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes 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;

 

  (4)

the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

 

  a.

commences a voluntary case or proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law,

 

  b.

consents to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or files a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief against it,

 

  c.

consents to the entry of a decree or order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding,

 

  d.

consents to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or

 

  e.

makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or admits in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due or takes any corporate action in furtherance of any such action; or

 

  (5)

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

 

  a.

is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding, or

 

  b.

adjudges the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approves as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company, or

 

  c.

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

 

  d.

orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company,

and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

  (6)

if, pursuant to Sections 18(a)(1)(c)(ii) and 61 of the Investment Company Act, on the last Business Day of each of twenty-four consecutive calendar months the Notes shall have an asset coverage (as such term is used in the Investment Company Act) of less than 100%.”

Section 5.02. Except as may be provided in a Future Supplemental Indenture, for the benefit of the Holders of the Notes but no other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding, Section 6.01(b) of the Base Indenture shall be amended and restated as follows:

“(b) In each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Holders), may declare the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable.”

 

7


ARTICLE VI

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 6.01. This First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York. This First Supplemental Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of the Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

Section 6.02. In case any provision in this First Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

Section 6.03. This First Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same First Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this First Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile, .pdf transmission, email or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

Section 6.04. The Base Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this First Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and construed as one and the same instrument with respect to the Notes. All provisions included in this First Supplemental Indenture supersede any conflicting provisions included in the Base Indenture with respect to the Notes, unless not permitted by law. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, and agrees to perform the same upon the terms and conditions of the Base Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture.

Section 6.05. The provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall become effective as of the date hereof.

Section 6.06. Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, the terms and provisions of this First Supplemental Indenture shall apply only to the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities under the Indenture, and this First Supplemental Indenture shall not and does not otherwise affect, modify, alter, supplement or change the terms and provisions of any other series of Securities under the Indenture, whether now or hereafter issued and Outstanding.

Section 6.07. The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental Indenture, the Notes or any Additional Notes, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this First Supplemental Indenture, authenticate the Notes and any Additional Notes and perform its obligations hereunder. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or any Additional Notes or the proceeds thereof.

 

8


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

 

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ David Gladstone

Name:   David Gladstone
Title:   Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By:  

/s/ Lara L. Stevens

Name:   Lara L. Stevens
Title:   Vice President

[Signature page to First Supplemental Indenture]

 

9


Exhibit A — Form of Global Note

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

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT AND SUCH CERTIFICATE ISSUED IN EXCHANGE FOR THIS CERTIFICATE IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO., OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

Gladstone Investment Corporation

 

No.                         $        
   CUSIP No. 376546 701
   ISIN No. US3765467010

6.00% Notes due 2040

Gladstone Investment Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum of                     (U.S. $         ) on November 1, 2040, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and to pay interest thereon monthly on the first day of each month, commencing with the first day of the month following the issuance of such Notes, at the rate of 6.00% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment; provided that, if an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the applicable interest payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and no additional interest shall accrue as a result of such delayed payment. The interest period for the Notes shall be the period from the Interest Payment Date preceding the issuance date of any Notes to, but excluding, the next Interest Payment Date or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, and any purchaser of Notes will be required to pay for any interest accrued from the Interest Payment Date preceding the issuance date of the Notes up to, but excluding, the issuance date of the Notes. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the 15th date of the month, whether or not a Business Day, immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holders of the Notes on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. This Security may be issued as part of a series.

Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and any such interest on the Notes shall be made by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Holder entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in

 

A-1


the Security Register; provided, however, that, at the request of the registered Holder, the Company will pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest, if any, on the Notes by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank in Kansas City, Missouri, on the date when such amount is due and payable and as further set forth in Section 4.01 of the Indenture; provided, further, however, that, so long as this Security is registered to Cede & Co., such payment will be made by wire transfer in accordance with the procedures established by DTC and the Trustee.

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

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

 

A-2


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

Dated:                     

 

GLADSTONE INVESTMENT CORPORATION
By:  

                     

  Name:
  Title:

 

Attest
By:  

                                          

Name:  
Title:  

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

Dated:                     

 

UMB BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

By:  

                                          

  Name:
  Title:

 

A-3


Gladstone Investment Corporation

6.00% Notes Due 2040

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2020 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and UMB Bank, National Association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Base Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Base Indenture for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2020, by and between the Company and the Trustee (herein called the “First Supplemental Indenture,” the First Supplemental Indenture and the Base Indenture collectively are herein called the “Indenture”). In the event of any conflict between the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture shall govern and control.

This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, which series is initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $350,000,000. Under a Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution or an indenture supplement, the Company may from time to time, without the consent of the Holders of Securities, issue additional Securities of this series (in any such case “Additional Securities”) having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the Securities; provided that, if such Additional Securities are not fungible with the Securities (or any other tranche of Additional Securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, then such Additional Securities will have a different CUSIP numbers from the Securities (and any such other tranche of Additional Securities). Any Additional Securities and the existing Securities will constitute a single series under the Indenture and all references to the relevant Securities herein shall include the Additional Securities unless the context otherwise requires. The aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented hereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions.

Until the listing, if any, of the Securities on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, Securities held by a natural person upon his or her death will be redeemed at the written request of the holder’s estate for a cash payment of $25.00 per Security on the Death Redemption Date, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption. The Company’s obligation to redeem Securities upon the death of the securityholder is limited to the extent that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Company does not have sufficient funds available to fund any such redemption or the Company is restricted by applicable law or contractual obligation from making such redemption.

Until the earlier to occur of (1) the date upon which the Board of Directors, by resolution, suspends or terminates the redemption program, and (2) the date, if any, on which the Securities are listed on Nasdaq or another national securities exchange, holders of the Securities may, at their option, require the Company to redeem any or all of the Securities held by them for a cash payment of $22.50 per Security on the Noteholder Redemption Date, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the date of redemption. The maximum dollar amount that the Company will make available each calendar year to redeem Securities will not be subject to an annual limit; provided, that the Company’s obligation to redeem Securities at the option of a securityholder is limited to the extent that the Board of Directors determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, that the Company does not have sufficient funds available to fund any such redemption or the Company is restricted by applicable law or contractual obligation from making such redemption and is also limited to the extent the Board of Directors suspends or terminates the optional redemption right at any time or for any reason, including after delivery of such holder’s request that the Company redeem the Securities but prior to the corresponding Noteholder Redemption Date.

The Securities shall be redeemable in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, at the option of the Company, on or after the Call Date. Prior to the Call Date, the Company may (1) redeem all, but not less than all, of the outstanding Securities at its option within 90 days of a Change of Control or (2) redeem all or a portion of the outstanding Securities in order to comply with any applicable law, including the asset coverage requirements under Section 18, as modified by Section 61, of the Investment Company Act; provided that, in connection with any such

 

A-4


redemption to maintain the asset coverage required by the Investment Company Act, the Company may, at its sole option, redeem such additional amount of Securities that will result in the Company having asset coverage (as defined in the Investment Company Act) of up to and including 250%. Any redemption at the Company’s option shall be at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest otherwise payable thereon for the then-current monthly interest period accrued to, but not including, the Redemption Date.

Notice of redemption at the Company’s option shall be given in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or by overnight courier guaranteeing next-day delivery, to each Holder of the Securities to be redeemed, not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date, at the Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register. All notices of redemption at the Company’s option shall contain the information set forth in Section 3.02(a) of the Base Indenture.

Any exercise of the Company’s option to redeem the Securities shall be done in compliance with the Indenture and the Investment Company Act, to the extent applicable.

If the Company elects to redeem only a portion of the Securities pursuant to Section 1.01(h) of the First Supplemental Indenture, the Trustee or, with respect to global Securities, the Depository, will determine the method for selecting the particular Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 1.01 of the First Supplemental Indenture and Section 3.02(b) of the Base Indenture. In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

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

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

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

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

 

A-5


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

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

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

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

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Registrar and any agent of the Company, the Trustee, or the Security Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, or any agent thereof shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

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

To the extent any provision of this Security conflicts with the express provisions of the Indenture, the provisions of the Indenture shall govern and be controlling.

The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

 

A-6

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO    Proskauer Rose LLP   1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 600 South   Washington, DC 20004-2533

 

 

May 22, 2020

 

Gladstone Investment Corporation

1521 Westbranch Drive, Suite 100

McLean, VA 22102

     

d 202.416.6800

f 202.416.6899

 

www.proskauer.com

Re: Gladstone Investment Corporation 6.00% Notes due 2040

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel for Gladstone Investment Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the issuance of up to $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.00% notes due 2040 (the “Notes”), pursuant to the registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-232124) (the “Registration Statement”) initially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on June 14, 2019 and the prospectus supplement, dated May 22, 2020 (including the base prospectus filed therewith, the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed with the Commission under the Securities Act on May 22, 2020.

The Notes are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of the indenture, dated May 22, 2020, between the Company and UMB Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”) (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the first supplemental indenture, dated May 22, 2020, between the Company and the Trustee (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”).

In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have examined and relied on originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of:

 

  (i)

the Registration Statement,

 

  (ii)

the Prospectus Supplement,

 

  (iii)

the Indenture,

 

  (iv)

a specimen of the form of the Notes and

 

  (v)

such corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials, officers of the Company and other persons, and such other documents, agreements and instruments as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.

 

Beijing | Boca Raton | Boston | Chicago | Hong Kong | London | Los Angeles | New Orleans | New York | Paris | São Paulo | Washington, DC


LOGO

Gladstone Investment Corporation

May 22, 2020

Page 2

 

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, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. To the extent our opinions set forth below relate to the enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions of the Indenture and the Notes, our opinion is rendered in reliance upon N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§5-1401, 5-1402 (McKinney 2001) and N.Y. C.P.L.R. 327(b) (McKinney 2001) and is subject to the qualification that such enforceability may be limited by public policy considerations of any jurisdiction, other than the courts of the State of New York, in which enforcement of such provisions, or of a judgment upon an agreement containing such provisions, is sought. We have also assumed that the Company has complied with all aspects of applicable laws of jurisdictions other than the State of New York in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Indenture. As to facts material to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company, public officials and others.

Our opinions set forth herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York that, in our experience, are applicable to the Notes and, to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as “Covered Law”). We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than the Covered Law or as to the effect of any such non-covered law on the opinions herein stated.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein and assuming that (i) the Indenture and the Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and (ii) the Notes have been authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof, we are of the opinion that the Notes will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms thereof.

The opinion set forth above is subject, as to enforcement, to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers), (ii) provisions modifying the statute of limitations, (iii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought, and (iv) provisions of law that require that a judgment for money damages rendered by a court in the United States be expressed only in United States dollars.

In rendering the opinion set forth above, we have assumed that the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture and the Notes and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder do not and will not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument to which the Company or its properties is subject.


LOGO

Gladstone Investment Corporation

May 22, 2020

Page 3

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Proskauer Rose LLP

Washington, D.C.